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CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for the ____________________ THE LAMBTON COLLIERY PRECINCT, REDHEAD ____________________

Prepared by:

November, 2008

NSW Department of Commerce 3 Office of Public Works & Services

__________________________________________________________________________________ Former Lambton Colliery Precinct, Redhead Conservation Management Plan Lake Macquarie City Council November 2008

Table of Contents:

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 2.0 INTRODUCTION 5 2.1 Background 2.2 Methodology 2.3 Definitions 2.4 Abbreviations 2.5 Acknowledgements 2.6 Limitations 2.7 Study Area 3.0 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE 9 3.1 History of Lambton Colliery, Redhead 3.2 Rail Transport 3.3 Buildings and Structures 3.4 The People and Incidents 3.5 Upcast Shaft Group 3.6 Former Fan Engine House, Later Switch Room 3.7 Former Upcast Shaft Winder House 3.8 Former Upcast Shaft Boiler House 3.9 Summary 3.10 Observations of the Significance of Remaining Structures 3.11 The importance of Thomas Croudace 3.12 Documentary Evidence Bibliography 4.0 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 48 4.1 The site elements 4.2 The Setting 4.3 Understanding the Fabric 4.4 Moveable Objects 4.5 Comparative Analysis 4.6 Historical Archaeology Assessment and Zoning 4.7 Indigenous Archaeology Assessment 5.0 CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE 58 5.1 Basis of Assessment 5.2 The Burra Charter 5.3 The State Heritage Register 5.4 Grading Of Significant Fabric 5.5 Statement Of Cultural Significance 6.0 CONSTRAINTS & OPPORTUNITIES 66 6.1 Statutory Requirements 6.2 Heritage Listings 6.3 Future Adaptive Re-use Requirements 6.4 Ordinance Compliance 6.5 Implications Of Existing Condition 6.6 Curtilage 6.7 Interpretation 7.0 CONSERVATION POLICIES 76 7.1 Explanation 7.2 Integration into the Management of the Site 7.3 Management of the Site 7.4 Process for Approvals 7.5 Context 7.6 Integrity of the Design 7.7 Archaeology 7.8 Conservation Approach 7.9 Interpretation of the Place 7.10 Intrusive Building Issues 7.11 Adaptive Re-Use 7.12 Use of Existing Building Areas 7.13 Introduction of New Buildings 7.14 Movable Heritage 7.15 Maintenance of Extant Items 7.16 Recording 8.0 POLICY IMPLEMENTATION 87 8.1 Short Term 8.2 Long Term 8.3 Maintenance Works 8.4 Responsibilities 8.5 Review of 1994 Conservation Guidelines 8.6 Bibliography 9.0 APPENDICES 91



1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This review of the Conservation Management Plan for the Lambton Colliery Precinct, Redhead site was commissioned by Lake Macquarie City Council and prepared by the NSW Department of Commerce Office of Public Works & Services in conjunction with specialist sub-consultants. The original Conservation Plan was prepared for the whole mine site as it existed in 1992, following its closure as an operating colliery, by Robert Irving and Christopher Pratten, Heritage and Conservation Consultants. Demolition began on the Lambton Colliery’s main shaft group of buildings and structures on 12 May 1993, following a decision in favour of FAI Property Services Ltd in the NSW Land and Environment Court. In 1994 Irving & Pratten prepared a Measured Study of the Former Upcast Shaft Ensemble incorporating Guidelines for the Conservation of the Upcast Shaft Enclosure. These guidelines have been reviewed and found to remain relevant today and the foreseeable future. Additional comments have been made to these guidelines in both this review document and the Masterplan for the on-going care of the site. The review has included historical input from local historian Ed Tonks, a recognised authority on the history of railways and coal mining in the hunter and a published author of “Lambton by the Sea, the last 19th Century Colliery on the Newcastle Coalfield”, published in 1995 following the demolition of the main Downcast Shaft group of buildings on 12 may 1993. The significance of the structures has been reviewed to current NSW Heritage Office guidelines and the site has been found to be of STATE heritage significance as a whole, with the upcast shaft Enclosure and Fan Engine House being of individual State heritage significance and the Winder House (Survey Office) and Store House (Boiler House) of Local heritage significance. The Upcast Shaft Enclosure is in need of structural repair, however as a rare form of technology for its period, would form the basis of an interpretive space for coal mining and associated railway activity. The Fan Engine House beside the shaft is a small space originally housing the engine driving the large Waddle ventilation fan, would make an excellent interpretation centre for mining and railway activity, including the nearby former rail corridor now known as the Fernleigh Track. The two remaining buildings require fewer repairs than the shaft enclosure resulting from long term vandalism. The buildings would lend themselves well to a community use or commercial use to create a site presence. Recommendations for alterations to the existing landscaping to open the site for ease of security surveillance are also provided. The site can incorporate new structures to assist with potential future income to help support maintenance of the heritage buildings on the site. Guidelines for development are included in this review document and the Masterplan for the site. The extension of the Fernleigh Track past the site will play an important role in providing a source of potential future visitors to any future interpretive centre or community and commercial use of the buildings. Council and the site management committee should use this document in conjunction with the site Masterplan and specialist heritage consultants in the on-going maintenance and adaptive re-use of the site and its interesting buildings.

Date: 26 November 2008 John Carr Heritage Architect Office of Public Works & Services (Reg. No. 4128)



2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 BACKGROUND The former Lambton Colliery ‘B’ Pit Buildings at Redhead have occupied the present site since 1894 and have recently come under Council Ownership. The site has acknowledged heritage values and is listed as an item of Local significance in the Lake Macquarie City Council’s Local Environmental Plan 2004 (LMLEP 2004). This review of the Conservation Management Plan has been prepared following a decision by Lake Macquarie City Council to update the original CMP prepared by Irving & Pratten in 1992, prior to the demolition of the all buildings on site except the Up Cast Shaft group, which was retained for community use. This report provides an update of the significance of the place to Heritage Office guidelines and provides additional policies for the future adaptive re-use and ongoing asset maintenance of the site.

Plate 2.1: Locality Map (Source UBD 17th edition 2002)

Site



2.2 METHODOLOGY This report follows the structure as set out in J.S. Kerr, The Conservation Plan: A Guide to the Preparation of Conservation Plans for Places of European Cultural Significance, published by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) 2000, and is consistent with the guidelines to the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance, The Burra Charter, 1999. The following diagram illustrates the sequence of work adopted:

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

PHYSICAL ANALYSIS

UNDERSTANDING

THE PLACE

ASSESSMENT OF

SIGNIFICANCE

CLIENTS NEEDS

& CONSTRAINTS

OTHER NEEDS

& CONSTRAINTS

CONSERVATION POLICY

IMPLEMENTATION

2.3 DEFINITIONS The following definitions taken from the Burra Charter have been used in this report. Fabric means all the physical material of the place. Conservation means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its cultural significance. It includes maintenance and may, according to circumstance, include preservation, restoration and adaptation and will be commonly a combination of more than one of these.



Maintenance means the continuous protective care of the fabric, contents and setting of a place, and is to be distinguished from repair. Repair involves restoration or reconstruction and should be treated accordingly. Preservation means maintaining the fabric of a place in its existing state and retarding deterioration. Restoration means returning the existing fabric of a place to a known earlier state by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material. Reconstruction means returning a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state and is distinguished by the introduction of materials (new or old) into the fabric. This is not to be confused with either re-creation or conjectural reconstruction, which are outside the scope of the charter. Adaptation means modifying a place to suit proposed compatible uses. Compatible use means a use involving no change to the culturally significant fabric, changes, which are substantially reversible, or changes requiring minimal impact. 2.4 ABBREVIATIONS

AHC Australian Heritage Commission CMP Conservation Management Plan DUAP Department of Urban Affairs & Planning DET Department of Education and Training OPWS Office of Public Works and Services (Dept. of Commerce) HO Heritage Office. ICOMOS International Council of Monuments and Sites NT National Trust of Australia (NSW) HAHS Hunter Area Health Service LEP Local Environmental Plan REP Regional Environmental Plan SOHI Statement of Heritage Impact SHR State Heritage Register S170 Section 170 Register LMCC Lake Macquarie City Council

2.5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The team responsible for this study consisted of:

John Carr, Heritage Architect

Hunter-New England Regional Office, NSW Department of Commerce

Katrina Kerr Heritage Planner

Hunter-New England Regional Office, NSW Department of Commerce

Ed Tonks Coal Mining & Railway Historian

The authors of this report acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals and organisations that helped with their time and other resources during the preparation of this report.

Sharon Pope Lake Macquarie City Council Mary Loder Lake Macquarie City Council Ulrike Hora Lake Macquarie City Council John Ferguson Lake Macquarie City Council Kate Ramzan-Levy Lake Macquarie City Council Lyn Patrick Lake Macquarie City Council Representatives of - Friends of Lambton Colliery Representatives of - Lake Macquarie Historical Society Representatives of - Retired Miners Union George Mowbray Former Manager, Lambton Colliery Principal Heritage Officer & Staff NSW Heritage Office.



2.6 LIMITATIONS This review of the Conservation Management Plan has been prepared and the policy formulated based on information researched within the time frame and budget allocated for preparing this report. The information contained in this document was complete at the time of preparation of this report. Such searches, however, are never exhaustive and it should be expected that further information would come to light over the time. It is, therefore, recommended that the Conservation Management Plan be updated after a period of time (say, ten years) or as new evidence comes to light. Due to major intervention from the levelling of the entire site area for Mining purposes, neither Aboriginal Heritage nor Natural Heritage has been assessed on this site. 2.7 STUDY AREA The study area is the site registered as Lot 68 DP 878840, 1 Geraldton Drive, Redhead.

Plate 2.2: Aerial photo of the site showing the boundaries. (Source LMCC)

Plate 2.3: Detail of Lambton ‘B’ Pit upcast Shaft in 1946.

(Source: Lambton by the Sea – Photo BHP Collieries )

Study Site



3.0 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE 3.1 HISTORY OF LAMBTON COLLIERY, REDHEAD The remaining upcast shaft group of colliery buildings located off Collier Street, Redhead were once a significant operational component of Lambton Colliery. To have Lambton Colliery at Redhead appears to defy geography, as the Newcastle suburb of Lambton is located some thirteen kilometres to the northwest of Redhead. To have a coal mine at Redhead named “Lambton” is the result of an historical process and not a deliberate distortion of geography. A number of themes intermesh to produce Lambton Colliery’s century-plus of European history. Some of these are: -

• It has been known by different names throughout time. • Over time it has been owned by different companies • Architecture and structures that reflect particular design backgrounds and functional

purposes. • A human theme which reflects people who have made decisions, people who have

worked there, people who died whilst at work and conflict between management and workers.

• Application of technology for mining purposes. • Rail transport.

Names of Colliery The Scottish Australian Mining Company developed what was to become Lambton Colliery at Redhead. The Scottish Australian Mining Company was formed in 1858 and acquired coal bearing land in the Newcastle area in 1860. 1 The company opened its original Lambton Colliery in the Newcastle township of Lambton in 1862. The previous year, Thomas Croudace had arrived from England to oversee the opening of the mine and to become colliery manager and engineer. 2 To maintain and expand its impressive level of coal trade into the future, the Scottish Australian Mining Company obtained in 1886, by mineral lease from the government and by direct purchase of privately owned land an area of 1301 hectares of coal bearing land at “The Redhead”.3 North of England place names were chosen by the company for its new acquisition. Initially the name “Ryhope” was chosen by Thomas Croudace and the Department of Mines and Agriculture duly notified. The name was appropriate as both “Ryhopes” were mining developments with ocean boundaries resulting in superb coastal views. The English Ryhope has the North Sea and the New South Wales Ryhope was to be the Pacific Ocean. (Today’s “Ryhope” to the west of Toronto, clearly lacks the coastal ambience of its English precursor). By 1888 Ryhope had been renamed Durham Colliery. County Durham in the north of England was a major coal-producing district centred on the River Wear. Thomas Croudace was born at Chincliffe, Durham in 1838. Durham Colliery, one of many which operated around the River Wear, is reported as being the original upon which Thomas Croudace modelled his company’s new colliery at Redhead. 4 Shaft sinking commenced on block No. 113, “Water Reserve No 4”, Redhead during the first week of September 1887. All the necessary equipment, pulley frame, engine, boiler and seat houses, etc. had been assembled on site during August 1887. 5

1 Hubbuck, GR “The Scottish Companies and the Founding of Lambton”, Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society Publication No. 2 2 Kingswell, GH “The Coal Mines of Newcastle. Their Rise and Progress”, Newcastle Herald 1890. 3 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea – The last 19th Century Colliery on the Newcastle Coalfield” Headframe Publishing 1995. 4 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea” 5 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea”



Physical condition; alluvium, sand and water, made sinking operations slow, difficult and expensive. Thomas Croudace had to employ cast-iron tubing to sink shafts through this material. (More on tubbing in “Importance/Significance” section). The sinking of a second shaft commenced in 1888. Work on the upcast shaft was not continuous. Its delay could in part be contributed to its collapse when its tubbing shifted out of alignment.6 Due to a combination of difficult physical conditions and the general economic downturn associated with the depression of the 1890’s, the development of Durham Colliery was a stop-start affair. The Newcastle Morning Herald on 13 September 1893 reported progress and hopes for Durham Colliery. “The plant at the colliery has been all erected for many months, and it is capable of raising 750 tons of coal per diem. No coal has yet, of course, been shipped from Durham, and the long period of delay which has taken place in the construction of the railway is due to the apathy of the Legislature. The bill was passed last session after months of delay; but as the coal trade was far from brisk, the company were in no hurry to open the new colliery, and so the waste of time caused by Parliament did not seriously interfere with the arrangements. The mine has been opened out under the personal supervision of Mr Thomas Croudace, the general manager of the company, who is confident that Durham will in the near future be one of the chief collieries in the district.” The Mines Department Report for 1893 makes this reference to Durham Colliery, “About twelve men are working at the second shaft in connection with an under-level drift for water standage. Several men are also employed at the surface in the erection of the pit-head gear and machinery at the main shaft. Surface arrangements etc. are nearing completion. They will bear favourable comparison with any colliery machinery yet erected in the colony.” Durham Colliery appeared in the Department of Mines Report for 1893 with an employment of 39 men above ground and 9 underground making a total of 48. Other Northern District collieries to appear on page 35 of the report were:-

• Australian Agricultural Company’s • Burwood • Burwood Extended • Brown’s at Minmi • Co-operative at Plattsburg • Dudley, near Charlestown • Duckenfield, Minmi • Ebbw Vale, Adamstown • Ferndale, Wickham • Hetton, Carrington • Lambton, Lambton • Newcastle Wallsend, Wallsend • Newcastle Coal Company, Merewether • New Lambton C Pit, Adamstown • Pacific, Teralba • Stockton, Stockton • South Waratah, Charlestown • Seaham, West Wallsend • Wickham and Bullock Island, Carrington • West Wallsend, West Wallsend • Wallarah, Catherine Hill Bay

All of these collieries, which once created employment and generated wealth, are now closed with most of their sites redeveloped. If not redeveloped, all colliery buildings and virtually all of the structures have been demolished or removed. Of all the buildings associated with this 1893 listing only the upcast shaft group of buildings erected during the 1890s when Lambton Colliery was known as Durham, remain. At a near complete stage work on Durham Colliery was suspended from about June, 1894.7

6 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea” 7 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea”



During 1894 the company purchased the Burwood Coal Company, which had shafts located on the southern shore of Glenrock Lagoon and at Whitebridge. Unlike Durham Colliery, Burwood Colliery was a proven coal producer. On 21 February 1898 the Department of Mines had been notified that Durham Colliery would be known as Lambton No. 2. By 11 August of the same year, when notice was given that the drawing of coal had been discontinued, the colliery was referred to as Lambton B. During 1899 the colliery was idle except for keeping the shafts free of water. On 29 January, 1900, colliery manager, Frank Croudace, eldest son of Thomas Croudace, advised that work was to recommence at Lambton Colliery B Pit. Sixty six men and boys were employed initially. By 1906 the colliery work force had increased to 198 workers.8 Although the Department of Mines refers to the colliery as “Lambton B”, there is strong evidence to indicate that the Scottish Australian Mining Company referred to it as “Lambton Colliery B Pit.” A booklet of “Special Rules” certified in 1907 carries the name “Lambton Colliery “B” Pit”. A photograph of newly constructed 4-wheel non air coal hopper wagons at Clyde Engineering at Granville, shows the branding “S.A.M. Coy Ltd L C B. PIT.” The years of the Great War were to see Lambton Colliery B Pit cease production. Production resumed during 1920 when ninety seven people were employed. In the Department of Mines Report for 1923, the name “Lambton B Colliery” at Redhead appears for the last time. From 1924 the names “Lambton” at Redhead and “Old Lambton” at Lambton appear for the first time. The change in names was due to the sale of the original Lambton Colliery at Lambton by the Scottish Australian Mining Company to the firm of Hough and Jeffries. One condition of the sale was that the former company maintained exclusive use of the name “Lambton” for its colliery.9 Lambton Colliery’s last employment figure under the ownership of the Scottish Australian Mining Company was 183 employees for 1928. Operations were discontinued during June 1928. In order to supply increasing amounts of coking coal to its Newcastle Steelworks, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) acquired both Lambton and Burwood Collieries during 1932 from the Scottish Australian Mining Company. The name “Lambton” was retained and the colliery, under its new owner was set to reach levels of development that may well have surpassed the expectations of Thomas Croudace, the “architect” of the colliery. During the Bicentennial Year of 1988 Lambton Colliery’s name changes were featured on an historic site plaque. This was one of twenty one which recognised historic sites within the City of Lake Macquarie. Initially the plaque was mounted on a pedestal near the colliery sign fronting Collier Street. After closure, demolition of structures other than the upcast shaft group of buildings and the development of the Grange Estate, the plaque was relocated. It was remounted on the northern approach to the Irving and Pratten inspired archway erected as part of their interpretation of the “upcast shaft ensemble.” Summary of Names

1886 - Ryhope By 1888 - Durham Feb 1898 - Lambton No. 2 Aug 1898 - Lambton B Early 1900s - Lambton Colliery B Pit

(As indicated by company documents and photos) 1924 to 1991 - Lambton Colliery closure in 1991

(the original Colliery at Lambton was sold and became OLD Lambton)

8 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea” 9 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea”



Company Ownership Scottish Australian Mining Company – 1886

• Planned and developed colliery as Ryhope, Durham, Lambton No. 2, Lambton Colliery B Pit, Lambton. Nos 1 and 2 shafts sunk, 1890s buildings erected, pit bottom constructed, early 1900s buildings and structures erected. Worked Borehole Seam. Horses used for underground haulage. Coal hauled to surface via No1,downcast shaft.

Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd (BHP) – 1932

• Mechanised working of Victoria Tunnel Seam. Battery and electric locos used for underground haulage. Shaft haulage to surface. 1963 production ceased in Victoria Tunnel Seam. Electricity replaced steam for shaft haulage, 1961-1963 sinking of drift. 1964 opening up of Dudley Seam, erection of 2000 ton bin, demolition of headframe and pit top. Conveyor haulage in drift replaced shaft haulage. Battery storage locos used to haul materials underground. No. 3 shaft sunk. !975 re working of Borehole Seam.

Pacific Copper (subsidiary of Bond Corporation) – 1989 FAI Mining (FAI Insurance) – 1990.

• 1990 production ceased in Dudley seam. Life of colliery was to be in Borehole Seam • “new” fan installed • reduction in workforce • closure of colliery (1991)

3.2 RAIL TRANSPORT For most of its operational life Lambton Colliery’s production was conveyed by rail to either the port of Newcastle or to Morandoo sidings at Port Waratah. From Morandoo the “run of mine” coal was taken by BHP Co locomotives into the steel works, where it was washed and then loaded into the coke ovens. During railway strikes, or other interruptions to rail operations, road vehicles were used to transport Lambton’s coal. During peaks of production coal was also loaded into trucks and dumped nearby to form stock piles. Front end loaders were later used to transfer coal from the stockpiles into railway wagons. When taken by rail, Lambton’s coal was transported over the New Redhead Estate and Coal Company’s Railway. This railway was constructed in the late 1880s and early 1890s by the Redhead Coal Company. In planning Durham Colliery, Thomas Croudace wanted the colliery’s output to be transported over a private railway constructed by his own company and not transported over the Redhead Company’s Line. During 1891 there were court proceedings between the Scottish Australian Mining Company and the Redhead Coal Company regarding railway construction issues. By early 1899, plans for the company’s private railway had been dropped. The Newcastle Morning Herald for 4 February 1899 reported the news under the headlines “The Durham Colliery. Connecting the Railway Line”: “With a view to increasing their already extensive trade, the Scottish Australian Mining Company is preparing to draw coal for market from the Lambton B pit – formerly known as the Durham Colliery. A connection is now being made with the Redhead Railway, which also passes the Dudley and Burwood Collieries. During January 1900 Lambton B Junction was laid in to cater for trains, both coal and passenger serving Lambton Colliery B Pit. Early in 1900 the New Redhead Estate and Coal Company and the Scottish Australian Mining Company reached an agreement whereby the latter company worked both coal and passenger trains beyond Dudley Junction to Lambton Colliery B Pit. The Scottish Australian Mining Company’s locomotive “Newcastle” was used as haulage on coal trains. An ex NSWGR Tramways tram car was used as passenger accommodation for principally miners



travelling to and from work. When not in use “Newcastle” was stored at Lambton Colliery B Pit.10 Some early 1900’s photographs show “Newcastle” stored on tracks located near the base of the main shaft chimney and boilers.

Plate 3.1: View of the Lambton Colliery from the west showing the Upcast Ensemble on the right and the Downcast Ensemble on the left with a Government tender locomotive 237 and flat wagon. Left of these can be seen empty “LC” (Lambton Colliery) coal hoppers. (Source – Lambton By the Sea – Late Jim Webber Collection) A signal box was opened at Lambton B Junction during February 1909. As part of BHP’s colliery operations from 1932, the non air coal hopper wagons loaded at Lambton Colliery would have carried BHP company markings. Some were actually branded “BHP – BL”- for “Burwood” and “Lambton”. In the steam days of BHP ownership, 50 Class and 53 Class standard goods engines were the main motive power on Lambton Colliery coal trains. The 1960s was a decade of great change for Belmont Line coal train operations generally and for Lambton coal trains in particular. During 1963 Lambton Colliery’s 2000 ton coal storage and loading bin was erected by AB Rea Constructions Pty Ltd of Cockle Creek. It was to be a local landmark for thirty years until its demolition during April 1993. This was the first of four bins to be erected for BHP’s Lake Macquarie collieries. Also the appearance of Lambton Colliery coal trains was to change. The four wheel non air coal hopper wagon that had been part of the Lambton Colliery scene since the Durham days of the 1890s was about to be replaced. During 1963 BHP Co Ltd accepted the first fifteen CXD bogie hopper wagons of 60 tons capacity (gross close to 90 tons) from Commonwealth Engineering Ltd of Sydney for use on Belmont Line and Stockton Borehole coal trains. CXDs were initially used on Lambton Colliery coal trains. Another aspect of modernity occurred in 1965 when Alco 48 class diesel electric locomotives were introduced over the Belmont Line to haul coal trains out of Lambton as well as out of

10 Tonks, E “Adamstown via Fernleigh, trains and collieries of the Belmont Line” NSWRTM 1988



John Darling and Burwood Collieries. Interestingly, 48 class locomotives were to be the motive power on Lambton Colliery’s last day of rail operations on 19 December, 199111 John Darling Colliery at Belmont North ceased production on Friday 6 November, 1988. Large quantities of coal still to be loaded off the ground ensured rail movements from the closed colliery into early 1988. 12 Saturday working re-introduced from 27 February to 12 March 1988 to clear remaining longwall won coal from the ground at John Darling Colliery. 48117 and 4720 hauled the last coal train out of John Darling on Saturday 12 March, 1988. The line was placed out of use south of Lambton Colliery Junction. Staff Section “Redhead-John Darling abolished”. 13 Thus with Burwood Colliery being closed in October 1982, Lambton Colliery became the last colliery to generate traffic over what was once the railway to Belmont. The fate of the last 19th century colliery railway to operate in the Newcastle area was directly linked to that of Lambton Colliery, the last 19th century colliery on the Newcastle Coalfield. From Monday 30 September 1991, a “push and pull” operation, two 48 class locos at either end of twelve coal wagons, was reintroduced on Lambton Colliery trains. When production warranted as many as four trains a day were rostered. In the main, CXD wagons were used but occasionally CH wagons were utilised. Lambton Colliery’s last production shift occurred in the Borehole Seam on Saturday14 December 1991. Thursday 19 December 1991 was to be the last day of rail operations associated with Lambton Colliery. Two trains ran on that day and 4881 worked on both of them. Before 6 am on 19 December, 1991 4881 departed Morandoo for Lambton Colliery with seven empty CH coal wagons. Later in the day it led twelve CXDs with 4861 marshalled at the rear into Lambton Colliery’s yard and beneath the loading bin. Thus 4861 was to have the honour of leading the last train out of this historic colliery site thus bringing to an end two historic processes which have shaped Newcastle’s urban character; the two being nineteenth century coal mines and nineteenth century colliery railways. The last crews to work a coal train over the line to Lambton Colliery were:- 4881 – Neville Priest, driver; Alfred Seaman, guard. 4861 – Anthony Williamston, driver; Brad Stanley, guard. The last four years of Lambton Colliery’s operational life were far from dull. Despite the haulage of only coal there was plenty of variety about its rail scene. The line was truncated and tracks lifted south of Redhead; tracks lifted at and around Redhead Station, Redhead Station buildings burnt to platform level, new operational practices were introduced, a “new” class of locomotive momentarily appeared over the line, another class was withdrawn, locomotives appeared in no less than five different paint schemes, CPH railmotors returned and refurbished rolling stock appeared amongst the well worn. Incidents included derailments, loaded wagon left in a section and a collision between a car and a train at a crossing. Underground haulage Another element of Lambton Colliery’s rail transport was seldom seen by the passing motorist or the casual observer, yet, it was an element that made Australian colliery history, and was a vital component of Lambton Colliery production system. It was the result of deliberate planning and capital investment on behalf of BHP. It was Lambton Colliery’s underground rail haulage system.

11 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea” 12 Tonks, E “Adamstown via Fernleigh” 13 Tonks, E “Adamstown via Fernleigh”



Ross Mainwaring in his publication “Modernising Underground Coal Haulage BHP Newcastle Collieries Electric Railways” details the history of Lambton Colliery’s underground rail haulage system. “On 8 March 1935 BHP’s board approved the expenditure of £10,927.6.9 for the mechanisation of Lambton Colliery”. “Mechanisation” means the installation of mechanically operated equipment for the mining and transport of coal. Lambton Colliery’s mechanisation represented a radical transformation from the centuries old “traditional” mining methods of hand mining and horse haulage. It was the first colliery in Australia to bring together all the elements of mechanised mining; coal that was mechanically cut, loaded and then hauled by locomotives, all using electricity.” “After a successful trial in October, 1935 full production commenced with a complete mechanical unit on 20 January 1936, consisting of a Jeffrey 44DD loader, a Jeffrey 29 L Arcwall coal cutter and two 3 feet 6 inch gauge Jeffrey storage battery locomotives.” “Cutters and loaders were rail mounted.”

Plate 3.2: The Jeffery Coal Cutter & Loader used at Lambton Colliery, Redhead as part of Australia’s first fully mechanised colliery. Donated to the Newcastle Regional Museum by BHP Collieries. (Photo Ed Tonks)

Mechanisation was an innovation which challenged traditional mining methods, trade union work practices and created a need for new mining skills. Its introduction was driven by company management and initially was opposed by miners. Key BHP figures associated with the introduction of mechanisation were Joshua Jeffries, superintendent of collieries, John Fallins, assistant superintendent of collieries and manager of Lambton Colliery from 23 September 1935 to 1 March 1936 and later superintendent of collieries and Peter Brownlie, manager of Lambton Colliery from 1936 to 1960. During 1934 John Fallins studied mine mechanisation in the USA.14 In a newspaper article during 1970 Peter Brownlie recalled Lambton Colliery’s mechanisation, “many obstacles were sorted out in the first twelve months”. All that was known about mechanisation was that a Jeffrey loader had arrived from the United States and its job was to load coal. Mr John Fallins, then assistant superintendent took the job of operator since members of the Miners Federation refused to man the loader, cutter and locomotive”. 15 Ross Mainwaring’s work 16 details the locomotives used underground for placing the three ton steel skips beneath the loader’s boom for filling. The size of the skip was pre-determined by the diameter of the winding shaft.

14 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea” 15 Newcastle Morning Herald 24 August 1970.

16 Mainwaring R “Modernising Underground Coal Haulage BHP Newcastle Collieries’ Electric Railways Light Railway Research Society of

Australia INC 1999



3.3 BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES Major Parrott, Royal Engineers, drew a map showing the coal mines and assorted towns, linked to the port of Newcastle by a series of railway lines. The map displays the year 1892. South of Newcastle, at the Red Head, the Redhead Coal Company’s Railway Line terminates with a sweeping curve into Burwood Extended Mine. Five dots suggest assorted buildings or houses. The Durham Mine lies to the immediate north of Burwood Extended Colliery near the railway but with no connection shown to that railway; three dots suggest associated structures. To the east a track leads from South Burwood in the north to the beach at the Red Head in the south. It was in such an isolated, remote environment that work began on the substantial brick buildings associated with Durham Colliery.

Plate 3.3: The No. 2 or Upcast Shaft showing the enormous Waddle fan and the associated purpose built structures in 1894. (Source: Newcastle Regional Library Hunter Photo Bank 001 00044) Ralph Snowball’s camera recorded the substantial nature of Durham Colliery’s buildings when he visited the site in June 1894. The image above shows the structure and buildings associated with the No. 2 or upcast shaft. These are:

- Upcast shaft enclosure and timber headframe - Waddle fan - Fan engine house - Winder house - Boiler house - Chimney stack.

(As at the time of writing (January 2008) most of the upcast shaft brick structures remain although initial purpose may have changed). Ralph Snowball’s camera recorded the substantial nature of Durham Colliery’s buildings when he visited the site in June 1894. Although work was suspended the buildings and structures were well advanced with the No. 1 shaft chimney needing to be completed. Buildings and structures associated with the No. 1 (Main or downcast) shaft shown in the centre of Snowball’s photograph were

– pit top (heapstead) and associated steel lattice headframe. (Out of view are the screens and loading points)

– Winder building housing the winding engine. – Air compressor engine house – Boiler house – Chimney stack (incomplete)



The majority of these brick buildings remained until 12 May 1993 when the NSW Land and Environment Court gave approval for their demolition.

Plate 3.4: Lambton ‘B’ Pit (Durham Colliery) in 1894. (Source: Newcastle Regional Library Hunter Photo Bank 001 00044) Beyond the upcast shaft group of buildings, smoke can be seen emitted from the chimney of Redhead’s other colliery, Burwood Extended, which finished its operational life as Redhead Colliery. Snowball’s photograph reveals construction materials on the ground; bricks, timber and possibly also templates for the erection of the No. 1 shaft chimney. Also revealed are weatherboard buildings, corrugated iron structures and chimneys associated with construction boilers or blacksmith furnaces. The brick buildings feature arched windows, circular ventilation openings and Doric type columns to support the boiler openings, especially on the northern aspect. Snowball’s photos reveal that the buildings were finished in varied colours of natural brick. Most of the bricks used in construction work were made at the Durham Colliery brickyard under the supervision of H. Ralphs until 1893; A. Simson became his successor. Any cement required was purchased by the cask from either Cappers or Earp Gillam and Co. for seventeen shillings per cask.17 The whole of the colliery’s plant was supplied by the Grange Iron Co., of Durham, England to plans specially prepared to suit the seam of coal by the late Thomas Croudace. 18 As noted by the Newcastle Morning Herald on the 13th September, 1893, “The plant at the colliery has been all erected for many months and is capable of raising 750 tons of coal per diem. No coal has yet, of course, been shipped from Durham”.

17 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea”.

