Balmain Colliery


Balmain Colliery was a coal mine located in Birchgrove in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It produced coal from 1897 until 1931 and natural gas until 1945. At approximately in depth, it remains the deepest coal mine ever to have been sunk in Australia.

Location

The colliery was located on the northern side of the Balmain Peninsula, on the corner of Birchgrove Road and Water Street, next to Birchgrove Public School.

History

The presence of coal was confirmed in 1891 with bores at Birchgrove and Cremorne Point. Permission to mine from the Department of Mines was granted in 1894 with another parcel of land between Rose Bay and Vaucluse also applied for in 1895. Sydney Harbour Collieries start the mine, however the company was wound up in 1896; and the mine was bought by the Harbour Collieries Co.
Two shafts, named Birthday and Jubilee, were sunk between 1897 and 1902.
The mine produced coal from 1897 until 1931 and natural gas until 1945.
The site is now occupied by the Hopetoun Quays residential complex.

Mining accidents

Three fatal accidents occurred at the mine claiming ten lives: