Minmi, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minmi Newcastle, New South Wales
Minmi Location in the Hunter-Central Coast Region
Postcode(s)	2287
Area	1.8 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Location	19 km (12 mi) WNW of Newcastle
LGA(s)	City of Newcastle
Parish	Hexham
State electorate(s)	Cessnock
Federal Division(s)	Newcastle

Minmi (pronounced min-my) is a suburb located west of Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia. It's about 19 kilometers (12 miles) from Newcastle's city center. Minmi is part of the City of Newcastle local government area.

In the late 1800s, Minmi was a very important place for coal mining. A company called J & A Brown owned and managed many of the mines here. The mines in Minmi were connected by a private railway line. This line crossed the Hexham Swamp to reach J & A Brown's loading docks on the Hunter River at Hexham. The company's engineering workshops were also located in Hexham.

Minmi's Past: A Look at Its History

Before European Settlers Arrived

For about 40,000 years, the land where Minmi is today was home to the Pambalong people. They were a group of Aboriginal people, thought to be part of the larger Awabakal nation from Lake Macquarie. Their land stretched from the south bank of the Hunter River west to Tarro. It also went south towards Lake Macquarie and the foothills of the Sugarloaf Range. By the late 1800s, there were no longer any Pambalong people living in the Minmi area.

Key Moments in Minmi's History

Here are some important dates in Minmi's history, mostly from a sign in Minmi Park:

• 1835 – Coal was first found by Harry Styles.
• 1848 – The first coal mines were opened by William Robson and the Turner Brothers.
• 1850s – More coal mining began, including by Eales and the Brown Brothers.
• 1860s – The company J & A Brown bought all the land and mining rights in Minmi.
• 1861 – Public education started in Minmi. The first miners' union was also formed.
• 1877 – The Back Creek tunnel, used for mining, was opened. Minmi held its first race day.
• 1878 – A new school opened with 300 students. A police station was also set up.
• 1882 – John Brown became the manager of J & A Brown.
• 1884 – The first soccer game in Newcastle was played here. It was between Minmi Rangers and Lambton.
• 1890s – A Progress Association was started to help improve the town.
• 1895 – A post office and a courthouse were built.
• 1900s – Minmi's population reached its highest point, with about 6,000 people living there.
• 1909 – New coal fields opened in Maitland. Many mining families left Minmi for places like Cessnock and Kurri Kurri because the pay was better there.
• 1924 – John Brown closed the Back Creek mines.
• 1929 – There was a big coal strike and lockout, stopping work at the mines.
• 1930 – John Brown passed away.
• 1949 – A seven-week strike happened. The army was used in the open-cut mine.
• 1951 – Open-cut mining stopped. The Back Creek area was damaged.
• 1961 – Minmi celebrated 100 years of public education. A new school opened.
• 1980 – Residents finally won the legal rights to their land titles.
• 1990s – Minmi land was rezoned, meaning it could be used for different things. The Bonnie Doon Estate was built.
• 1992 – A new freeway was opened near Minmi.
• 1995 – A fire station was officially opened.

Minmi Cemetery: A Place of Rest

Minmi Cemetery has 598 graves. The oldest known grave belongs to Eliza Chapman, who died on January 21, 1863. Some graves might be even older, but their inscriptions are too worn to read. Many graves also do not have markers.

The cemetery was first set up on land owned by J & A Brown. They allowed it to be used by the public. On August 9, 2002, the Minmi Heritage Garden was created next to the cemetery. This garden was paid for by Coal & Allied.

Images for kids

• 

  A sign showing Minmi's history

• 

  A brake wagon from J & A Brown's mines

• 

  A view of the bushland around Minmi

• 

  Woodford Street in Minmi at dusk