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
MINES BEING DEVELOPED
[No X111]
The Maitland Colliery, South Greta Coal Company, East Greta Colliery
and the
Richmond Vale Coal Company

Published 21st November, 1889
THE MAITLAND COLLIERY
As stated in the previous article, there are at the present time eighteen new collieries being opened out in the Northern district, and having already reviewed those in actual work, the larger ones in course of being developed will now be dealt with. It is interesting to note at this juncture that in spite of the depression which at present exists in the coal trade, the measures of this district still continue to attract capital. At no time in the history of our coal-mining have there been so many collieries opening out together, or so much money spent in developing the various estates at present. When those now in course of sinking are in full swing the capable output of the district will be over three million tons a year, or an increase of nearly 40 per cent, upon the present quantity raised. Besides this, boring is going on in all parts of the country, and the discovery of seams is almost a weekly occurrence.

The existence of the Greta coal measures was proved some two years ago close to the town of West Maitland, and no sooner was it found that numerous companies were floated to take up land. The late Mr. W.B. Bradley and Mr. G.O. Hyde secured 537 acres of land half a mile from West Maitland, of which 162 acres is freehold, and the remainder under a mineral lease. Here they determined to establish a large colliery, having proved the existence of the seam, they commenced about nine months ago at a point within two chains of the Great Northern Railway, exactly 20 miles 4 chains from the port of Newcastle. The Greta seam outcrops from the small hills, or downs, round the property, but the firm decided to sink to the dip in preference to tunnelling, so as to catch the coal on the rise, and lessen the cost and labour of underground haulage. The shaft is 14ft in diameter, and is bricked for a depth of 60ft, when hard grey post rock and conglomerate was struck. This continues for a depth of nearly 240ft, the shaft at present being down 300ft. Coal is likely to be struck at any minute, and sinking operations are going on night and day.

With a view of commencing to win coal as soon as the seam is found, the firm have erected a large and complete plant round the mouth of the shaft, which will be capable of dealing with 900 or 1000 tons of coal per diem. The main colliery building is constructed of ironbark, the landing stage or platform being 120ft long by 80ft wide; the whole being very substantial and extensive. A complete winding plant, consisting of a 20 horse-power engine, supplied with steam from two steel shell boilers, is placed in a brick building close to the colliery shed, and is in readiness for work at any moment. Arrangements are being made for another engine to be placed near the first, and the shaft will be fitted with double cages of the latest pattern. Offices and storerooms, and a small coal hopper to hold 450 tons, have been erected, and it is safe to predict that within three months the mine will be at work.

The mine is approached from the Government railway by double loop lines entering on the west side of the main shaft, and connecting again with the railway on the east. The screens which number three, are already in position, while a large number of hopper waggons are being constructed. Owing to the excellent site of the colliery, which is on an eminence overlooking the valley of the Hunter, there has been a large demand for land in the vicinity. The firm has laid off a township 80 acres in extent on the other side of the railway, and erected twenty houses. The township is called Homeville, and the building lots here are already increasing in value. When the mine is in full swing the firm intends erecting a great many more houses upon the same excellent plan as those now on the ground, so that their miners will be able to secure dwellings at equitable rents.

The seam existing under the land as proved in bores and a small shaft is the same as that worked at the famous Greta Colliery, the only difference being that it is even thicker. At the bottom of a trial shaft sunk within a quarter of a mile of the colliery the seam was found to be 21ft, seven feet of it being a very rich cannel coal. This latter mineral is a most valuable deposit, one ton of it giving 12000 cubic feet of gas, or over a fourth more that can be obtained from the best bituminous article. Some idea of the value of such a seam may be gleaned from the fact that the Greta Company found a small seam under three feet and worked it out. The value of true cannel coal, which up to the present has not been found in any large quantities in the district, is £1 per ton, while the hewing price is the same as for common coal. Should this seven feet obtain under the whole estate, and there is very little reason for doubting it, its value will be enormous, and in consequence the opening the seam is causing no little interest.

An analysis of the cannel coal gives the following result:- Moisture, 2.27 per cent; volatile hydro-carbons, 35.39; fixed carbon, 53.91; ash, 8.43; the specific gravity being 1.35. The other coal in the Greta series is very hard, minutely laminated, and is streaky rather than uniform in appearance. Its great hardness makes it very suitable for shipping, and for gas purposes it has no equal in Australia. The average specific gravity is 1.275, and the average composition of the coal taken at different parts of the area is about as follows:- Moisture, 2 per cent; volatile hydro-carbons, 41; fixed carbon, 51.20; ash, 4.60; sulphur, 1.20.

