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

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THE NEWCASTLE COLLIERIES
THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS
[No IV]
Stockton Coal Company

Published 24th October, 1889
The Stockton Coal Company was formed in 1882 with a capital of £100,000 shares of £1 each, for the purpose of mining coal from the peninsula of that name, which lies to the north of the Newcastle harbour, and separates the Pacific Ocean from the estuary of the Hunter. The land is entirely composed of sand, raised a few feet above the level of the sea, and is covered with low scrub. It measures six miles in length and in appearance resembles an aboriginal's "waddy", with the thick end of the south. The lower portion only is supposed to contain available coal, and 25 years ago the late Mr Jonathan Dixon put down several bores over the peninsula. He found large deposits of quicksand and clay overlaying the Borehole seam which was afterwards found by the Scottish Australian Mining Company, who at that time held 610 acres of the land. The quicksand was proved to be held in suspension by water below the level of the sea, and the opinion in general that an underground current or set exists between the Pacific and the estuary of the Hunter.

The Stockton Company, however, determined to sink a shaft, and at that time they were not wanting persons who prophesied the speedy failure of the plucky venture. They secured the right to mine the coal at a royalty from under 120 acres of the Quigley estate, which was formerly the property of the late Dr. Mitchell. A shaft was commenced on the southern extremity of the peninsula at a point about 250 yards from the wharves, and about 400 yards from the ocean. Owing to the softness of the surface strats, iron cylinders 15ft in diameter and made of cast-iron 1 1/8 inch in thickness, and formed of rings 5ft 6in in depth, weighing about 8 tons, were sunk, under the able supervision of Mr. Rossiter, of Sydney. These cylinders were forced down to a depth of 84ft. Below that a 4ft 9in coal seam was found, but, wishing to strike the Borehole seam, work was continued through 265ft of solid rock. Just before reaching the coal the edge of a dolerite dyke was struck the coal on one side of it being obliterated. Indeed, the shaft may be said to have been put down amid a plexus of faults and intrusive dykes that in parts destroy the structure of the coal and have greatly impeded the development of the mine. The total depth of the shaft 364ft, which makes it the deepest at present working in the Northern district, but the result has justified the enormous cost, as the seam is 29ft 7in in thickness, including a band of blue shale of 6ft 6in, and other impurities, which leave over 20ft of marketable mineral of the highest quality. At the present time it is being worked in two sections, as if there separate seams, the top seam being 11ft and the bottom 7ft 6in. In one part of the mine the former is worked, while in the other they are going under the bottom of the blue shale, which varies in thickness from 6ft 6in to 12ft. In one part of the mine both sections have been worked, one above the other, forming, according to the Government inspectors, an ideal seam, and one that can scarcely be surpassed. The parting from the roof is excellent, and the seam is very free from bands. The coal is soft, and will not stand pressure or rough handling during export.

In July, 1885, the company commenced to win coal from their mine, and headings were driven in all directions for the purpose of thoroughly opening out the colliery. Numerous faults were encountered while in the north-east headings the seam was found burnt to a cinder, and in another place it had been denuded. By dint of perseverance and good management the company have succeeded in driving their headings through the dykes and faults, and picking up the seam again on the other side. The difficulties which have been overcome from the interposition of the faults in this colliery have thus been of no ordinary description, and, as stated by many experts, it would almost appear that the Stockton peninsula is intersected by dislocation that must be a serious handicap to the successful development of the colliery. As the workings have progressed, however, the difficulties have decreased, and for some months the mine has been working up to its fullest capacity.

A short time after the opening of the colliery the company succeeded in obtaining from the Scottish Australian Mining Company the right to win the coal from under 610 acres to the north of the colliery. The lease is held from the Government, and was acquired by the Scottish Australian Company many years ago. They put down five bores in different parts of the leasehold, and reached coal on two occasions, but at the narrowest part of the peninsula the bore was unable to penetrate the quicksand, although it was put down some 150 feet. Further trials showed that the surface deposit, which is 66ft at the Stockton Colliery, increases in depth to the northward until at the far end of the leasehold it is 193ft. That the seam gives out as goes north is also considered certain, as coal pipes interlaminated with the strata are all that represent the beautiful divided seam of coal now being worked at Stockton. Under the Government leasehold, however, a good seam has been found, and for the purpose of winning the coal the Scottish Australian Company many years ago attempted to sink a shaft about 6ft 6in in diameter on their land. The undertaking was abandoned owing, it is said, to iron cylinders having canted when they reached the clay.

