State Coal Mine facts for kids
The State Coal Mine, also known as the State Coal Mine Heritage Area, is an old black coal mine in Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia. It was owned by the state and operated from 1910 until 1968. Today, it's a special state park and a fun place for visitors to explore.
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A Journey Through Time: The State Coal Mine's Story
The coal found here is super old, more than 150 million years old! The mine's tunnels stretch for almost 5,000 kilometers underground, forming a huge ring around the town of Wonthaggi. The mine was built next to the old railway line that went to Melbourne through Wonthaggi.
The State Coal Mine and the town of Wonthaggi started in 1909. Their main job was to provide coal for the Victorian Railways' trains. Wonthaggi quickly grew from a "Tent Town" into the busy place it is today. The mine operated for almost 60 years, from 1909 to 1968. During this time, it produced nearly 17 million tonnes of coal.
Peak Production and Challenges
In 1926, the mine was at its busiest. It produced 2,435 tonnes of coal every day! The Victorian Railways bought 90% of all the coal produced. This mine was one of the biggest and also one of the most challenging to work in across Australia.
By the 1930s, coal production started to drop. This was due to workers' strikes and the bigger coal seams running out. However, the mine kept running with financial help from the government. It finally closed in 1968 when steam trains were no longer used regularly.
Explore the State Coal Mine Today
Today, Parks Victoria looks after the State Coal Mine. It is open for everyone to visit and learn about its history. This is the only historic coal mine experience in the Southern Hemisphere!
Visiting the mine is like stepping back in time. You can discover what life was like for coal miners in the 1900s. It's a great learning experience, especially for families. You can tour the underground tunnels and see how miners dug out the "black gold."
What Can You See and Do?
There are many cool things to do and see at the State Coal Mine:
- Guided tours of the underground coal mine.
- A special movie theatre and a shop.
- A museum filled with interesting facts.
- A visitor information center and a cafe.
- An interpretive center to help you understand the mine's history.
- Walking tracks and picnic areas with BBQ facilities.
- Historic buildings and a heritage trail to explore.
In 2012, the site had a big upgrade costing $3 million. This allowed the underground tours to start again after being closed for eight years. The upgrades made sure everything met new safety rules.