18 McCarron, “The Cyclopaedia of New South Wales” 1907.



The Newcastle Morning Herald also rated Durham Colliery (Lambton Colliery B Pit) highly; on the 20 June 1902 it reported, “The colliery plant is perhaps the best in the district, everything being laid out upon the most modern principle”. Again, on 7 November, 1903, “A more substantial and up-to-date pit top is not to be found anywhere. It is a credit to Mr Thomas Croudace who laid it out in 1891”. The high standard of buildings and equipment at the Durham Colliery was a result of Croudace’s desire to develop a “model colliery” at Redhead. 19 Thomas Croudace was born at Chincliffe, Durham, England in 1838. Durham Colliery, one of many which operated around the River Wear in the north of England is reported as being the original upon which Thomas Croudace modelled his company’s colliery at Redhead.20 John Shoebridge, in his chapter “Winning the Coal” in ‘Shaping the Hunter’, makes this most pertinent point relative to Croudace’s plans for the Scottish Australian Mining Company’s new mining venture, “… and lastly in my declining years I desire to leave behind me a colliery in every way worthy of being a successor to Lambton.” This was an extract from Thomas Croudace writing to his Board of Directors in 1887 concerning plans for Ryhope, later Durham Colliery.21 At least as far as one Newcastle Morning Herald journalist was concerned, Croudace had succeeded, “A more substantial and up to date pit top is not to be found anywhere. It is a credit to Mr Thomas Croudace who laid it out in 1891”22 George Kingswell, writing in 1890 also stresses Croudace’s role, “Mr Thomas Croudace has superintended the opening of the mine, and is confident of one day making it equal to the Lambton Colliery”.23 Thus, from the outset Thomas Croudace envisaged that the new colliery in terms of its operational planning, appointments and in particular buildings would be more than just functional, it would reflect something of the status, grandeur, importance and progressive nature of the company that developed it. Some semblance of that grandeur is still to be seen (and interpreted) more than a century later. The pit top, including the head frame, tipplers, screens, travelling belts, and floor were all made of steel, but the bank (a floor of the pit top where the cages were loaded after being hauled up the shaft) was not attached to the headframe. It has been recorded that the screen structures and their associated metal work were products of the Grange Iron Company of Durham. The Newcastle Morning Herald described Lambton Colliery B Pit’s equipment for handling coal as “a unique arrangement” and as “very complete and labour saving”24 Under BHP’s ownership the upcast and downcast shaft groups of buildings were painted white, a most unusual colour for a coal mine. Also the pit top was altered in shape and cladding to handle three ton skips which were an integral component of Lambton Colliery’s mechanised production. In consequence of the use of three ton skips, BHP during 1935 increased the height of the 1890’s vintage main shaft head frame by some six metres (20 feet).25 The winding engine house for the main winding engine was a substantial brick building measuring 50 feet by 32 feet. It needed to be as the winding engine drum was thirteen feet in diameter. It was a steam winder worked on the first motion with cylinders of 24 inch diameter and a stroke of five feet. Valves were of the Cornish type. It remained in use until rendered

19 Irving R and Pratten C “Lambton Colliery, Redhead Conservation Plan.

20 Tonks, E “Lambton by the Sea”

21 Newcastle Division of the Institution of Engineers Australia – Shaping the Hunter” 1983

22 Newcastle Morning Herald, 7 November 1903.

23 Kingswell, G “The Coal Mines of Newcastle, Their Rise and Progress”, 1890

24 Newcastle Morning Herald, 7 November 1903.




redundant by conveyor haulage housed in an inclined cross measure drift. This haulage system became operational in 1964. According to a Newcastle Morning Herald article published in August, 1964 the steam winder’s maker’s plate carried the year 1894. 26 Subsequent research has revealed that the brass maker’s plate from the main winding engine still exists in the possession of a local resident. The engine would have been installed as at 1894 but that is not its year of manufacture as revealed by the plate. The plate shows the year 1892 with the builder’s number being 454. Given the primitive nature of the transport links and the reality of the hilly terrain as indicated by Parrott’s map of 1892, the transport of the plant and equipment to the Durham Colliery site at Redhead is nothing short of a major logistical achievement. The 1892 – 1894 upcast shaft group of brick buildings consisted of upcast shaft enclosure, entry vault, fan engine house for the forty two feet diameter Waddle fan, boiler house , steam winder house and chimney stack. Steam at the upcast shaft was provided by two eight feet six inch diameter Lancashire boilers manufactured by Walker Brothers. By 1912 a Green’s economiser had been erected at the back of the main range of boilers but was seldom used as the time and cost of operation and maintenance made it uneconomic considering the cheapness of the smaller coal available at the colliery.27 As original, an ornately decorated timber headframe was constructed above the upcast shaft enclosure and similarly decorated timber steps led up into the western doorway of the fan engine house. Despite the replacement of the Waddle fan and the timber headframe and the demolition of the chimney stack much of the original character of the upcast shaft group of buildings can still be recognised. Ralph Snowball’s photographs of 1894 provide a most effective interpretative linkage between then and now. As the need arose or additional technology was applied more buildings and structures were erected on site. A comparison between Snowball’s 1894 and 1909 photographs clearly shows the additions. Added to the upcast shaft group of buildings was a lamp cabin and to its east the weatherboard colliery office. A brick faced platform was located between the upcast shaft and main shaft group of buildings. This platform catered for miners travelling to work by train. By 1909 an additional building to the main shaft group was the underground haulage engine house to the immediate north of the main winding engine house. Out of view of Snowball’s camera was the Jeffrey coal conveyor and small coal storage hopper, blacksmith’s shop, main shaft lamp cabin and horse stables. A particular feature of the 1908 photograph is the addition of a series of metal rings or bands secured around the main chimney stack to strengthen it against further cracking and possible collapse. (Metal rings can also be seen encasing about three quarters of the height of the upcast shaft chimney and later photographs reveal that rings were added to the full height of the chimney.)A soot stained vertical crack can be seen in the chimney brickwork beyond the metal rings. An earlier panoramic view of Lambton Colliery B Pit taken by Snowball about 1906 clearly highlights the soot marked vertical crack in the main shaft chimney stack. However, no strengthening metal rings had as yet been added. By 1906 the colliery had been renamed Lambton Colliery B Pit, but its operation had been anything but continuous, perhaps the

26 Tonks, E “Lam bton by the Sea”




frequent cooling and warming of the chimney’s bricks due to the varied levels of boiler operation contributed to the cracks.28 The protective rings proved to be effective. They were still in place when the main chimney was brought down on 13 April 1961 to make way for the sinking of a cross measure drift. The Jeffrey coal conveyor and small coal hopper was a product of the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. The products of this US firm would have a significant input on the life of the colliery under the ownership of BHP. F. Danvers Power in his book “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia” (1912) describes the operation of this facility as installed at Lambton Colliery B pit. This innovative coal handling appliance also captured the attention of a Newcastle Morning Herald journalist, “At present the energetic and popular manager, Mr Sydney Croudace is preparing for the storage of small coal on the conveyor system. This will be on a large scale, sufficient to handle 2000 tons of small coal and will do away with the old coal box system”. The article concluded, “The conveyor works automatically, and will be operated by one lad. By this means the coal will be dealt with much more cheaply and expeditiously than at present and will be kept cleaner and brighter. The erection of the conveyor will necessitate the removal of one of the underground tanks and other alterations. This work is now being carried out. Lambton B worked well during last year, and business already secured ensures constant work for the greater part of 1906”. 29 The Jeffrey conveyor and small coal storage hopper was located in the western section of the colliery complex between the upcast shaft structures and those of the main shaft and pit top. Its location is highlighted in the photograph of government tender locomotive 237 in the colliery yard, which appears in “Lambton by the Sea”, page 28 (and on page 13 of this Report). By 1937 it had been removed. One wonders what signs or relics of this Jeffrey appliance were unearthed when its former location was being prepared to become the residential Grange Estate. This preparation work occurred between 1996 and 1998. Some time during the 1930’s the early 1900’s blacksmith shop was demolished and replaced by the boilermaker’s workshop. This single storey, utilitarian, steel framed and galvanised ironclad structure was demolished in 1993. Its character and form provided a dramatic contrast with the 1890’s brick buildings. The main shaft lamp cabin, built by late 1903 also attracted positive journalistic comment, “…and recently many improvements have been made by Mr Sydney Croudace, the manager. His lamp cabin, made to accommodate 600 lamps, is a model of completeness and should be seen by any manager who contemplates bringing into use safety lamps”. 30 Danvers Power made the point that the lamps used at the colliery were Cambrian safety lamps, which were an improvement on the Evan Thomas lamp. 31 This lamp cabin was demolished during February 1993, despite the Land and Environment Court order of December 1992 giving permission to demolish forthwith only post 1920’s structures.32 Reference has already been made to changes to the external appearance of the colliery following the change in ownership from the Scottish Australian Mining Company to that of the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd; replacement of upcast shaft timber headframe; the erection of a smaller electric winder house annexe in front of the upcast shaft steam winder; painting colliery brick buildings white; alteration to pit top and loading points; raising the height of the main shaft headframe, erection of a boilermaker workshop on the site of the blacksmiths shop. BHP also had built in the 1940s a new brick office to replace the earlier weatherboard

28 Tonks E, “Lambton by the Sea”

29 Newcastle Morning Herald, 2 February 1906

30 Newcastle Morning Herald, 7 November, 1903

31 Danvers Power F “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia”.




structure. A men’s bath house was also located to the east of the main shaft chimney stack. This building was demolished in October 1964 finishing its days as a storage facility. During the late 1940s, early 1950, it was replaced as a bath house by a new brick structure built on the site of the former horse stables. As a result of mechanisation horses were not used at Lambton Colliery after being acquired by BHP. Another element of Lambton Colliery’s external appearance from the 1930s and indeed that of BHP’s other Northern Collieries, Burwood and John Darling, was the well kept lawns and gardens. The B.H.P. Review, March, 1943 in reporting the death of Joshua Jeffries, General Superintendent of BHP and AIS Collieries, explains the background to these gardens, “Production efficiency alone did not satisfy Mr Jeffries; he consistently worked to improve the surfaces surrounding the collieries under his supervision. By well-planned planting of trees, and the cultivation of lawns and flower beds, he succeeded in making them areas of surprising beauty, instead of the drab ugliness usually associated with pit-tops”. 33 The 1960s was a decade of great change for both the operational life of the colliery and for its appearance; two local landmarks which had stood for some seventy years, were to be demolished and during this period another structure was erected which was to serve as a replacement landmark for some thirty years. On 13 April, 1961, the main shaft chimney was demolished to make way for the sinking of a cross measure drift or angled tunnel. Sinking of the drift commenced on 15 May, 1961. Soft physical conditions and heavy rains during February and May 1962 made this sinking operation slow, difficult and expensive. The main purpose of the cross measure drift was to house a conveyor belt haulage system, which was to coincide with the commencement of production from the Dudley Seam. Conveyor belt haulage in a drift was to mean the end of shaft haulage and the subsequent demolition of redundant structures.

Plate 3.5: Sectional drawing through the Colliery shaft & Drift (Lambton by the Sea p. 50). During 1964 the drift conveyor, haulage system together with its associated drive house, above surface conveyors and 2000 ton surface storage bin became operational. It could be argued that the development of the Dudley Seam extended the operational life of Lambton Colliery by at least two and a half decades.

33 The BHP Review, March, 1943



The 2000 ton coal storage bin was both an integral and visible component of the drift conveyor development. It replaced the earlier coal loading points for rail transport. Even though constructed primarily for loading coal into railway wagons, it was frequently used to load road vehicles for building up nearby stockpiles or to transport coal directly to the steelworks at Port Waratah. Once stockpiled the coal was then loaded “off the ground” by front end loaders into the rail wagons. A.B. Rea Constructions Pty. Ltd of Cockle Creek constructed the bin. By April 1963 it had taken the distinctive form that would become a local landmark for thirty years. In its early days the name of the colliery and its owner appeared in yellow painted metal letters attached to the Collier Street frontage of the bin. During the period, late 1975 to early 1976, the letter-attaching points were thought to assist the rusting process so were removed never to reappear. During mid December 1984 to early January, 1985 Allco Steel Constructions replaced rusted sections of the bin and added external supports. Between 10 to 18 August 1991, “FAI” titles were added to the top of the bin. Demolition of Lambton Colliery’s surface structures commenced during February 1993. The 1960s drift conveyor structures were some of the first to be cut up. The bin was pulled over early in April 1993 and subsequently cut up on site. Even though Lambton Colliery’s bin was the first constructed by A.B. Rea for BHP’s Lake Macquarie Collieries, it was destined to survive longest, being the last of its type to be cut up. The approximate months for the demolition of the other bins were:- Burwood Colliery – November 1983 Stockton Borehole Colliery – September 1984 John Darling Colliery – November 1989.34 3.4 PEOPLE AND INCIDENTS Durham Colliery’s buildings and structures were constructed and erected during the early 1890s in an isolated, remote and poorly serviced environment. Near contemporary reports, George Kingswell (1890) and Newcastle Morning Herald 1903, McCarron (1907) and later authors John Shoebridge (1983), Irving and Pratten (1992) and Ed Tonks (1995) give due credit to the Scottish Australian Mining Company’s General Manager, Thomas Croudace, for the planning, design and layout of the colliery in relation to both the surface features and underground pit bottom area. However, credit must also be given to the plant and equipment manufacturers and to the tradesmen and labourers who actually erected the structures, installed the plant, constructed the buildings and transported the materials to site. Sadly, the vast majority of these workers are now unknown by name; so much of the early company records having been lost or destroyed. Perhaps the workers’ greatest legacy was the longevity of the Durham Colliery buildings in general and the survival of the upcast shaft group of buildings in particular. The story of Lambton Colliery is as much about people as it is about structures, buildings, transport, mining equipment and mining methods. The colliery was created by people and people operated the plant and equipment and mined coal utilising the methods prevailing at a particular time period. Under Scottish Australian Mining Company’s ownership, Lambton Colliery B Pit’s employment peaked in 1908 at 234 workers – often given in Department of Mines Reports as “men and boys”. Under BHP’s ownership the workforce peaked in May, 1971 with a total of 335. Ed Tonks, in “Lambton by the Sea” provides a personal touch in recording that shaft sinking commenced during the first week of September 1887. “Mr Wilson Rennie was in charge of sinking operations. Workmen included Messrs. Leybourne, Harrison, Phillips, Dixon, Craig,

34 Tonks E “Lambton by the Sea”



Brogden, Buckley, Bedford and Murphy with his two horse team”. Tonks also records that most of the bricks used in construction work were made at the Durham Colliery brickyard under the supervision of H Ralphs until 1893. A Simson became his successor.35 Personal and family photographs can reveal the working environment, equipment used and attire of both the workers and of management. Examples which appear in “Lambton by the Sea” are credited to Nyren Beezley, Mary Foot and Mick Arthur. While ‘unnamed people” in photographs provide a reasonable interpretative base, those with people identified have greater historical application. Often they are a source of information when company records no longer exist or are inaccessible. Photographs published in the Newcastle Morning Herald towards the end of Lambton Colliery’s operational life and aft er especially during the demolition phase, often record the names of specific people. On the night of 13 August 1907 a fire in the stables claimed the lives of nineteen horses. Danvers Power stated that at Lambton Colliery B Pit, horses were raised to the surface and lowered in cages every working day.36 In consequence of the fire the colliery did not resume work until Monday 19 August and then “only in a small way”. 37 Some 200 “hands” were provided interim employment at the company’s Burwood Colliery. In reporting the fire the Newcastle Morning Herald records the following people:-

• Bennet Williams, colliery under manager • His daughter who first noticed the fire at about 10 PM • John Watson, colliery groom • Sydney Croudace, colliery manager • Constable Spicer of Dudley.

Under BHP’s ownership Lambton Colliery became the first mechanised coal mine in Australia. Mechanisation significantly lifted productivity but also increased tension between management and men. One such issue arising from mechanisation culminated in a stay-in strike during August 1938. From the Newcastle Morning Herald reports 38 the following miners’ union officials are named:-

District Miners check inspector – Mr I Hoare Secretary of the Miners lodge – Mr F Bowden Lodge Treasurer – Mr G Armstrong Lodge Chairman – Mr J Llewellyn

The following representatives of management are named: -

Mr P Brownlie, colliery manager Mr D Nicholls, colliery under manager Mr J Jeffries, General Superintendent of Collieries Mr James Fallins, Assistant Superintendent of Collieries Mr John Fallins Mr Septimus Flowers.

