Dawson Valley Colliery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dawson Valley Colliery |
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Coal Bin and Headframe, Dawson Valley Colliery, 2008
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| Location | Morgan Street and The Esplanade, Baralaba, Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1921 - |
| Official name: Dawson Valley Colliery (former), Baralaba Coal Mine | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 18 September 2009 |
| Reference no. | 602723 |
| Significant period | 1921-1969 |
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The Dawson Valley Colliery was an important coal mine in Queensland, Australia. It is located near the town of Baralaba, close to the Dawson River. This mine operated for many years, from 1921 until 1969. Today, it is a heritage-listed site, meaning it is protected because of its historical importance. It is also known as the Baralaba Coal Mine.
Contents
History of the Dawson Valley Coal Mine
The Dawson Valley Colliery started in 1921. It is found in the Dawson River area of Central Queensland. This area is part of the huge Bowen Basin coal fields.
The Bowen Basin Coal Fields
The Bowen Basin is a massive area, about 600 kilometres (370 miles) long and 250 kilometres (155 miles) wide. It holds about 70% of Queensland's coal. The coal here is very old, from the Permian age. It is super important for Queensland, providing almost all of its coking coal and 60% of its thermal coal. Many of Queensland's top coal mines are in the Bowen Basin.
Coal was first spotted in the Bowen Basin in 1845 by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt. He saw coal in the Mackenzie River. After Europeans settled in the 1860s, more coal was found. Commercial mining in the Bowen Basin really took off in the 1920s.
Early Coal Discoveries and Mining Efforts
People started looking for coal in the Dawson River area in 1899. A geologist found a coal seam in the Dawson River. There was a rush for mining permits, but the coal samples were not good enough for the Royal Navy ships.
The Queensland Government opened the first coal mine at Baralaba in 1916. This was possible because the Dawson Valley railway line was being built. The mine supplied coal to the railway, but its quality was often criticised. A big flood in 1928 closed this government mine.
Mount Morgan Company Takes Over
The Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited then took over the mining leases. By 1921, they were mining coal and sending it to their main mine at Mount Morgan. Over 90 men worked there, producing about 150 tonnes (165 short tons) of coal a day. The mine closed temporarily in 1929 but reopened in 1932.
Mount Morgan Limited took full control again in 1936. They improved the mine with better ventilation and modern machines. They dug several tunnels for coal. This phase continued until 1944 when mining became difficult. The company then moved to a new tunnel, number seven, and kept mining until 1969.
Many of the buildings and structures you see today were built around 1944 for the number seven tunnel. This includes the headframe and coal bin, made mostly from local timber.
Later Operations and Closure
After 1946, the mine became more mechanised. Coal was moved by a diesel train and skips. In 1968, 54 men worked at the mine.
The mine even sent coal to Japan and Holland in 1961 and 1962. Production reached its highest in 1965. Coal was also sent to Malaysia and Thailand.
Work stopped at the mine in 1969. This happened because the Mount Morgan mine switched to oil for fuel. Also, newer, better coal mines were opening up. The Dawson Valley Colliery produced over 1.2 million tonnes (1.3 million short tons) of coal in total. The mine officially closed on March 9, 1969.
What You Can See at the Mine Site
The former Dawson Valley Colliery is located near the Dawson River in Baralaba. There are about fourteen structures still standing, some in good condition and others as ruins. Most buildings are made of timber and corrugated iron.
Headframe and Shaft
This is a tall structure above the mine shaft. It has a coal bin and an inclined track. The headframe helped bring coal up from underground. Part of it collapsed in 1993, but you can still see parts of the system that moved the coal skips.
Crushing and Screening Plant
This plant is where coal was sorted and crushed. A conveyor belt moved coal from the headframe to this plant. It has a crusher and vibrating screens that separated coal by size. There's also a platform for the operator.
Surface Crib Room
This was a small building where miners could take a break and eat. It has three rooms with concrete floors and a corrugated iron roof. There are wooden benches and seats inside.
Fan House
The fan house holds a large fan that was used to move air in and out of the mine tunnels. This was very important for keeping the air fresh and safe for miners underground.
Winder and Compressor House
This building housed the machinery that controlled the mine's lifts (winders) and compressed air. The winder pulled the coal skips up and down the shaft. The compressor made high-pressure air for tools used underground. You can still see the winding engine and compressors inside.
Transformer Yard
This is an enclosed area with electrical equipment. It has tall wooden posts and transformers that helped manage the mine's power supply. Signs warn of "Danger 22,000 Volts."
Block Making Plant
This small building was used to make concrete blocks. It has a simple wooden frame and a corrugated iron roof.
Electrical and Drill Store
This shed was used to store electrical parts and drilling equipment. It has shelves and bays for different items, like drill bits and parts for air drills. Many old parts are still there.
Workshop
The workshop was a place for repairs and maintenance. It has workbenches, tools, and even an old underground locomotive. Different rooms stored plumbing fittings, hoses, and other machinery parts.
Fuel, Pipe, and Detonator Sheds
These three sheds are joined together. The fuel shed stored fuel, the pipe rack stored pipes, and the detonator store held detonators (small explosives used to set off larger ones). These sheds were important for the mine's daily operations.
Change House
This building was where miners changed their clothes and got ready for work. It has a lamp room, a drying room for wet clothes, a shower room, and a change room. There are benches, pegs for clothes, and even an old fire heater. Water tanks and a boiler provided hot water for showers.
Toilet Block
Located next to the change house, this building provided toilets and a urinal for the miners. It also had a small room that stored equipment, including old cap lights and battery chargers.
Explosives Magazine
This building, located a bit further away, was used to store explosives safely. It is a small building inside a larger shed, designed to be very secure.
Detonator Magazine
This smaller, ruined structure was used to store detonators, which are very sensitive. It was also located away from the main mine buildings for safety.
Other items found at the site include coal skips, underground locomotives, and various tools. The site is surrounded by open woodland, with some trees and shrubs growing among the old structures.
Why Dawson Valley Colliery is Heritage Listed
The former Dawson Valley Colliery was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2009. This means it is recognised as a very important historical site for several reasons:
- Showing Queensland's History: The colliery shows how coal mining developed in Queensland. It was one of the first successful underground coal mines in the Dawson River Valley and the Bowen Basin. It also shows how mining methods changed before large open-cut mines became common.
- A Rare and Intact Mine: This mine is one of only two mostly complete former underground coal mines left in the Bowen Basin. It is also quite rare in Queensland for how much of it is still intact.
- Potential for New Information: The site can teach us a lot about underground coal mining, the working conditions, and how technology changed in the industry. It is like an archaeological site that can reveal more about how the mine was set up and used.
- Connection to Mount Morgan Company: The colliery is important because of its link to the famous Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company. This mine provided coal for the Mount Morgan mine, which was once Australia's biggest gold and copper mine. It shows how big the Mount Morgan company's operations were.
- A Great Example of a Mine: The colliery is an excellent example of a typical underground coal mine from the mid-1900s. Most of its surface buildings are still there, many with their original equipment. This includes the headframe, crushing plant, workshops, and various sheds. It helps us understand the mining process and the living conditions for miners of that time.
