State Coal Mine Facts for Kids

Coordinates: 38°37′07″S 145°35′42″E / 38.6185499°S 145.5951091°E / -38.6185499; 145.5951091

Section of restored underground tunnel in Division One.

The State Coal Mine, also known as State Coal Mine Heritage Area, is a former 20th century state-owned black coal mine located in Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia. The mine was operational from 1910 until 1968 and is now a state park and tourist attraction.

History

The coal deposits at the site are estimated to be more than 150 million years old and the tunnels of the mine encompass nearly 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi), forming an underground ring around the town of Wonthaggi. The site is located adjacent to the former railway line to Melbourne via Wonthaggi.

The State Coal Mine and the town of Wonthaggi came into being in 1909 to supply coal for the Victorian Railways. Rising from its beginnings as a makeshift "Tent Town", Wonthaggi quickly grew to the thriving town we know today. Operating from 1909 to 1968, the State Coal Mine produced almost 17 million tonnes (19 million short tons) of coal, and at its peak in 1926 the mine produced 2,435 long tons (2,474 t) per day, with the Victorian Railways buying 90% of production. It was one also of the largest and most dangerous collieries in Australia. By the 1930s, with industrial actions and coal in the larger seams running out, production had dropped, but the mine was subsidised and operated until 1968 when regular steam locomotive usage was phased out.

Tourism

Today the precinct is operated by Parks Victoria and is open for the public to explore the heritage mine site. The State Coal Mine is the only historic coal mine experience in the Southern Hemisphere.

The attraction offers visitors a journey back in time to discover what life working in a coal mine was like in the 1900s. It is an educational experience, predominantly for families, to tour the underground network of tunnels and learn how Victoria's men extracted the black gold.

Key attractions include:

Guided underground coal mine tour
Theatrette and shop
Museum
Visitor information centre and cafe
Theatrette and interpretative centre
Walking tracks and picnic area (BBQ facilities are available)
Historic buildings and heritage trail

Facilities at the site underwent a $3 million upgrade in 2012 allowing underground tours to resume after an eight-year hiatus to bring them into line with new safety requirements.

Museums and galleries in Victoria

Unclassified	Churchill Island Heritage Farm Kerrisdale Mountain Railway & Museum National Holden Motor Museum Surf World Museum Tiger Moth World

Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula	Ford Discovery Centre (closed) Geelong Art Gallery Geelong Maritime Museum Portarlington Mill National Wool Museum (Geelong) Barwon Grange The Heights Heritage House

Gippsland	Coal Creek Community Park and Museum Foster and District Historical Society Museum Coal Creek Community Park and Museum Gippsland Armed Forces Museum Gippsland Regional Maritime Museum Gippsland Vehicle Collection Lakeside Antique Machinery Museum Latrobe Regional Gallery Maffra Sugar Beet Museum Mallacoota Bunker Museum Old Gippstown Sale Historical Museum State Coal Mine

Goldfields and Macedon Ranges	Art Gallery of Ballarat Ballarat Tramway Museum Bendigo Art Gallery Buda Historic Home and Garden Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum Clunes Museum Convent Gallery Creswick Museum Golden Dragon Museum Kyneton Museum Maldon Museum Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Post Office Gallery Smythesdale Court House Sovereign Hill St Arnaud Historical Museum The Bible Museum Worsley Cottage Complex

Melbourne	Altona Homestead Museum Ambleside Park Museum Australian Army Signals Museum Bundoora Homestead Art Centre Burrinja Cultural Centre Como House Fire Services Museum Victoria Fox Classic Car Collection Heide Museum of Modern Art HMAS Castlemaine Labassa Maroondah Art Gallery Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club Melbourne's Living Museum of the West Melbourne Tram Museum Monash Gallery of Art Mulberry Hill (Langwarrin South, Victoria) Museo Italiano Newport Railway Museum] Rippon Lea Estate Royal Australian Army Pay Corps Museum Schramm's Cottage Complex Schwerkolt Cottage Steamrail Victoria Tasma Gallery Victorian Jazz Archive Villa Alba Warrandyte Post Office Museum Werribee Park Whitehorse Art Space Williamstown Historical Society Museum Yarra Ranges Regional Museum

Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island	Beleura Cape Schanck Lighthouse HMAS Cerberus Museum Charlie's Arthur's Seat Auto Museum Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Reserve Dromana Historical Museum Flinders Historical Museum Hastings-Western Port Historical Society McCrae Homestead Mornington Old Post Office Museum Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery National Vietnam Veterans Museum Sorrento Museum

North and North-east	Alexandra Timber Tramway Australian Army Museum, Bandiana Australian Army Artillery Museum (closed) Beechworth Gaol Benalla Art Gallery Benalla Costume and Pioneer Museum Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre Burke Museum (Australia) Cohuna & District Historical Society Museum Echuca Historical Society Museum Eldorado Museum Forestry Heritage Museum Melbourne Tramway Museum National Alpine Museum of Australia Ned Kelly Museum Royal Australian Armoured Corps Memorial and Army Tank Museum Seymour Railway Heritage Centre Shepparton Art Museum Wangaratta Art Gallery Wangaratta Museum Yackandandah Museum Chiltern Athenaeum Chiltern Motor Museum Dow's Pharmacy Federal Standard Printing Works Lake View House

North-west	Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Pioneer Settlement

South-west	Apollo Bay Museum Barwon Park Bass Strait Shell Museum Cape Otway Lightstation Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Fort Queenscliff Port Fairy History Centre Portland Maritime Discovery Centre Portland Powerhouse Motor & Car Museum Queenscliffe Historical Museum Queenscliffe Maritime Museum Warrnambool Art Gallery

West	Allansford Cheese World Museum Ararat Gallery TAMA Coleraine Car Museum Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre Hamilton Art Gallery J Ward Langi Morgala Museum Mooramong Sir Reginald Ansett Transport Museum Horsham Regional Art Gallery Stawell Historical Society Museum

Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges	Andrew Ross Museum Gulf Station Lilydale & District Historical Society Museum Mont De Lancey Homestead and Museum TarraWarra Museum of Art Upper Yarra Museum

Mines in Victoria

Alpine	Morning Star A1 Gold Mine

Latrobe Valley	Loy Yang Hazelwood Yallourn

Murray Basin	Douglas Mine

Western Gold	Augusta gold mine Fosterville gold mine Maxwell's gold mine Ballarat East gold project

Wonthaggi	State Coal Mine

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State Coal Mine Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

State Coal Mine facts for kids

History

Tourism