Sadly, newspaper reports don’t name any of the forty– seven miners who actually “stayed in” for slightly more than forty two hours. The late 1930s saw a number of “stay –in” strikes on the Northern Coalfield. Hilary Fallins, in his “Happenings under Belmont” provides some background to this interesting labour weapon; “The first stay-down strike in Australia appears to have been at the Sunbeam Colliery, Korumburra, Victoria in March 1936 when seven men stayed down for fifteen hours. But in January 1937 we saw the first stay-in strike in NSW at North Wallarah for 38 hours


36 Danvers Power, F, Coalfields and Collieries of Australia”.

37 N.M.H, 15 August 1907

38 NMH, 26 & 27 August 1907



followed by other local supports of such newsy events”.39 Both Burwood and John Darling Collieries experienced “stay-in” strikes during 1937. Lambton’s stay in strike of forty-two and a half hours was the largest for its time. Lambton’s record was well and truly broken during November 1992 when eleven miners stayed underground at Newvale No1 Colliery from 18 November to 26 November, a period of nine days. The stay-in strike at Lambton Colliery provided many dramatic scenes. A high profile police presence provided the possibility of confrontation between the protectors of company property and those who supported the miners’ cause. The miners were well represented by their womenfolk and sympathetic miners from John Darling and Burwood Collieries. Local lads pulled off a dramatic ruse behind police lines to provide food to the stay-in miners. The potential existed at Redhead for a small scale repetition of the violence that had occurred between police and miners at Rothbury Colliery on 16 December 1929. Colliery accidents are deeply personal with a range of short and long term consequences. The nature of the accident often reflects the mining methods and the technology used at the time. An examination of the Department of Mines reports up to 1939 reveals that at least sixteen workers were non-fatally injured at the colliery. Non Fatal Accidents, Durham Colliery 21 September, 1889 – Jno (John) Robinson and James Jarvie, both miners, were severely burnt by an ignition of methane gas during shaft sinking operations. This explosion had wider ramifications in December 1889 when Judge Foster dismissed an appeal by John Mackenzie, Government Examiner of Coalfields, against an earlier decision of magistrate Perrott P.M. in a case brought against Thomas Croudace for alleged neglect in working Durham Colliery without having provided special rules in accordance with the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act. In handing down his decision, Judge Foster said, “that while work in collieries got beyond shaft sinking these special rules should be necessary. The Act which was loosely drawn, had however not made it an offence to work fresh drives and levels without special rules”. 40 Earlier, William Short, the company’s engineer had cautioned the workmen against using naked flame lamps. On 18 May, 1892 another ignition of methane gas occurred. In this incident William Thompson and George Virgo, both miners were burnt. In consequence of these ignitions of methane, Durham Colliery was declared a gaseous mine and the largest Waddle fan in the district was installed for ventilation purposes. Also, naked lights could only be used on the main road. In all other places throughout the mine safety lamps had to be used. In contrast, at Lambton Colliery (in the suburb of Lambton) naked lights could be used throughout the mine. 41

39 Fallins, Hilary R “Happenings under Belmont – The History of John Darling Colliery and the say of its People”. Hilary Fallins 1992


41 “Mines and Minerals of New South Wales” 1906



Lambton Colliery, B Pit 19 March 1900, George Fort, onsetter, struck by coal skip 22 February 1901, William Russell miner, premature explosion of shot powder caused fall of coal. 22 March 1901, John Deane, miner, sparks from a fuse ignited powder causing burns. Deane off work for nine days. 3 April 1902 – Irvine Brooks, wheeler, jammed by a horse between a skip and a prop. 10 June 1902 – George Russell shot firer, fall of prop. 10 June 1902 – Alfred Ashman, miner, fall of coal. 6 April 1903- Nelson Hunt, miner, fall of coal 30 October 1903 – Martin Ward, miner, fall of coal 31 March 1908 – James Urane, assistant machine-man, crushed between coal cutting machine and mine rib (wall). 5 September 1908 – Charles Kentish, assistant onsetter, struck by descending empty cage at pit bottom. 17 July 1917 – George Hall, 32, machine man, fall of coal whilst operating an Ingersoll punching machine utilised for holing the coal. 10 October 1920 – William Spooner, 53, fan engine driver. Scalded by boilers at the upcast shaft. Fatal Accidents Although Lambton Colliery’s reputation as a relatively safe and productive colliery was reinforced by the setting of production records in 1983 and the presentation of safety awards during 1986 and 1988, at least twelve fatalities are recorded over the life of the mine, nine of these occurring in the period July 1944 to September 1972. In contrast, BHP’s other eastern Lake Macquarie collieries, Burwood and John Darling, recorded fifteen and twelve fatalities respectively for the same period. 42 The advent of mechanisation from the 1930s changed the cause and character of mine accidents. Ross Mainwaring noted that over the years four men died in haulage accidents at Lambton Colliery following the introduction of mechanisation. Despite the dangers associated with underground coal mining, Lambton Colliery B Pit operated without a fatality for thirteen years. No fatal accident was recorded until 1913. Even then the accident occurred on the surface and not underground and was caused by the use of horses.

42 Tonks E, “Lambton by the Sea”.



Summary – Lambton Colliery Fatalities Information on fatalities has been compiled from Department of Mines Annual Reports and from details presented by the Newcastle Morning Herald. Some entries in the Annual Reports lack specific details and not all incidents are listed in the Newcastle Morning Herald index, therefore the following list is not necessarily exhaustive or complete. Date of Accident Name & Occupation Nature of Accident 26 9. 1913 Samuel Newton

Horse keeper. Pinned between horse and dray. Died on 18 October 1913.

22.1. 1924 Cammeles Fitzsimmons Onsetter

Crushed under cage in downcast shaft. Died instantly

20.1.1939 Arthur Pope, Shiftman Fell over and fractured left leg. Died of complications on 7 February, 1939.

31.7.1944 Denis Hoyland, Deputy Fall of Stone – died on way to hospital. 15.10.1946 Raymond Cooper

Shiftman Head crushed between roof and loco battery box. Died instantly

28.5.1947 William Jarrett Mineworker

Crash of runaway skips into underground transport train. Died on 11 June, 1947.

The result of this tragedy was that runaway points were installed and, at the end of the shift, after the last full set was pulled up, all the transports were coupled together and hauled to the shaft by a Goodwin electric locomotive.43

30.8.1948 Keith Boundy, Shunter Crushed between loco and s kips. Died instantly. 15.11.1951 Ray Priday, Mineworker Explosion of powder magazine caused by bushfire.

Died instantly. 30.8.1956 John Weaver, Shunter Run over by loaded skip. 6.6.1961 William Caswell James,

Shotfirer Fall of coal. Died 6. July 1961.

2.6.1967 Leslie Mason, Deputy Fall of stone, Died instantly. 2.9.1972 John White, Miner Fall of stone, Died instantly.

Occupations recorded for those killed (or injured) reflect the type of work carried out around the colliery, either underground or on the surface. Coronial inquests and newspaper reports often record names of other colliery workers who were witnesses, or who had narrow escapes. The Newcastle Morning Herald in reporting the accident in which William Jarrett received fatal injuries also listed the names of the other mineworkers who were injured. They were:-

Jack Blair of Redhead, Jack Bashford of Georgetown Thomas Storey of Belmont Arthur Stapleford of Dudley William Cooper of Adamstown.44

Managers of Ryhope, Durham, Lambton No. 2, Lambton B Pit & Lambton Colliery 1888-1895 Supervising Development Manager, Thomas Croudace 1895-1902 Frank H. Croudace (son of Thomas Croudace) 1902-1904 Sydney Croudace (son of Thomas Croudace) 1904 From 19 September, Frank Croudace appointed temporary manager

as Sydney Croudace was on leave. 1904 From 26 October, Sydney Croudace resumed duties as colliery

manager. 1905-1913 Sydney Croudace 1913-May 1928 Frank H. Croudace Post Scottish Australian Mining Company 1932 – 1933 J.C.L. Rae 1933 – 1935 James Fallins

43 Mainwaring, R “Modernising Underground Coal Haulage”.

44 NMH 29 May,1 1946



1935 – 1936 John Fallins 1936 – 1960 Peter Brownlie 1960 – 1970 Frank Gardner 1970 – 1972 Dennis Stone 1972 – 1972 John Kay 1972 – 1977 Ivan Balks 1977 – 1978 Greg Mattila 1978 – 1985 George Mowbray 1985 – 1986 Gary Gibson 1986 – 1989 David McDonald June 1989 – 25 January 1992

Royston Slee – Last manager of Lambton Colliery as an operational colliery 25 January 1992 Gary Carney – Manager of Lambton as a non-operational colliery. His

appointment completed the full circle begun with Thomas Croudace’s supervision of the sinking of the shafts and the erection of plant and equipment. It was Gary Carney’s responsibility in 1993 to supervise the demolition of many buildings whose design and construction Thomas Croudace had supervised in the early 1890’s . 45

Clearly under Scottish Australian Mining Company ownership, Durham-Lambton Colliery management was dominated by the surname “Croudace”, a surname commemorated by a main street running to the west of the suburb of Lambton and the name of a bay of Lake Macquarie. Thomas Croudace and wife Christina had four sons and four daughters. Francis (Frank) was the eldest son and Sydney, the second eldest. It was a fitting family tradition that the two eldest sons followed their father into the coal mining industry as indeed Thomas had followed his father who had been a head man for the Earl of Durham, a major colliery owner in England. After leaving the service of the Scottish Australian Mining Company, Sydney Croudace served two terms as colliery manager for the Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company. It was during Frank Croudace’s time as general manager of the Scottish Australian Mining Company that the company sold Lambton Colliery at Lambton (to be known from then as Old Lambton), donated other property to the Royal Newcastle Hospital and concentrated the company’s operations at Burwood and Lambton Collieries. He also relocated his residence from the 1860’s vintage “Lambton Lodge” overlooking Lambton, to the 1924 vintage “The Gables” at Redhead; a building that still survives highlighting another link between the Redhead community, the Scottish Australian Mining Company and Lambton Colliery. The mid to late 1930s would have been an interesting period for both management and men given BHP’s desire to mechanise Lambton Colliery. By its very nature mechanisation challenged traditional coal mining methods. Colliery managers provide the interface between company policy and its workforce. The role of the colliery manager is to implement company policy often despite resistance from the workforce and at times from the community. A man deserving of a special place in the history of Lambton Colliery is Peter Brownlie; not only as the colliery’s longest serving manager, but as the man who was responsible for making BHP’s mechanisation plans a productive reality. He was a true pioneer in both implementing new, modern production techniques and in handling the resulting workplace issues. Two of Lambton Colliery’s preceding managers were James and John Fallins, both of whom later had overseeing roles with BHP’s collieries. John later became superintendent of BHP Collieries following the death of Joshua Jeffries in 1943 (another key personality in driving the mechanisation of Lambton Colliery).




In the days of BHP ownership many of Lambton Colliery’s managers followed career paths within the company’s structure. The majority of Lambton Colliery’s managers are profiled in “Lambton by the Sea’ pages 87-98. Technological Applications By its very nature, Lambton Colliery was technologically intensive. Thomas Croudace chose what he thought was the best of British technology to produce his “model” colliery, Durham Colliery. Examples include:

• Five high pressure boilers for the No. 1 shaft. One made by Tangye of Birmingham, England. Other four by Adamson of Manchester, England.

• Pit Top. Made by the Grange Iron Company of Durham, England. • No. 1 (main, downcast) shaft winding engine. Made by the Grange Iron Company of

Durham, England. (Later when an air compressor was installed for the Ingersoll coal pick or punching machine, it was also made by the Grange Iron Company of Durham, England.

• Waddle fan and fan engine. Both made by the Waddle Patent Fan and Engineering Company of Llanelly, Wales.

• No. 2 shaft (upcast) steam winding engine. Another product of Tangye of Birmingham, England.

• No. 2 shaft, two steam boilers. Made by Walker Brothers of Wigan, England.

Locally developed technology was used to sink the two shafts. No doubt, Thomas Croudace in developing this method drew on his own experiences and that of others in the “old country”. Once tubbing proved a success it was utilised by other coal companies to sink their shafts, notably Wickham and Bullock Island and Hetton at Carrington and Stockton at Stockton. Domestically made items were purchased from time to time to augment the British-made capital equipment. Examples included piping for the air compressor which had been made by Mephan Ferguson of Footscray, Victoria. Orders for 4 wheel non-air coal hopper wagons were placed with the Clyde Engineering Company of Granville in Sydney. Lambton Colliery B Pit’s reputation for modernity and innovation was enhanced in the early 1900s by its pit top, extensive underground endless rope haulage system, lamp cabin and the Jeffrey conveyor system for storing and conveying small coal. This appliance was made by the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a U.S. based firm. Such a choice of company was to prove prophetic. After BHP acquired Lambton Colliery in 1932 and then decided to develop it along mechanised lines, the model chosen was American. During 1934 John Fallins studied mine mechanisation in the United State of America. Upon his return to Australia he was appointed assistant superintendent of BHP Collieries; Joshua Jeffries being the superintendent of collieries. After trials in October, 1935, full mechanised production from the Victoria Tunnel Seam commenced on 20 January 1936 utilising a Jeffrey 44 DD loader, a Jeffrey 29L Arcwall coal cutter and two three feet six inch gauge Jeffrey storage battery locomotives.46 Thus, Lambton Colliery was initially developed as Durham Colliery along British lines with significant application of British technology. When in the mid 1930s Lambton became the first mechanised colliery in Australia, US technology, not British, was used to achieve this milestone. Jeffrey’s pre-eminence in the field of mechanised coal cutting and coal loading equipment was due in part to the work of Joseph Francis Joy. He later had a falling out with Jeffrey and established his own mechanised equipment company. In the 1960s in conjunction with the mining of the Dudley Seam, “old” haulage and loading techniques were replaced by “modern” conveyor haulage housed in a drift, which conveyed

46 Mainwaring R, “Modernising Underground Coal Haulage BHP Newcastle Collieries”



coal into a 2000 ton vertically arranged storage bin. As part of this development rail haulage by steam locomotive and four-wheel non-air coal hopper was replaced by diesel electric locomotive haulage and much larger capacity CXD bogie wagons. This technology again contributed to the economic viability of Lambton Colliery. Coal mining methods also show a progression from pick and shovel to Ingersoll punching machines, mechanised Jeffrey cutters and loaders through to continuous miners with shuttle car transport to the “boot” end and from thence Conveyor haulage to the surface. 3.5 UPCAST SHAFT GROUP OF BUILDINGS The following lists the remaining upcast shaft group of buildings and structures which were once part of Lambton Colliery, Redhead.

• Upcast shaft enclosure; headframe, vault and shaft • Former fan engine house later switch room • Former upcast shaft winder house, later used as lecture room and towards end of

colliery’s operational life, as a survey office • Former upcast shaft boiler house. By 1923 noted used as a store.

Plate 3.6: Sketch of Upcast Shaft Group

(Lambton Colliery Conservation Guidelines – Irving & Pratten July 1993) Most of the brick structures date from the period 1893 – 1894 when constructed as part of Durham Colliery: the plans of which were drawn up by Thomas Croudace. Although most of the buildings and structures have been operationally modified since their erection, much of their original form and fabric still remains. This is significant in terms of interpretation.



The linkage of the remaining buildings and structures to their original form can be made by examining or relating them to the Ralph Snowball photos of 1894

Plate 3.7: Detail from Snowball’s photo from the northeast showing the upcast Shaft Ensemble.

Plate 3.8: A similar view today showing the building group without the chimney and Waddle Fan.

Plate 3.9: Detail from Snowball’s photo from the northwest showing the upcast Shaft Ensemble.

Plate 3.10: A similar view today showing the building group without the chimney and Waddle Fan.

Plate 3.11: Detail from Snowball’s photo showing angled dentil course of brickwork and decorative corbelled string coursing over.

Plate 3.12: A similar view today showing the detail decoration removed and modern cement render replaced.