Besides these two parcels of land the company have also obtained over 1000 acres of the Quigley estate north of the leasehold referred to. They have also an area of 680 acres under the ocean. This grant was applied for by Messrs. T. Garrett and Cowlishaw, and transferred by them to the Stockton Coal Company. It commences 30 chains north of the shaft, by a narrow strip 20 chains wide, and continues of this width along the beach for about 30 chains. It goes due east into the Pacific for about 1½ and a further grant, making 1500 acres in all, was given to the company. The water only increased about 20ft in depth for every forty chains seawards. Notwithstanding that, the late Royal Commission on the condition of the collieries adjacent to Ferndale considered that the winning of coal under the ocean in that particular part cannot be safely undertaken until it can be established that coal exists covered by strata unmistakably more favourable than that which overlies it in the Stockton Peninsula.

The disturbed character of the ground met with in the headings approaching the sea was, however, of such a nature that the work of pushing them forward was stopped, and the colliery is now being worked mainly in the north-west direction. Many people suppose that the headings are already under the harbour; but such is not the case, as the grant only extends to the water's edge. The system of working the coal in the Stockton Pit has so often been changed that the pillars are of all sorts and sizes, the majority of them being six yards, with eight-yard bords.

The machinery of the colliery consists of two 60 horse power coupled horizontal engines for winding the cages from the shaft. Two cages work in the shaft, and bring up a pair of skips at one time. Steam is supplied from two steel boilers forty feet long and six feet six inches in diameter, while the workings are kept dry by a 45 horse power condensing engine, working and eight-inch plunger pump. A complete system of underground haulage by a wire rope prevails, while the screens are on the sloping bar system so common in the district.

The ventilation of the colliery is effected by a furnace at the bottom of an air-shaft put down within a few yards of the working pit. For the purpose of increasing the output, and developing another portion of the estate the company lately decided to sink a second working shaft, and for that reason have called up another £20,000 of their capital. The site of the new pit is not yet finally decided upon, but will probably be about one mile north of the present one. With this shaft the ventilation will be greatly improved, and equal to that of any other mine in the district.

The present output is about 18,000 tons per month, and for the last half-year ending June 30th last 120,000 tons were raised. The mine is capable when worked to the fullest extent of putting out 250,000 tons per annum, but when the second working shaft is finished that capacity could be greatly increased.

In 1886 the total output raised was 84,459 tons, but in 1887 it was increased to 150,000, valued at £62,000. Last year the amount raised was 182,450 tons, a record which was only excelled by Wallsend and the A.A. Company. It was, however, owing to the fact that while nearly all the collieries were closed for three months during the year on account of the strike among the miners, the Stockton Colliery was, owing to certain special arrangements, only idle for a few weeks. These figures, however, show that the mine has been developed with great rapidity. At the present time nearly 330 men are employed in the colliery and 70 on the surface.

Being within a few yards of the harbour the company are able to ship their mineral with very little handling and at a very low cost. They have at the present time two staiths, at which the largest vessel can coal. The waggons after being filled at the screens are hauled up an inclined plane on to the loading banks by means of a wire rope attached to the drum of an engine. Besides this they have the use of one of the Government steam cranes, and are in a position to load over 100 tons of coal per day.

The trade of the Stockton Company is principally intercolonial, but during the last week they loaded a 3000-ton ship for San Francisco. They have secured a six years contract to supply the Melbourne Gas-works with nearly 200,000 tons of coal per annum at 11s per ton; and, as this represents three-fourths of their capable output, the company have little reason to fear a depression. The contract is dated from the 1st January last.

The head office of the company is in Sydney, where Mr. J.J. Weston, the general manager resides. Mr. J.M. Hyde is the local shipping manager, and Mr Jonathon Dixon is the colliery manager, having succeeded Mr. Thomas some few weeks ago. During the recent strike the company seceded from the Northern Coal Sales' Association, and the colliery is now a non-associated one.