The History & Coal Resources of Newcastle from 1830 - 1889

from a series of articles published in the Newcastle Morning Herald covering the period 26th September, 1889 to 21st November, 1889

Back to main Coal Mines page

THE NEWCASTLE COLLIERIES
THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS
[No X11]
Burwood Coal Mining Company

Published 14th November, 1889
The Burwood Coal Mining Company was formed in the year 1883 for the purpose of working the coal at a royalty from under 1200 acres of the Merewether estate. The capital of the company was originally £60,000 shares of£1 each, but recently 40,000 additional shares were issued making the present capital of the company £100,000. The leasehold lies south of that portion of the Merewether estate worked by the Newcastle Coal Company, the Waratah Colliery estate being on the east, the ocean forming the western boundary. The land had before been worked by the Newcastle Coal and Copper Company, the operations being confined, however, to the Burwood coal seam, which outcrops along the ravines and sea slopes of the ridges and hills along Flaggy Creek. This creek empties itself into the Glenrock lagoon; and near that spot Mr. K.C. Merewether proved the existence of the Borehole seam by a diamond drill some years ago. So disturbed by faults was this belt of the coast-line supposed to be, that until the company had actually worked the lower seam very few people entertained any hope that the coal could be profitably mined. Near the lagoon above referred to, at a spot known as Little Redhead, about half a mile east of the coast-line, the company in December, 1884 commenced to sink a shaft to the lower seam. They had previously worked the Burwood seam, but wishing to extend their operations they determined to reach the lower one.

On the 10th May, 1885, the shaft was completed, the coal being bottomed at a depth of 275ft. Notwithstanding the proximity of the winding shaft to the outcrop of the Burwood seam, it passed through 70ft of broken rock and surface deposit before reaching solid strats, and for this depth the mine has been secured by brickwork. It appears to have been sunk on the apex of a ridge, from which the coal dips in all directions, as the north heading passes through a basalt dyke 7 feet thick at a point 80 yards from the pit bottom, and under the waters of the lagoon. The coal was found on the same level after passing through the obstruction, but for a considerable distance (nearly 12 yards) it was cindered and useless. Another dyke similar to the first, but much thicker, was then struck, and these have proved a great impediment to the development of the northern portion of the lease-hold.

The difficulties have, however, been overcome, and large quantities of coal are now being drawn from the north and western workings, winning headings also running east and south. The company have also secured in conjunction with the Newcastle Coal Company Mr. Merewether's ocean leasehold of 1280 acres, which extends along the coast line from the southern boundary of the A.A. Company's leasehold for a distance of three miles, and extending out to sea for a distance of 50 chains. None of this grant has yet been opened up by either colliery, but there is no doubt that within a few years the workings will extend out to sea. The most easterly heading of the Burwood colliery is still some distance from the coast line, and owing to a creep in that part some months ago no coal is at present being drawn from those workings.

At the present time the company have two shafts down to the coal, and a third in course of sinking. The No. 1 or winding shaft, which above alluded to, is 14ft 6in in diameter and fitted with double cages, holding two skips each. Winding is accomplished by a pair of 20ft by 36ft engines, working up to an indicated horse-power of 270. The colliery buildings are of the usual kind, the full skips of coal being landed on the raised floor, where their contents are emptied over one of the five screens, the round coal passing over on to railway waggons beneath, and the small running through the parallel iron bars into separate holders. The pithead and all other arrangements are fitted with the latest

improvements and when in full swing the mine is capable of producing 1000 tons of round and small coal per diem.

At present the underground haulage is done by horses and a semi-portable engine, but arrangements are being made to install the endless wire rope system, and erect a more powerful hauling plant, which will, as at other collieries, be placed on the surface.

The No. 2 or ventilating shaft, which is situated within a few yards of the main pit, is 300ft deep, and 9ft 6in in diameter. A furnace supplying 90,000 cubic feet of air per minute is erected at the bottom of this shaft, and is ample for the requirements of the mine. The workings are fairly free from water, all the pumping required being done by a very small plant. The new or No. 3 shaft is being sunk at a spot 85 chains to the south of the present colliery, and is 15ft in diameter. When completed it will be 500ft deep and a large plant capable of raising another 1000 tons of coal per diem will placed at its mouth. It is intended to connect it with the present winding pit, and over 50 chains are already driven in that direction. It will thus be seen that the company intend to greatly extend their workings and make the mine as large as any in the colony.

The system of working the seam is much the same as in the majority of the other mines, the bords being 8 yards wide, leaving from 6 to 20 yard pillars. Including bands and refuse the seam is 11ft 1in in thickness, and dips one in forty south. The thickness worked, however, is 6ft 9in; the bottom portion, which contains a number of thick bands, being left. By this means they obtain a clear seam of 6ft 7in, there being only two bands in it of one inch each. A recent analysis of four samples of the Burwood coal gave the following excellent results; - Moisture, 1.62 per cent; volatile hydrocarbons, 35.58; fixed carbons, 57.90; ash, 4.90 (containing .14 per cent of sulphur); its specific gravity is 1.290; and the whole yielding 62.8 per cent of coke.

In 1885, the first year of working, the company raised 25,295 tons; in 1886, 72,566 tons; 1887, 111,782; and last year, despite the general strike among the miners in the district, 106,853 tons were won. During the present year the output has been large, 96,424 tons having been raised from the mine for the six months ending June 30. The quarter ending September 30 was also very good, the record standing at 48,735 tons, while at present the daily average output is 714 tons. The colliery gives employment to 400 men and boys; but this number will be greatly increased when the second winding shaft is opened.

The mine is connected with the port of Newcastle by railway, the company having two and a quarter miles of private line which connects with the Newcastle Coal Company's railway at Merewether, the total distance to the cranes being about five and a half miles. They do their own haulage over their private railway, the Government taking the coal over the remainder of the distance, at a fixed rate, the company also paying the owners of the line a wheel rate. There are 225 hopper waggons in daily use, and when the new mine is opened the railway will be constructed to it. The present trade prospects are exceedingly good, the major portion of the coal being sold in Sydney, where the company have several large contracts, and the other colonies.

The company form one of the parties to the Masters' Association, being represented at the conferences by Mr. Russell. Mr. John Weston, the manager, resides in Sydney, the local office being under Mr. F.H. Langwell. Mr. W.P. Pendleton is colliery manager, and under his supervision the mine has been opened out and developed.