Additional points to note are the decorated paintwork to the timber upcast shaft headframe and steps to the fan engine house. Also debris from shaft sinking can be noted in foreground.



Plate 3.13: Detail of Upcast and Downcast Ensembles from Snowball’s photograph. Note the use of coloured brickwork to highlight the architectural detail of the buildings. The buildings were later painted

white during the period of ownership by the BHP. Key elements of this 1894 photograph of upcast shaft building could be highlighted in a line drawing as per the style on page 27 of “Lambton by the Sea”. Upcast Shaft Enclosure, Headframe, Vault and Shaft. Most of the brick structures date from the 1893-1894 when the mine was developed as Durham Colliery. The metal headframe has replaced the original timber headframe, the bases of which can still be seen within the upcast shaft enclosure – a clear link back to the 1890’s. In all probability the timber headframe was replaced following ownership by BHP in 1932. The existence of the upcast shaft is the reason for the associated buildings and structures. The shaft was used mainly for ventilation purposes (the fan literally drew air “up” this shaft) and as a second means of entry and egress – hence the need to have apparatus for the raising and lowering of a cage. Other uses for the shaft included the piping of steam, compressed air and electricity. The bank, the area above the shaft was once equipped with a timber fence and gate and means of communicating with the engine driver and pit bottom. McCarron in his “The Cyclopedia of New South Wales”, 1907, recorded that Lambton Colliery, B Pit had two shafts; the downcast being 16 feet (4.8 metres) diameter and the upcast 14 feet (4.2 metres) diameter. The Borehole Seam was struck at a depth of 435 feet (132.5 metres). Danvers Power in his “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia”, 1912, makes poignant comment on the sinking of these shafts “ Some difficulty was experienced in sinking the two shafts, on account of

quick-sand having been encountered. The downcast shaft, which is 430 feet in depth, had to have its upper 60 feet tubbed in consequence, while the upcast was tubbed for about 80 feet. There was trouble with the upcast shaft, for the tubbing got out of plumb, and also collapsed, to be telescoped inside it, which made the diameter of the lowest portion of the shaft somewhat smaller than was originally intended. The inner tubbing was allowed to come above water level when finished, and the joint between the two was cemented up. The tubbing was built up on the surface, the different sections being bolted together on the inside, so that the outside was smooth to slip down. A shoe was fastened to the bottom ring of the drum and the cast-iron lining was weighted on the top with sand bags. On passing through the watery strata, a seating was made in solid rock which was carefully levelled and cemented for the wedging crib to rest on. The space at the back of this wedging crib was filled with blocks of wood and wedges driven until a watertight joint was made, and the crib was in the proper position for the tubbing to connect up with it.



The vertical and horizontal joints of the tubbing were then wedged up, and that section of the shaft was complete”.

When the upcast shaft was sealed in 1992 (more than a century after its completion) it was sealed to approximately one metre below the top to reveal the upper metal tubbing rings. Such a revelation, complemented by Danvers Power’s description enriches Lambton Colliery’s upcast shaft with an historical and engineering significance second to none. No where else in New South Wales and possibly in Australia can this late 19th Century practical method of shaft sinking in wet semi-flowing material be seen “in situ”. As reported by the Examiner of Coalfields in his report for 1870, Thomas Croudace was a pioneer of tubbing on the Newcastle coalfield, “The Scottish Australia Mining Company is engaged in an important and interesting sinking for coal at Stockton on the North Shore opposite Newcastle. A cast-iron “tubing” or shaft of seven feet diameter has in a few weeks work been very expertly let down without pumping out the water, through eighty two feet of loose sand, to the clay bed, by special ingenious and well adapted conveniences of the manager, Mr Croudace”.

Plate 3.14: The upcast Shaft prior to being infilled after cessation of mining. (Source: Ed Tonks Collection) The Scottish Australian Mining Company later sold its Stockton lease to the Stockton Coal Company. The funds acquired provided a capital base to develop the company’s new mine at Redhead. Thomas Croudace, his engineers and possibly some of his workmen used their accumulated experience – Stockton gained, to master the difficult physical conditions encountered at “The Red Head” when sinking Durham Colliery’s two shafts in the period 1887 – 1890. Tubbing was also successfully employed in the early 1880’s to sink shafts for collieries such as Wickham and Bullock Island, Stockton and Hetton, which were planned to work the Borehole Seam beneath the rock strata of the Hunter River estuary and Newcastle Harbour. 47

47 Tonks E “Lambton by the Sea – The Last 19th Century Colliery on the Newcastle Coalfield”.



All of these collieries have now been demolished, tubbing lined shafts capped, sealed and then covered and sites re-developed. Stockton Colliery’s site is now associated with flats and units whilst the Hetton Colliery site plays host to Toll’s Eastern Basin Distribution Centre at Carrington. The actual brickwork of the shaft enclosure was to accommodate a Waddle fan and to link it to a fan engine house built to the immediate south of the upcast shaft. The Waddle fan, state of the art for it’s time and in keeping with Croudace’s plans for a “Model” colliery, was installed to manage risk and to improve mine safety for both men and management.

Plate 3.15: Detail of Waddle Fan from Plate 3.6 Plate 3.16: Remains of Waddle Fan Housing today. The Waddle fan was installed at Durham Colliery partly in response to two methane gas ignitions and explosions. The first occurred on 21 September 1889 during sinking operations and injured two men, (Jno Robinson and James Jarvie, both miners) one suffering severe burns to his hands and face. The second occurred on 18 May 1892 when two more men (William Thompson and George Virgo, both miners) were seriously burnt. Another consequence of the explosions was that Durham Colliery, or Lambton Colliery B Pit when it commenced production was, categorised as a gaseous mine and therefore all workers involved in the mining of coal had to be provided with locked safety lamps.48 The Waddle fan was also mentioned in the Newcastle Morning Herald for 7 November 1903,

“The Waddle fan is 42 feet in diameter, about the largest in the Northern district, it is usually kept going at 30 revolutions to the minute, which produces 80,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The fan engine is a compound tandem, high and low pressure”.

Both the fan and fan engine were products of the Waddle Patent Fan and Engineering Company of Llanelly, Wales.49 An examination of various Department of Mines reports reveals that Durham Colliery’s Waddle fan was in fact the largest on the Newcastle Coalfield. Waddle fans used at other collieries on the Newcastle Coalfield were as follows:

Colliery Diameter of Fan Dudley 30 feet Seaham 30 feet Seaham No.2 35 feet N.C.M. Co. A Pit (Glebe Pit) 21 feet Stockton Borehole 28 feet 50

48 Tonks E. “Lambton by the Sea” 49 Tonks E. “Lambton by the Sea” 50 Tonks E. “Lambton by the Sea”

Waddle Fan Waddle Fan housing.



Danvers Power, writing in 1912, comments on the Waddle fan; the operation of which was characterised by it’s distinctive narrow appearance (as seen in Ralph Snowball’s photos) which vented the mine’s gases and dust straight into the atmosphere without need for an evassé or small chimney-like structure

“Ventilation is induced by a Waddle fan 43 feet in diameter, revolving 35 times per minute, causing one-inch water gauge pressure, but capable of going 60 revolutions per minute. The driving engine was manufactured by their Waddle Patent Fan and Engineering Company, of Llanelly, Wales, and is a compound tandem, direct acting. The emergency engine, which is placed in line with the main engine, but on the other side of the fan, only has one cylinder. As the fan must revolve in the same direction all the time, when the emergency engine is coupled up to it, the connecting rod works under and over, instead of over and under. The result is that the upper guide bars become hot, owing to the greater friction of the guide blocks attached to the crossheads when worked that way. Waddle’s fan is known as an open running fan; that is, it is open to the atmosphere all round the circumference. The blades and casing all revolving together. The air is taken into the fan on one side only, and on that side the casing is widened out. The blades, which are inclined backwards, are alternately long and short. The long blades reach the centre, and so as to give the maximum area for the entrance of the air, they are increased in width as they near the centre. On account of the large diameter, a high peripheral speed is obtained with a comparatively small number of revolutions. The fan is narrow, but there is no occasion to have it wide, since the air can escape all round its circumference. The trumpet-shaped outlet extending beyond the ends of the blade increases the efficiency of the fan, since less power is required to discharge the air, for the area of the outlet being greater than that at the tips of the blades, the velocity of discharge is gradually reduced, and resistance varies with the square of the velocity. It is better not to have a bearing on the intake side of the fan, as it stops the free inlet of air. A Waddle fan can be worked at a greater rate that a Walker fan, as the latter, if driven too fast, would shake about and wear out the bearings. There are two loose doors on the top of the air shaft, which act as a safeguard in case of an explosion, in addition to the windows, which would naturally break. A large grating is placed in front of the fan in the fan drift”.

Irving and Pratten’s “Lambton Colliery, Redhead, Conservation Plan” features two layout diagrams for Lambton Colliery; illustration 26 for 1923 and illustration 27 for the period 1937-1949.51

Plate 3.17: Detail of the Upcast Shaft taken from illustrations 26 & 27

51 Irving R and Pratten C “Lambton Colliery, Redhead, Conservation Plan”, February, 1992.



An examination of the two reveals a diagrammatic representation of the Waddle fan for 1923 and a different diagrammatic representation of the fan as from 1937. Therefore it is logical to assume that the Waddle fan was replaced and removed in the period 1923-1937. A period associated with the colliery’s changing ownership from the Scottish Australian Mining Company to the BHP Co. Ltd. In all, four fans have been incorporated into the upcast shaft enclosure at Lambton Colliery, Redhead.

1) The Waddle fan from the early 1890’s 2) The one in place by 1937 as depicted on the layout plan of Irving

and Pratten page 27. This structure complete with brick evassé remained until demolished to make way for fan 4).

3) A latter one positioned to the north-west of the upcast shaft enclosure. This fan was operational by the early 1960’s. This fan was superseded by 4).

4) A fan from John Darling No.4 shaft sunk through Belmont Lagoon. This fan was relocated and installed during November, 1990. The installation of this fan led to the demolition of the fan structures including brick evassé associated with 2) and caused the removal of most of the north wall of the 1890’s brick upcast shaft enclosure. As at the time of writing (January, 2008) the “open” nature of the north aspect of this building remains.

The rear cover of “Lambton by the Sea” provides a relevant pictorial summary of the fan structures associated with the upcast shaft. The top photo from 1964 shows the structures of fans 2) and 3) in position relative to the upcast shaft enclosure. The bottom photo from 17 December, 1991 shows fan 4) and the superseded fan 3). The installation of 4) destroyed the structures associated with 2). All structures of Dudley Colliery and those of the Newcastle Coal Mining Company’s A Pit or Glebe Pit have been destroyed thus eliminating any signs of their Waddle fans. Seaham and Seaham No.2 Colliery remains could include engine mounds and scattered bricks but not structures or buildings. All structures including those associated with their Waddle fans have been destroyed. One can only postulate what indications remain of the Waddle fan once associated with the much modified Stockton Borehole Colliery. Thus the hardwood remains, associated with the mounting of the Waddle fan, in the southern wall of the upcast shaft enclosure take on a possibly unique interpretation linkage back to the technology of the 1890’s. Such remains have great interpretative value to the general historian and to the mining and engineering fraternities. Also the existence of these Waddle fan remains could form the basis of a collaborative association between those charged with interpreting Lambton Colliery’s history and one or two coal mining museums in either Wales, Scotland or the Durham area of the north of England. After all Lambton Colliery is a classic example of 19th Century British coal mining technology and associated architecture translocated to the colonies. The upcast shaft headframe was a vital component in the operational purpose of the upcast shaft group of buildings. Its existence is a key interpretative element to the function of the upcast shaft group of buildings. Without the headframe the cage could not have been raised or lowered in the shaft. As part of the colliery’s operation a deputy would be lowered and raised in the shaft at the commencement of each shift to ensure the safe condition of the second means of entry and egress. An “in situ” upcast shaft headframe with linkages back to the 1930’s and to the 1890’s is an absolute heritage rarity in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie areas, if not in the state of New South Wales. The upcast shaft headframe and the other brick structures had “stabilisation” work carried out late in 1994.



3.6 FORMER FAN ENGINE HOUSE, LATER SWITCH ROOM. This building was specifically constructed in the early 1890’s to house the engine which drove the Waddle fan. McCarron writing in 1907 makes reference to this technology,

“The ventilating appliances at the upcast shaft consist of a Waddle fan, 42 feet diameter, with a 16 feet inlet having a capacity of 250,000 cubic feet per minute, and driven by a compound engine with high pressure cylinder, 22 inches diameter, 32 inches diameter low pressure, both 3 feet 9 inches stroke. There is also a 28 inch auxiliary engine kept in readiness, which may be coupled up at a moment’s notice”.

Danvers Power in his 1912 work, “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia” also makes reference to Durham Colliery’s fan engine,

“The driving engine was manufactured by the Waddle Patent Fan and Engineering Company of Llanelly, Wales, and is a compound tandem, direct acting. The emergency engine, which is placed in line with the main engine, but on the other side of the fan, only has one cylinder. As the fan must revolve in the same direction all the time, when the emergency engine is coupled up to it, the connecting rod works under and over, instead of over and under. The result is that the upper guide bars become hot, owing to the greater friction of the guide blocks attached to the crossheads when worked that way”.

The driving engines for the Waddle fan would probably have been removed when the Waddle fan was superseded in the period between 1923 and 1937. The Lambton Colliery layout for the period 1937-49 featured in Irving and Pratten’s Conservation Plan, indicates the former fan engine house as an electrical substation. The concrete mounds on the floor of this building probably relate to the Waddle fan driving engines for which the building was purposely constructed in the period 1893 – 1894.

Plate 3.18: Fan House in 1994. (Source Ed Tonks) Plate 3.19: Fan House today. Note missing

windows to Basement. 3.7 FORMER UPCAST SHAFT WINDER HOUSE This brick building was another of the upcast shaft group built in the period 1892 – 1894. It was built to house a steam winding engine. McCarron records:

“The winding plant consists of a pair of Tangye engines, having cylinders 14 inches diameter, 2 feet 6 inches stroke.52

52 McCarron, “ The Cyclopedia of New South Wales”, Stewart & Co., Sydney, 1907.



Under BHP Co Ltd ownership the steam winder was replaced by an electric winder housed in a small annexe attached to the western face of the original upcast shaft winder house. The BHP Co report for half year ended 31 May, 1935 noted,

“The No.2 shaft, utilised as a second outlet has in the past been served by a steam winding engine. This will be discarded in favour of an electrically-operated unit which is now on the ground”. 53

Irving and Pratten summarised the sequential use of this building,

“Even though the steam-driven winding engine was replaced by an electrically operated winder in the adjoining annexe, erected about 1940, the steam engine remained in situ until the early 1950’s following which the space was used as lecture room, store and surveyor’s drawing office”.54

The annexe housing the electric winder was demolished during April, 1994, subsequently the electric winder was donated to and relocated to the State Mine Museum in Lithgow. 3.8 FORMER UPCAST SHAFT BOILER HOUSE This building is another of the early 1890s brick buildings to have changed its function over time. Originally it was built to house the boilers which provided steam to power the upcast shaft steam winding engine. McCarron makes mention of them in his 1907 publication,

“Steam is provided by two Lancashire boilers (Walkers), each 30 feet long by 8 feet diameter. The feed water for these boilers passes through a Berryman heater, the heat being derived from the exhaust steam of the fan engine”.55

In their profile of this building Irving and Pratten note:

“The power was provided by two Lancashire boilers. This must have been found to be inadequate, as a new boiler house containing three boilers was erected east of the original, in about 1910, when new air compressing engines were installed”. 56

F. Danvers Power whose “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia” was published in 1912 also makes mention of the upcast shaft boilers at Lambton Colliery, B Pit.