Mr. G.O. Hyde of Newcastle, has the management of the firm, his partner Mr. W.B. Bradley, having died some few weeks ago, leaving

his share vested in trustees. Mr. Thomas Cater is the manager of the colliery.

THE SOUTH GRETA COAL COMPANY
Within half a mile of the Maitland Colliery, and adjoining the estate on the north and west, is the land of the South Greta Coal Company. It was formed last year, with a capital of £80,000 in 80,000 shares of £1 each; but a few months ago it was increased to £120,000. The property of the company now consists of 1335 acres, of which 465 acres are freehold, the balance being held on a mineral lease.

The colliery first known as Homeville, was opened in 1887, the company driving a tunnel into the outcrop in a north-western direction, close to the Great Northern Railway, a half-mile west of the Maitland mine. Although some 5900 tons were won from this mine in 1888, yet it can be classed as an opening colliery, the main headings and tunnel only being now completed. For some time past the mine has been shut up, the company finding that it would not pay to draw coal from their freehold estate through the leased area, thus having to pay a royalty for their own coal. Negotiations are, however, pending for the purchase of the land, and the company will then resume work. The miners in the meantime are locked out, and are partly supported by the association.

The plant as this colliery is very complete, and capable of drawing 400 tons per day, the underground haulage being accomplished by a main rope, the empty skips finding their way to the bottom of the tunnel by gravitation. The main tunnel is at present nearly 300 yds in, the seam being 5ft in thickness increasing as the headings progress. A second tunnel close to the first, but entirely separate was driven into the cannel seam, which was also found in this mine. It is 4ft in thickness, increasing towards the east, and the coal mined from it realised a high price. When the skips are drawn from the tunnel they reach the platform, which is a very large one, where the coal is tipped over one of two common iron bar screens on to the railway waggons beneath. The coal from the cannel seam is drawn on to a different platform, where there are two other screens. The company have a double siding from the Great Northern Railway, 40 chains long, and are in a position as soon as opportunity offers to send out large quantities of coal. They have at present some 80 steel and wooden hopper waggons, the Government hauling the coal to port at a fixed rate per ton.

The Hon. E. Vickery, M.L.C., is chairman of the company, the resident director and promoter being Mr. G.O. Hyde. The head office is in Sydney, where Mr. Brentnall, the secretary, resides, the colliery being under the management of Mr. Edward White.


THE EAST GRETA COLLIERY
During the early part of the present year Messrs. H.J. Adams, R.A. Young, O.K. Young, and P.W. Waddy purchased 250 acres of coal-bearing land, due south of the above properties, and, after proving the existence of the seam, proceeded to establish their colliery. The site chosen is two miles ten chains from the Great Northern Railway, and a large tunnel is now being driven into the outcrop. All the necessary plant for drawing out 500 tons per day is being erected, the syndicate sparing no expense to fit the mine with all the latest appliances. Hauling engines of 200 horse power are on the ground, but no coal has yet been put into the market, the means of railway communication not having been finally settled.

The Maitland-Silkstone Colliery railway, the construction of which was recently sanctioned by the Government, will pass through the East Greta estate, and the syndicate propose connecting their mine with it. The seam is somewhat different from that in the above collieries, being of unusual thickness, and separated by many feet of rock. The lower portion, which is 12ft thick, is supposed to be the No. 1 Greta seam, while the upper section is of slightly inferior quality, and more adapted for steaming purposes. It is much thicker than the lower sector, averaging 30ft in places, both seams, or rather sections, dipping to the south-east. Mr. H. Cartwright is the colliery manager, the head office of the syndicate being in Maitland.

The existence of the Greta coal measures has never been proved east of Maitland, but there is little doubt that they underlie at a great depth, the Borehole seam, which is the principal ore worked in the district. The above collieries are the only ones at present opening out the Greta seam, but within a few years there is sure to be a network of mines extending from Maitland to Greta, their product being supplied, of course, at Newcastle.


THE RICHMOND VALE COAL COMPANY
Last year a Melbourne syndicate purchased the Richmond Vale estate of some 4500 acres, about nine miles south of Maitland. In October the same year they commenced sinking operations, and are at present 640ft below the surface, expecting every day to strike the coal. A large colliery plant is being erected, and when in full work the output is expected to be large. The syndicate have not yet decided as to a railway route, there being two courses open, namely to connect with the West Wallsend Coal Company's line to the east of them or to construct a private railway to join with the Great Northern Railway at West or East Maitland.