“ At the upcast shaft, there are two 8ft 6in Lancashire boilers, by Walker Bros. A Green’s economiser is erected at the back of the main range of boilers, but it is not used, for the work entailed in keeping them clean and in repair is not compensated for by the saving of fuel, when it is cheap as at a colliery. Berryman’s feedwater heater is found to be the most economical under the circumstances, though it is by no means perfect for high pressure intermittent engines such as the winding engines, as can be seen and felt by the shower of spray that falls around it during winding. This heater consists of a nest of inverted U-shaped tubes in a shell. The exhaust steam passes through the tubes, so does not mix

53 Tonks E, “Lambton by the Sea”. 54 Irving R and Pratten C “Lambton Colliery, Redhead Conservation Plan 55 McCarron, “The Cyclopedia of New South Wales”. 56 Irving R and Pratten C “Lambton Colliery, Redhead Conservation Plan



with the feed water; consequently, there is no fear of grease and dirt from the cylinders entering the boiler”. 57

At least one non-fatal accident is recorded as occurring at the boilers in the period from Durham Colliery’s sinking to 1939. The 1920 Department of Mines report notes that on 10 October, 1920 William Spooner, 53, fan engine driver, was scalded,

“Spooner was in attendance at the fan and boilers, and took on himself to blow down a boiler. The blow-off way had become somewhat choked and he put a wire through an opening in the steam pipe, and evidently relieved the obstruction as the steam blew out suddenly and scaled him on the legs, arms and face”.58

Irving and Pratten noted that the first boiler house must have changed its function by 1923 as it was marked as a “store” on a site drawing for that year. The approximate 1910 boiler house, a structure clad in corrugated iron was demolished, probably soon after the termination of steam generation in 1965. 59 3.9 SUMMARY In the time context of the early 1890s, the original functional requirements of the upcast shaft created needs for a range of specific capital items such as a winding engine, ventilation fan, ventilation fan engine, steam boilers and other associated equipment etc. Capital items were accommodated in purpose-built buildings and structures. Most of the capital items were British designed and/or British built. In their original form the buildings mobilised and concentrated machinery from the age of steam to help maintain the pace and impetus of the steam age itself. As functional needs changed and as electricity replaced steam as a prime source of energy, original equipment was removed and replaced leaving the buildings to perform different roles and purposes. Despite these changes and resulting modifications much of the original 1890s character can still be identified. The demolition of the downcast shaft group of buildings in 1993 does not weaken the significance of the remaining upcast shaft group of buildings. In fact the heritage significance of the remaining building is enhanced by the loss of their down cast shaft siblings. The upcast shaft group of buildings is truly the last collection of 19th century colliery buildings in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie area and possibly in the state of New South Wales. For interpretation purposes, aerial photography, ground layouts and other surface plans clearly relate what is left to what has gone.

57 Danvers Power F “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia”, Critchley Parker, Sydney 1912. 58 Dept of Mines Annual Report 1920 59 Irving R and Pratten C, “Lambton Colliery, Redhead, Conservation Plan”.



Plate 3.20: the site in 1990 (Lambton By the Sea p 61 – Drawn B. Andrews)

Selected others: Built Demolished Brick Office 1946 1993 Boiler Shop 1930s 1993 (Built on site of blacksmith’s shop) Rail Loading Bin 1963 1993 Conveyor Drive House 1963-1964 1993 Drift Portal 1961-1964 1993 Bath House Late 1940s – Early 1950s 1993 (Built on site of horse stables) Engineering workshop 1967 1993 Lamp Cabin Early 1900s 1993 Compressors 1892-1894 1993 (Built as main winding house) Loco Charge Room 1892-1894 1993 (Boiler House for main winding engine) Fan for Upcast Shaft Late 1940s – Early 1960s 1990

Winding Engine for Upcast Shaft 1930s 1994 Electric Winding Engine subsequently relocated to Lithgow Former Under Manager’s cottage Built by 1909 1993 Down Cast Shaft Sinking commenced 1887 1993 Filled/sealed Upcast Shaft Commenced 1888 1993 Leaving evidence of tubbing



Plate 3.21: Lambton Colliery 1937-49 (Illus. 27 Irving & Pratten)

Built Demolished Employees Bath and Change House Site of stables 1993 Miner Lamp Cabin Early 1900s 1993 Fitting & Turning Shop 1930s 1993 Haulage Engine House Early 1900s 1993 Head Gear & Heapstead 1892-1894 Modified 1930s 1964 Picking Belt Building 1892-1894 Modified 1930s 1964 Down Cast Winding Engine House 1892-1894 1993 Boiler Shed 1892-1894 1993 Stack 1894 1961 Men’s Bath & Change House Pre 1946 1964 Finished its role as storage facility Fan Rooms Pre 1946 1990 Boiler Shed Early 1900s 1965 Stack (Upcast) 1893 1965 Painters cabin Early 1900s 1993 Staff Office c 1946 1993 3.10 OBSERVATIONS OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REMAINING STRUCTURES Relevant keys to the significance of Lambton Colliery are the age of most of the buildings and structures – 1892–1894 period and the fact that they are a collective of four related buildings and structures. They are not the odd engine mound, single chimney or relocated headframe. Much of the urban form of the lower Hunter Valley has been created by the operation of Nineteenth Century Coal Mines. The importance of coal is recognised as an element in each of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie’s coats of arms, yet no group or collection of 19th Century structures remain to be seen other than those built as Durham Colliery, later Lambton Colliery B Pit and finally Lambton Colliery at Redhead. The remaining structures are not only rare, i.e., significant in possessing rare, endangered or uncommon aspects of the history of NSW



(The NSW State Heritage Inventory) but are unique on the Northern Coalfield – a coalfield that generated so much wealth for New South Wales and in fact Australia. The proceedings of the second AUS/MM Mineral Heritage Seminar held in Sydney in July 1988, contains an article, “The History of Coal Mining in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales”, which contains several tables and listings of the larger 19th Century collieries which once operated in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie areas in the Northern Coalfield. All the collieries associated with J. A. Brown are closed with surface features demolished. The site of Duckenfield Colliery was open cut by the army during the 1949 coal miners strike. All the Australian Agricultural Company’s collieries are closed. The last one to operate, the New Winning shaft or Sea Pit in Cooks Hill closed in 1916. Its pit paddock was developed for housing from 1915. Nesca Park in Cooks Hill conforms to the general shape of the Sea Pit Colliery Dam. The sites of the Newcastle Coal Mining Company’s A & B Pits are occupied generally by housing. The B Pit closed in 1909 with the A Pit closing in 1921. The B pit was located in the general area of Caldwell Avenue, Merewether; a site occupied by houses and a bowling club. The A Pit (or Glebe Pit) site is covered in houses and conforms to the general structure of Hatfield Street and Morgan Street extended. Morgan Street extended once carried a railway which once served the Glebe Pit and later into the 1950s, smaller “tribute” mines. All of the Newcastle Wallsend Coal Co’s collieries are closed and structures demolished. In the wake of Gretley Colliery’s rehabilitation, following its closure as New Wallsend II Colliery, the last remaining structures of B Pit dating from the 1860s were demolished in 2003. Some stone blocks, engine mounds, and the sealed shaft occupy the site of C Pit. This site is pending re-development. Some stone footings and engine mounds mark the location of the company’s Jubilee Shaft off Cardiff Road, Elermore Vale. The site of the New Tunnel is currently occupied by Energy Australia off Newcastle Road, Jesmond. The site of the Co-operative Colliery at Plattsburg is occupied by Wallsend High School. The Scottish Australian Mining Company’s Colliery at Lambton (in the suburb of Lambton) is now Lewis Oval and flats occupy much of its former railway’s permanent way. Of the Estuarine Mines nothing remains. By the 1930s Wickham and Bullock Island Colliery was demolished. Stockton Colliery now hosts flats on the southern tip of Stockton Peninsula; Hetton Colliery is the site of a transport terminal and rail interchange. Of the eastern Lake Macquarie 19th Century collieries Lambton was the last to close in 1991. South Waratah later Waratah closed in 1961. The pit top area has been totally demolished with part of the site developed for housing whilst a portion has been dedicated as “Raspberry Gully” reserve. A portion of the northern railway approaches was developed late in 2007 as “Raspberry Grove” for residential purposes. Burwood Extended, later Redhead Colliery closed in 1928. Its site is now occupied by a light industrial area. South Burwood, later Dudley Colliery, closed in 1939. Last “in situ” relic to be demolished was the headframe which came down on 8 July, 1954. Burwood No.3 at Whitebridge closed during 1982. Its site was developed as Dudley Beach Estate and the headframe relocated to the Regional Museum in Newcastle West, (this museum is now closed pending relocation to Honeysuckle). Some engine mounds and brick foundations of Burwood No.1 and No.2 shaft can still be seen on the southern shore of Glenrock Lagoon. Of the 19th Century collieries of the West Wallsend area all are closed with their sites demolished and devoid of structures even though the occasional engine mound or brick footing might be ascertained. The current West Wallsend Colliery was developed in 1971 by Coal and Allied at Killingworth as West Wallsend No.2 Colliery. The original West Wallsend Colliery site is located to the immediate west of the township of West Wallsend. It contains the piers of a storage bin and a third of the colliery’s headframe, the first all metal headframe in the Northern District. During the 1970s the upper two thirds of this historic headframe were cut off and re-erected at the Mining Museum at Freeman’s Waterhole.



The historic village of Catherine Hill Bay owes its origins to coal mining, yet there is virtually nothing left of 19th Century coal mining to reflect the village’s beginnings. One galvanised iron shed and some concrete pads mark the site of the Wallarah Coal Company’s E Pit; this colliery however was opened in 1906. This review clearly highlights that the 1890s buildings are the last of their type in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie areas. The ”local” rarity of the remaining Lambton Colliery structures could take on a higher dimension when the other two major coal producing districts of New South Wales, the Illawarra and Western District centred on Lithgow are considered. In the Illawarra Region the following 19th Century collieries are closed with most surface structures demolished and with sites generally levelled or redeveloped: - South Clifton, Old Bulli, Corrimal, Mt Pleasant, Mt Keira, Mt Kembla. South Bulli may have remaining structures; so too might Metropolitan Colliery at Helensburgh. Coal Cliff still produces coke. It would be a valuable exercise to survey the latter three colliery sites to determine what 19th Century structures exist and if they rival those at Lambton for their number, completeness and retention of historic fabric. The great 19th Century collieries of the Lithgow area have also closed with general demolition of and levelling of sites being the norm. A general exception to this rule is the Oakey Park Colliery where the winding room, piers and engine mounds exist. Gone are the following with years of opening and closure: Ø Lithgow Valley Colliery 1873-1979, now a supermarket site. Ø Eskbank Colliery 1873 – 1903 Ø Vale of Clydd Colliery 1874 – 1950 Ø Hermitage Colliery 1874 – 1987 Ø Zig Zag Colliery 1883 – 1933

Thus it’s possible that because of their age, character and form Lambton Colliery’s remaining buildings and structures could have State heritage significance. Other elements of Lambton Colliery’s significance include –

• The history and heritage of industrial development and the advance of technology is well represented by the Lambton Colliery remains. The extreme significance of the upcast shaft especially the visible cast iron tubbing and the Upcast Waddle fan framework provides a unique opportunity for industrial heritage analysis interpretation, appreciation and understanding.

• Associated for much of its life with two major companies, the Scottish Australian Mining Company and the Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd. The latter company has recognisable national importance.

• Being a second generation colliery of the Scottish Australian Mining Company and located well away from the company’s original colliery it highlighted the transient nature of coal mining as companies seek new areas so as to maintain production levels. This process is highlighted by other companies such as the Waratah Coal Co; Stockton Coal Co; Australian Agricultural Company; Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company.

• Its association with BHP recalls a time when Newcastle was a major steel making centre of Australia and Lambton Colliery was a key component in its raw material supply, it was a time when economic thought favoured vertical integration instead of the economic rationalists outsourcing and spot market purchases.

• Having been owned by the Scottish Australian Mining Company it has direct connection with the important Croudace family; Thomas and his two sons Francis and Sydney.

• Having been owned by BHP it has direct connection with significant BHP coal mining personalities such as Joshua Jeffries superintendent of collieries; James Fallins; John Fallins, assistant superintendent of collieries and manager of Lambton Colliery from 23 September 1935 to 1 March 1936 and later superintendent of collieries; Peter Brownlie, manager of Lambton Colliery from 1936 to 1960.



• Its association with BHP also recalls a time when Lambton as part of the John Darling and Burwood Collieries group provided a career path for management and workers and significantly added to a sense of a mining community on the east side of Lake Macquarie.

• It was the first coal mine in Australia to be mechanised. Thus it has a significant place in Australia’s industrial and social histories. Mechanisation not only increased productivity but it also led to changing work practices and a demand for new skills. These changes brought about a number of clashes between management and men, e.g., the 1938 stay-in strike. Industrial issues stemming from mechanisation were not isolated to Lambton Colliery. They also occurred at nearby Burwood and John Darling Collieries. Mechanisation was also a significant application of American technology (and industrial relations methods) to Lambton’s production. This is also a link to the key BHP personalities who drove mechanisation and who implemented it at Lambton Colliery, i.e., Joshua Jeffries, James and John Fallins and Peter Brownlie. Some of Lambton’s Jeffrey mechanised equipment has been part of an external display at the Newcastle Regional Museum. The fate of this historically important equipment is now uncertain given the closure of the museum at its present site pending relocation to Honeysuckle.

• At the time of its closure in December, 1991 it was the only coal mine on the Newcastle coal field still using original 19th Century shafts and many original 19th Century pit top buildings.

• For over 90 years its coal had been conveyed over the privately constructed and owned New Redhead Estate and Coal Company’s Railway. The origins of this railway go back to the late 1880s and early 1890s. Thus we see the association between two historic phenomena which has helped to create Newcastle’s urban character; the 19th Century colliery and the 19th Century coal haulage railway. In the case of Lambton it was Newcastle’s last 19th Century colliery linked to the last 19th Century colliery railway. When Lambton Colliery closed so too did the truncated New Redhead Estate and Coal Company’s railway. Other 19th Century railways which had closed before Lambton Colliery ceased production were

o Railway along the coast from Glenrock Lagoon to The Junction – 1944 – Tunnels sealed 1945

o Railway from the Glebe through The Junction to Newcastle via Civic Park. Last loaded coal train on 23 August, 1954. Line re-opened 7 June, 1955 to remove empty wagons from abandoned colliery sidings.

o Gully line serving Waratah Colliery at Charlestown. Colliery closed in 1961 but line left open until 16 July, 1966.

o Catherine Hill Bay’s isolated railway from Wallarah E Pit along the coast to the loading jetty – 1963.

o Railway serving Old Lambton – 8 November, 1963. o Richmond Vale railway ceased running steam locomotives on coal train

during 1987 when Stockington’s production became road hauled. • Irving and Pratten make a key point that “the life-span of the colliery

embraces a century of technological and social change in the coal mining industry – mechanisation, the decline of steam power, economic depression, industrial conflict, safety and family tradition”, added to that could be the swing from British to U.S. technology and the change from shaft to drift/conveyor haulage.

• Lambton Colliery has direct associations with the town of Redhead in terms of its having been an agent of urbanisation, creating local employment, linked by company association to a cottage at 65 Cowlishaw Street, Redhead and to the “gentleman’s house”, “The Gables”. The former is thought to be the survivor of a couple the SAM Co relocated from Cobar and re-erected at Redhead. The latter was designed in 1924 by Pitt and Merewether for Frank Croudace, general manager of the SAM Co.

• The retention and presence of the century-plus old buildings at Redhead is a very important part of the community’s “sense of place” and provides a local landmark and an extremely interesting and unique feature of the City of Lake



Macquarie’s built environment which contrasts with the style of contemporary residential development.

• It’s potential as a significant memorial to the miners and workers who died or were injured over the life of the coal mine. This potential exists because they are colliery buildings, they are original, they are on site, “in situ” and the remnant Waddle fan fixtures relate to a ventilation technology specifically designed to improve workers’ safety. This significance could extend to regional relevance as a mining memorial.

• Its potential also exists as an interpretative centre for the nearby Fernleigh Track, once the New Redhead Estate and Coal Company’s Railway. This track is close to the remaining colliery buildings, the colliery was once served by the railway. The remains of Redhead Station platform offer little potential as an interpretative centre.

Below are the evaluation criteria for considering a colliery site of outstanding international importance – Lambton Colliery fits many of those criteria. The International Collieries Study Evaluation Criteria Below is the evaluation criteria for considering a colliery site of outstanding international importance – Lambton Colliery fits many of those criteria.

It is proposed that a colliery site should be considered to be of outstanding international importance in relation to the following criteria (slightly adapted from criteria i-iv in paragraph 24 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, WHC/s/Revised January, 1999: UNESCO).

1. A unique achievement; a masterpiece of the creative genius.

There are certain colliery complexes which are magnificent ensembles of buildings and machinery. Some collieries are outstanding examples of functional architecture and design.

2. To have exerted great influence on developments of technological importance.

The first time a new technology is applied to civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or architecture is of particular significance to the history of mankind, depending upon how widely applicable and useful that particular innovation is. Collieries have historically been very important as the means of providing a basic fuel, allowing the evolution of developed societies with a high degree of economic and commercial interchange. The application of existing, or new, technologies to the evolution in sophistication of collieries’ infrastructure is particularly significant in that process. Also significant is the process of technology transfer between countries and continents, particularly with regard to the ways in which this has significantly progressed the economic well-being of mankind and facilitated the development of sophisticated societies. Such arguments can be applied equally to individual colliery structures. To whole collieries, to large coal-mining landscapes with mining settlements and their institutions; and to integrated industrial areas such as the mining fields of metal-smelting works. However, the present condition of sites, structures, and buildings are obvious weighting factors in assessing the significance of such types of structure. It may well be that the present condition of the most significant sites as built does not warrant their designation as sites of world importance whereas sites nearby, or even at a distance, now represent more adequately an important stage in the evolution of world collieries.

3. An outstanding example of a type of a type of structure or feature which illustrates a significant stage of history.

This can include colliery structures or complexes representative of the world’s first Industrial Revolution as it spread from Britain to Belgium and the rest of the European continent at the end of the 18th and during the 19th Century. Coal mines and their workers’ settlements illustrating the spread of ideas and technology across the rest of the world are also significant: they illustrate how earlier concepts and engineering were adapted to suit local conditions and cultures.



4. Directly associated with economic or social developments of outstanding universal significance.

The economic developments associated with the Industrial Revolution have already been discussed. Industrial communities, among which those associated with coal mining were prominent, led to many innovatory ideas in social engineering and evolution. Better housing, social clubs and institutions, and wider educational provision were all fostered in these new concentrations of population and led to the foundation of modern society.

5. Authenticity in functional structures.

Like many other types of industrial archaeological feature, collieries are important because of their functional use. However, this functional use itself will mean that parts of a mechanism or infrastructure have to be maintained, modified, or renewed in order to maintain the primary function of an operational colliery. That this concept of renewal will not result in the automatic rejection of a site as being of world importance has already been accepted by the World Heritage Committee at its meeting on authenticity in Nara (Japan). It was also recognised in the 1994 and 1996 International Canal Heritage study that a significant element of the heritage of an industrial monument is its evolution over the course of time.

6. The level of existing legal protection and management.

Mechanisms are not considered of great importance in this advisory study as States Parties can introduce such mechanisms prior to any formal intended application for World Heritage status. It is, moreover, explicitly stated in the Operational Guidelines that ‘Nominations of immovable property which are likely to become movable will not be considered’ (paragraph 25).



3.11 THE IMPORTANCE OF THOMAS CROUDACE During the 1970s and 1980s two Newcastle based academics, Jack Camm and Peter Irwin explained Newcastle’s urban pattern as suiting the multiple nuclei model. Newcastle’s urban pattern has grown from the former coal mining townships of Merewether, Hamilton, Lambton, Wallsend, Waratah and others. These settlements were once linked to the Port of Newcastle by colliery railways, later by trams and all-weather roads. The mines created settlements, settlements persisted despite the closing of the mines, land became available for development following the end of coal mining, former coal mining townships have become suburbs of a more diversified regional economy. Thomas Croudace designed Lambton Colliery at Redhead as Durham Colliery. Thomas Croudace was the foundation colliery manager for the Scottish Australian Mining Company’s Lambton Colliery which created the coal mining township of Lambton, now the suburb of Lambton. The coal mining township of Lambton was one of the multiple urban nuclei which help to explain how Newcastle has grown as an urban centre. Therefore the remaining 19th Century colliery buildings at Redhead link directly to one of the key personalities who has helped shape the urban character of Newcastle.

Thomas Croudace – A Summary

Born: Chincliffe, Durham, England in 1838

In England • Educated Royal Keplar Grammar School • Apprentice mining engineer to John Robson • Gained experience in workshop of Robert Stephenson • Assistant manager of Washington I Pit, Durham • Recovery work after at least two colliery explosions

Died “Lambton Lodge” 15 June 1906 Buried, Sandgate Cemetery

Ex England With wife on “Tiptree” 25 September, 1861

Designed and laid out Durham Colliery as a “Model” colliery worthy of the name “Lambton”

Legacy • 4 sons and 4 daughters • Newcastle’s urban pattern • Lambton Park • Lambton Lodge

“Croudace Tearooms” • Croudace Street • Croudace Bay • Remaining Lambton

Colliery buildings • “The Gables”, Redhead

built for son, Francis Croudace

Arrived Australia • 6 January, 1862 as

foundation manager to “develop the Lambton property of the Scottish Australian Mining Company

• General manager of Scottish Australian Mining Company from 1891

Recovery of Mines in Newcastle • Inrush of water,

Ferndale Colliery, 1886 • Underground fire,

Seaham Colliery, 1895 • Carbon monoxide,

Stockton Colliery, 1896 • Underground

explosion, Dudley Colliery, 1898



3.12 DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE BIBLIOGRAPHY Books

• Australian Mining Standard, “Mines and Minerals of New South Wales” prepared for the Royal Exchange Exhibition, September, 1906. Critchley Parker.

• Camm, J. C. R. and Irwin P.G., “Space, People, Place – Economic and Settlement Geography”. Longman. 1981.

• Danvers Power, F., “Coalfields and Collieries of Australia” Critchley Parker, Sydney. 1912.

• Dovers, S. “Illawarra Heritage – an Introduction to a Region” Environmental Heritage Committee, Wollongong. 1983.

• Fallins, Hilary R., “Happenings Under Belmont – The History of John Darling Colliery and the Story of its People”, Hilary Fallins. 1992.

• Hubbuck, G. R., “The Scottish Companies and the Founding of Lambton”. Newcastle and Hunter District Historical Society Publication No.2

• Irving, R. and Pratten C., “Lambton Colliery, Redhead. Conservation Plan. 17 Donnelly Street, Balmain. 1992.

• Kingswell, G. H. “The Coal Mines of Newcastle; their rise and progress. Newcastle Herald. 1890.

• McCarron, “The Cyclopedia of New South Wales” Stewart & Co. Sydney. 1907. • Mainwaring, R. “Modernising Underground Coal Haulage, BHP Newcastle Collieries.

Electric Railways”, Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc. 1999. • Newcastle Division of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, “Shaping the Hunter”.

1983. • Tonks, E. “Adamstown via Fernleigh – Trains and Collieries of the Belmont Line”.

NSW Rail Transport Museum. 1988. • Tonks, E. “Lambton by the Sea – The last 19th Century Colliery on the Newcastle

Coalfield”. Headframe Publishing. 1995. Booklets and pamphlets

• FAI Mining Limited Sale catalogue. Mine auction 25 March, 1992. • Hughes G. J. “Lithgow Historical Notes”, July, 2004. • Irving and Pratten “Lambton Colliery Conservation Guidelines”, June, 1993.

Journals and Reports

• The BHP Review, March 1943 • Various years of the Department of Mines Annual Reports

Newspapers

• Newcastle Morning Herald 22 June, 1893 • Newcastle Morning Herald 13 September, 1893 • Newcastle Morning Herald 4 February, 1899 • Newcastle Morning Herald 20 June, 1902 • Newcastle Morning Herald 7 November, 1903 • Newcastle Morning Herald 2 February, 1906 • Newcastle Morning Herald 15 August, 1907 • Newcastle Morning Herald 26 August, 1938 • Newcastle Morning Herald 29 May, 1947 • Newcastle Morning Herald 24 August, 1970 • The Herald 22 February, 2007

Seminar Proceedings

• Second Aus I.M.M. Mineral Heritage Seminar, Sydney, 1988.



4.0 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 4.1 THE SITE ELEMENTS The Conservation Plan prepared by Irving & Pratten (February 1992) of the Lambton Colliery, Redhead was based on the whole colliery site as it existed after its closure. Since then, the bulk of the colliery grounds, buildings and structures have been raised to the ground and extensive civil engineering works undertaken resulting in a new housing estate surrounding the small upcast group of buildings. The following lists the remaining upcast shaft group of buildings and structures which were once part of Lambton Colliery, Redhead.

• Upcast Shaft Enclosure; Headframe, Vault and Shaft • Former Fan Engine House (later switch room) • Former Upcast Shaft Winder House, (later used as lecture room and survey office) • Former Upcast Shaft Boiler House, (later used as a store).

In addition to the above mining elements, a covered entry structure, a tennis court and a children’s play area were constructed as part of the housing estate development for community use.

Plate 4.1: Former Boiler House, with the barrel shaped covered link between the buildings on a steel frame.

Plate 4.2: Headframe, Shaft Enclosure and Vault with the Former Engine House behind.

Plate 4.3: Car Park and Tennis Court. Plate 4.4: children’s Play Equipment.



4.2 THE SETTING Originally the site was on the edge of the township of Redhead.

The development of the mine was at the time a reasonable distance from the small township and remained that way until after the end of WW2 as is evidenced in the 1946 photograph at left. Plate 4.5: The mine with Redhead Township in the background (Source Lambton by the Sea – photo BHP Collieries)

Redhead developed rapidly over the 1950’s and 1960’s and continued to grow gradually through to the 1990’s.

Plate 4.6: The Upcast Shaft & Buildings in 1964. (Ed Tonks Collection)

Plate 4.7: The Upcast shaft group in 1991. (Ed Tonks)

Plate 4.8: The former Lambton Colliery site, Redhead in late 1992. (Source Lambton By the Sea – photo Gerri Hoskins, Dolly Photographics, Redhead)



Plate 4.9: Plan of The Grange subdivision surrounding the Upcast Shaft Buildings. (Source: LMCC) The development of the bulk of the site for a housing estate in the mid 1990’s, combined with adjacent housing estate and aged care developments has changed the setting of the former colliery from a site largely bounded by bushland to a small site surrounded by housing, located on the main thoroughfare of Collier Street. 4.3 UNDERSTANDING THE FABRIC The remaining form and fabric of the Upcast Shaft group of buildings on the former Lambton Colliery site at Redhead provides evidence of the development of the colliery complex and evidence of the technical achievements of Thomas Croudace’s use of state of the art mining practices of the day. Generally the external forms can be easily interpreted, however the majority of the purpose designed internal spaces are difficult to interpret due to removal of the machinery they once housed. Materials The buildings are constructed in solid brick masonry with walls of 230mm and 350mm thickness, laid in English bond, one row of stretcher bricks then a row of header bricks and so on. The design of the buildings incorporates engaged piers to the corners and at regular intervals on the elevations which correspond with the internal timber trusses. The brickwork is laid in weak lime mortar, a typical mix for mortar used in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Upcast Shaft, Enclosure and Headframe The sinking of the upcast shaft was commenced in 1889 and completed by the end of 1890. All the buildings and equipment associated with this shaft, including the installation of the Waddle Fan, were completed by 1893.

Former Lambton Colliery Site



Plate 4.10: Detail from the 1894 Snowball photograph of the Upcast Shaft group. Note: the headframe structure is timber with champhered edges highlighted in paint.

Plate 4.11: Similar view in 2008. Note: openings in Enclosure structure.

The Enclosure structure is square in plan with engaged piers similar to the adjacent masonry buildings. The masonry has been rendered in part, probably after the installation of the steel superstructure and the opening of the penetrations to the masonry walls. Some of the original brickwork associated with the Waddle Fan remains insitu. The eastern wall of the Enclosure has two narrow but tall recesses originally housing semi-circular arched windows.

Plate 4.12: Internal view of the window openings to the Enclosure. The windows could have been made in timber due to the size of the recess in the brickwork and their narrow dimension; however they could also have been cast iron to match the windows in the adjacent buildings. Another option is that they were just openings only, but this does not explain the recess in the reveals, or why they made two openings instead of one.

Irving & Pratten include a description of the Enclosure as follows: The friezes do not have the brick dentillation characterising the other early structures. Instead they are surmounted by a heavily moulded cornice somewhat crudely formed in stucco.

Based on the quality of the internal brickwork of the Enclosure and the quality of workmanship across the site, it is clear that Croudace placed a high emphasis on the aesthetics of the mine buildings. In addition to this, I believe the render of the external face of the Enclosure was undertaken much later than the building’s construction accounting for the “crudely” formed moulded cornice. Similarly the original dentillated frieze may have been removed to assist with the rendering of the walls and recesses or it may never have existed, Croudace opting to keep the detail of the Enclosure to a minimum. Plate 4.10 above shows the cornice highlighted, which would indicate some skill and effort was placed on its detailing. The shaft is approximately 4300mm in diameter and was lined with ribbed end flanged segmental cast iron plates, known as “tubbing”, bolted together to form a cylinder. This system was used to line the shaft and extended down past the extensive sand strata. The remains of the original timber post headframe legs seated on cast iron pads which rest on concrete bases above the concrete floor of the Enclosure can still be seen. The shaft has



been filled and a concrete floor placed approximately one metre below the top of the “tubbing”, leaving enough metal exposed to demonstrate this unique system.

Plate 4.13: View of the “tubbing” inside the Enclosure. Plate 4.14: Remains of timber Headframe in pad.

Plate 4.16: Detail of the “tubbing” inside the Enclosure showing sections bolted together. Plate 4.15: (left) View of the steel Headframe resting on and spanning over the Enclosure.

On the southern side of the Enclosure is a large barrel-vault constructed in brickwork through which air was originally exhausted by means of the huge Waddle Fan mounted between the Enclosure and the adjacent Fan Engine House. The remaining masonry vault contains the bearing frame and timber flange rim.

Plate 4.17: View of the bearing frame and flange. Plate 4.18: View of the gap between the buildings.



The Fan Engine House This building was completed by January 1893, was erected as an independent engine house powering the Waddle Fan which was the original ventilation device for the underground workings. The Waddle Fan continued in use until the mine ceased work in 1928. Following the 1932 takeover of the mine by BHP, electric power was provided from the John Darling Colliery and the Fan Engine House became the Electrical Switch Room.

Plate 4.19: View of the Engine House from the north. Plate 4.20: View of the Engine House from the SW .

Plate 4.21: Detail of the wainscot in a niche. Plate 4.22: Detail of a typical window recess.

Plate 4.23: View of the roof truss structure. Plate 4.24: View of the opening to the Waddle Fan.

Plate 4.25: Wainscot corner detail. Plate 4.26: View of west elevation Plate 4.27: View south elevation



Externally the building is divided into five bays with windows on the southern elevation and two bays with a door to each elevation at the west and east ends. The northern elevation adjacent to the Waddle Fan has one opening aligned with the centre of the fan. The building is constructed in 230mm and 350mm solid and painted face brickwork with engaged piers capped with a dentillation of diagonally-laid bricks. The masonry is sandstock bricks laid in English bond in weak lime mortar. The cast iron semi-circular arched windows in each bay originally had smaller windows to the basement area, but were bricked up some time ago. Internally, the finish to the building is of a far higher quality and detail than one would expect from and industrial building. This detailing of the internal walls was also evident in parts of the now demolished Downcast group of buildings. The plan of the building is rectangular having a basement area on the southern half running the full length of the building, accessed from external steps on the southern elevation. Former Upcast Shaft Winder House The building was constructed in 1892 and completed by January 1893. The original steam engine survived in the building until the early 1950’s despite being replaced by an electrically operated winder in the adjoining annexe erected about 1940. Following its removal the building was used for a lecture room and a Survey Drawing Office and store. The winder House and Boiler House were built together, sharing an internal dividing wall and having the eastern wall as a continuous masonry element. Both buildings however had separate pitched hipped corrugated iron roofs.

Plate 4.28: View of the Engine House from the north. Plate 4.29: View of the Engine House from the SW.

Plate 4.30: Detail of the wainscot in a niche. Plate 4.31: Detail of a typical window recess.



Plate 4.32: View of the roof truss structure.

Plate 4.33: View Plate 4.34: View of the opening to the Waddle Fan.

Former Upcast Shaft Boiler House The building was constructed with the Winder House in 1892 and completed in 1893. It originally housed two Lancashire boilers, however these required augmentation with three new boilers erected east of the complex in about 1910. By 1923 the building had changed function to a Store. The c. 1910 corrugated building housing the additional boilers was demolished, probably soon after the termination of steam generation in 1965. Externally the building is divided into four bays with windows on the southern elevation and three bays with three square arched windows to each bay on the east end. Originally this elevation had no windows and connected by a brick vault to the chimney base. The western elevation contained three large arched openings which can still be seen in the brickwork. The engaged piers on the southern elevation correspond with the internal trusses. The building is constructed in 230mm and 350mm solid and painted face brickwork with engaged piers capped with a dentillation of diagonally-laid bricks. The masonry is sandstock bricks laid in English bond in weak lime mortar.

Plate 4.35: View of the Boiler House from the SE. Plate 4.36: View of the Boiler House from the NE.

Plate 4.37: Detail of the entry arch and security. Plate 4.38: Detail of a typical added window.

Original brick arch in wall.



Plate 4.39: Detail of truss and purlin structure.. Plate 4.40: Interior view showing original and introduced

openings. 4.4 MOVABLE OBJECTS The site was stripped of all movable objects either before or during the demolition process of the remainder of the original colliery. Any remaining movable heritage was lost following the refurbishment of the Upcast Shaft buildings for community use as part of the subdivision of the site for a housing estate. One important piece of mining equipment, an early continuous miner, is housed in the Newcastle Regional Museum. 4.5 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS The Upcast Shaft, Enclosure, Headframe, Waddle Fan Housing and Fan Engine House are rare and unique surviving examples of their type. It is difficult to compare this group with any other similar mining relics in Australia. The former Boiler House and Winder House are representative examples of industrial construction from the late nineteenth century and can be compared with railway workshops and running sheds from a similar period. Examples in Newcastle are the Honeysuckle Railway Workshops and the former Wallsend Goods Shed.

Plate 4.41: Former Loco Machine Shop, Honeysuckle. Plate 4.42: Former Blacksmith’s & Wheel Shop,

Honeysuckle Railway Workshops.

Original brick arch in wall.



4.6 HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY ASSESSMENT & ZONING The remains of the original site around the Upcast Shaft group of buildings contained a number of lightweight timber framed structures subsequently demolished. It is unlikely that any substantial historical archaeological information associated with these buildings would advance the present existing documentary information of the function of the mine. There are two areas of potential historical archaeological remains, the trench for the Waddle Fan and the footings of the chimney stack associated with the Boiler House. The Waddle Fan trench is defined between the Enclosure structure and the Fan Engine House. The site of the chimney foundations is underneath the present car park east of the former Boiler House.

Plate 4.43: Site Plan showing areas of potential Historical Archaeology.

4.7 INDIGENOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT The site occupied by the former Lambton Colliery at Redhead, has undergone extensive alteration due to the mining works on the site that date back to 1894. Photographs of the site show extensive works that permanently altered the topography of the site. It is unlikely that any indigenous archaeology would have survived the extensive physical changes to the site as a consequence of the mining process.



5.0 CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE 5.1 BASIS OF ASSESSMENT The basis of this assessment is the methodology and terminology of the Burra Charter, the Criteria for Listing on the State Heritage Register and The Conservation Plan. The Statement of Cultural Significance has been developed from an understanding of the historical development of the place, and from an understanding of the extant fabric of the buildings and their context. This assessment is intended to enable decisions on the future management of the place to be based on an understanding of its significance. It is important that the future decisions do not jeopardise the cultural significance of the place. A Statement of Significance has been developed for the site as a whole, and for the individual buildings assessed as being significant, which contribute to the group. 5.2 THE BURRA CHARTER Article 26.1 of the Burra Charter states that:

“Work on a place should be preceded by studies to understand of the place which should include analysis of physical, documentary and other evidence, drawing on appropriate knowledge, skills and disciplines.”

Once the place has been studied, the cultural significance can be assessed. Article 1.2 of the Burra Charter defines cultural significance as the “aesthetic, historic, scientific social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations .” 5.3 THE STATE HERITAGE REGISTER The evaluation criteria for the assessment of cultural significance were developed by the NSW Heritage Council in association with amendments to the NSW Heritage Act 1977. They were developed with the goal of national consistency and community understanding and replaced the previously used State Heritage Inventory (SHI) assessment criteria. The State Heritage Register (SHR) criteria were gazetted following amendments to the Heritage Act and have been in force since April 1999. Assessments in this Conservation Management Plan were made using these criteria for listing on the State Heritage Register. Criteria are outlined in the publication Assessing Heritage Significance – Heritage Office 2000. Under each criterion a place is assessed to be of STATE or LOCAL or NO heritage significance.



A place assessed to be of STATE or LOCAL heritage significance if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

HISTORIC Criterion (a): An item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area).

Criterion (b): An item has strong or special association with the life or works of a person or group of persons, of importance in NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area).

AESTHETIC Criterion guidelines: An item is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in NSW (or the local area).

SOCIAL Criterion (d): An item has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in NSW (or the local area).for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

SCIENTIFIC Criterion (e): An item has the potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area).

RARE Criterion (f): An item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the area’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area).

REPRESENTATIVE Criterion (g): An item is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of NSW’s Ø cultural or natural places, or Ø cultural or natural environments.

(or a class of the local area’s Ø cultural or natural places, or Ø cultural or natural environments.)

5.4 GRADING OF SIGNIFICANT FABRIC A five -tier system has been adopted based upon the grading listed in Assessing Heritage Significance (NSW Heritage Office, 2001). The recommended treatment for each level of significance is explained in the General Conservation Policies. The term interpretation or interpretability is used in the sense of the ability to explain the meaning of the place/item, so as the significance of the place understood.

Grading (significance)

Justification Status Rank

EXCEPTIONAL

Rare or outstanding element directly contributing to an item’s local and State significance.

Fulfils criteria for local and State listing

5

HIGH

High degree of original fabric. Demonstrates a key element of the item’s significance. Alterations do not detract from significance.


4

MODERATE

Altered or modified elements. Elements with little heritage value, but which contribute to the overall significance of the item.


3

LITTLE

Alterations detract from the significance. Difficult to interpret.

Does not fulfil criteria for local or State listing.

2

INTRUSIVE

Damaging to the item’s heritage significance.

Does not fulfil criteria for local or State listing.

1



Implications of Assessment

GRADING IMPLICATION Numerical Scale

EXCEPTIONAL

Elements to be conserved in terms of the Burra Charter. 5

HIGH

Elements to be conserved in terms of the Burra Charter but conservation is to be balanced by an assessment of the practical consequences for the continued conservation and use of the item.

4

MODERATE

Acceptable options include retention, recycling and replacement by new construction in a way that has either minimal adverse effect on, or enhances the significance of Tier 1 and Tier 2 elements.

3

LITTLE

Acceptable options include removal, modification replacement by new construction in order that the significance of related Tier 1, 2 or 3 elements are enhanced.

2

INTRUSIVE

The preferred option is for the removal of the element or its modification in such a way so that its adverse impact is eliminated

1

Schedule of Significant Fabric for the Site

GRADING ELEMENTS

EXCEPTIONAL The surviving original fabric of the following Buildings and structures: Ø The Upcast Shaft “tubbing”; Ø The Upcast Shaft Enclosure; Ø The remains of the Waddle Fan; Ø The Fan Engine House

HIGH

The surviving original fabric of the following buildings: Ø The Upcast Shaft Winder House; (aka Survey Office) Ø The Upcast Shaft Boiler House. (aka Store House)

MODERATE

LITTLE

INTRUSIVE

Those items, which in their present form adversely affect the significance of the place Ø Large barrel vault covered area between the Fan Engine

House and the Boiler House on the southern boundary.



5.5 ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE FORMER LAMBTON COLLIERY PRECINCT SITE (Based on SHR Criteria)

(a): An item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area). Guidelines for inclusion Ø shows evidence of significant human activity – Mining activity from 1887 to 1991.

(State & Local significance) Ø is associated with significant activity or historical phase – the development of mining

technology initially as a “model” mine then later as Australia’s first fully mechanised mine. (State & Local significance)

Ø maintains or shows the continuity of a historical process or activity – continuity of a range of mining activities. (Local significance)

Guidelines for exclusion Ø has incidental or unsubstantiated connections with historically important activities or

processes – not applicable. Ø provides evidence of activities or processes that are of dubious historical importance

– not applicable. Ø has been so altered that it can no longer provide evidence of a particular association

– not applicable, the remaining Upcast Shaft Ensemble can demonstrate how the larger mine site functioned.

Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery site has EXCEPTIONAL historical significance (State significance): Ø The Former Lambton Colliery site was formed as a “model” mining operation using

cutting edge technology of the day. Ø The mine went on to be Australia’s first fully mechanised mine under the stewardship

of BHP. Ø The Former Lambton Colliery site has been in continuous use as a mine from 1887 to

1991. Ø The surviving Upcast Shaft buildings are each remnants of the first mine construction,

completed by 1893. (b): An item has strong or special association with the life or works of a person or group of persons, of importance in NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area). Guidelines for inclusion Ø shows evidence of significant human occupation – the mine provided jobs for local

residents for over 100 years. (Local significance) Ø is associated with significant event, person, or group of persons – the mine is

associated with Thomas Croudace of the Scottish Australian Mining Company (State significance). The mine is also associated with Joshua Jeffries, John Fallins and Peter Brownlie of BHP Collieries.

Guidelines for exclusion Ø has incidental or unsubstantiated connections with historically important people or

events – not applicable. Ø provides evidence of people or events that are of dubious historical importance – not

applicable. Ø has been so altered that it can no longer provide evidence of a particular association

– not applicable. Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery site is of HIGH historical association (State significance):



Ø The site is associated with Thomas Croudace of the Scottish Australian Mining Company. His skill and knowledge of mining technology provided the Lambton Colliery site at Redhead with a state of the art coal mine. (State significance)

Ø The site is also associated with three BHP employees associated with mechanising the mine, Joshua Jeffries (superintendent of collieries ), John Fallins, (assistant superintendent of collieries and later Manager of Lambton Colliery 1935 to 1936) and Peter Brownlie (Manager of Lambton Colliery from 1936 to 1960). These men were responsible for the introduction of Australia’s first fully mechanised mine. (State significance)

(c): An item is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in NSW (or the local area). Guidelines for inclusion Guidelines for inclusion Ø shows or is associated with creative or technical innovation or achievement – the

former Lambton Colliery shows technical innovation as state of the art “model” mining operation. The mine layout, detail design and function highlight the engineering skills of the day. (State significance)

Ø is the inspiration for a creative or technical innovation or achievement – The mine was regarded as a “model” mine. (State significance)

Ø is aesthetically distinctive – the character of the masonry buildings is aesthetically distinctive by the use of coloured brickwork, as well as the timber and steel structures associated with the mine. (State significance)

Ø has landmark qualities – the site generally has dominated the Redhead area for the first seventy years of its life with residential growth around the site occurring over the last thirty years.. (Local significance)

Ø exemplifies a particular taste, style, or technology – the masonry structures are built in the Federation Warehouse style. (Local significance)

Guidelines for exclusion Ø is not a major work by an important designer or artist – not applicable. Ø has lost its design or technical integrity – not applicable. The removal of the greater

portion of the site has highlighted the remnant buildings which were typical of the original mining complex.

Ø its positive visual or sensory appeal or landmark and scenic qualities have been more than temporarily degraded – not applicable.

Ø has only a loose association with a creative or technical achievement – not applicable.

Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery has HIGH aesthetic significance (State and Local significance): Ø The site has a high degree of aesthetic significance for its siting on a main

thoroughfare. This portion of the site has virtually remained intact since first constructed. (State significance)

Ø The Upcast Shaft and Enclosure and the Waddle fan Engine House are unique structures of high detail for an industrial building. (State significance)

Ø The Store House and Survey Office are of contributing aesthetic quality of the complex. (Local significance)

(d): An item has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in NSW (or the local area).for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. Guidelines for inclusion Ø Is important for its associations with an identifiable group – the former Lambton

Colliery is associated with coal mining in the Newcastle area. (Local significance) Ø is important to a community’s sense of place – the site has been part of and

associated with the growth of the township of Redhead and Dudley over the last 100 years. (Local significance)



Guidelines for exclusion Ø is only important to the community for amenity reasons – not applicable. The

community has demonstrated a preference to retain the whole site before its partial demolition in 1993.

Ø is retained only in preference to a proposed alternative – not applicable Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery has HIGH social significance (Local significance): Ø The site has been in continuous use as a mine from 1887 to 1991. Ø Former staff, relatives and the community have an association with the site.

(e): An item has the potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area). Guidelines for inclusion Ø has the potential to yield new or further substantial scientific and/or archaeological

information – There is archaeological potential on the site associated with the Waddle Fan. (State significance)

Ø is an important benchmark or reference site or type – the mine was a “model” for the period. (State significance)

Ø provides evidence of past human cultures that is unavailable elsewhere – not applicable

Guidelines for exclusion Ø the knowledge gained would be irrelevant to research on science, human history or

culture – not applicable Ø has little archaeological or research potential – not applicable Ø only contains information that is readily available from other resources or

archaeological sites – not applicable Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery has EXCEPTIONAL scientific significance (State & Local significance): Ø The character of the cast iron “tubbing” used for the shaft lining is aesthetically

distinctive, as well as technically advanced for the period. (State significance) Ø The site contains construction techniques for a large Waddle Fan used to ventilate

the mine from the 1890’s. (State significance) Ø The site potentially contains information on industrial construction techniques for the

mining site. (Local significance) (f): An item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the area’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area). Guidelines for inclusion Ø provides evidence of a defunct custom, way of life or process – provides evidence of

an 1890’s rare mining technique. (State significance) Ø demonstrates a process, custom or other human activity that is in danger of being lost

– the early use of “tubbing” to line a mine shaft. (State significance) Ø shows unusually accurate evidence of significant human activity – an early and rare

example of an 1890’s mine. (State significance) Ø is the only example of its type – only known surviving example of the use of “tubbing”

to line a mine shaft. (State significance) Ø demonstrates designs or techniques of exceptional interest – the remains of the

“model” mine is an impressive example of an Upcast Shaft Ensemble. (State significance)

Ø shows rare evidence of a significant human activity important to a community – not applicable

Guidelines for exclusion Ø is not rare – not applicable.



Ø is numerous but under threat – not applicable. Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery has EXCEPTIONAL rarity value (State significance): Ø The former Lambton Colliery site is a rare remnant of 1890’s mining operation

regarded as state of the art for its period. (g): An item is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of NSW’s Ø cultural or natural places, or Ø cultural or natural environments.

(or a class of the local area’s Ø cultural or natural places, or

cultural or natural environments.) Guidelines for inclusion Ø is a fine example of its type – the Former Lambton Colliery contains mining buildings

dating from the late Nineteenth Century. (State & Local significance) Ø has the principal characteristics of an important class or group of items – the site

contains mining buildings and a mine shaft. (State & Local significance) Ø has attributes typical of a particular way of life, philosophy, custom, significant

process, design, technique or activity – the site reflects the development of mining activities over the last century. (Local significance)

Ø is a significant variation to a class of items – the site differs from purpose built mine buildings, with all the buildings having a masonry structure. (Local significance)

Ø is part of a group which collectively illustrates a representative type – not applicable. Ø is outstanding because of its setting, condition or size – the former Lambton Colliery

occupies a prominent site in redhead. (Local significance) Ø is outstanding because of its integrity or the esteem in which it is held – the Redhead

community hold the site in high regard for its former contribution to the growth and employment within the community. (Local significance)

Guidelines for exclusion Ø is a poor example of its type – not applicable. Ø does not include or has lost the range of characteristics of a type – not applicable. Ø does not represent well the characteristics that make up a significant variation of a

type – not applicable. Ø

Assessment: The Former Lambton Colliery has HIGH representative value (Local significance): Ø The Former Lambton Colliery site contains unique mine buildings constructed over

100 years ago. Ø The site demonstrates the former importance of mining to the township.

Significance Ratings:

Building or Structure A & B C D E Overall

Former Lambton Colliery Site 5 5 5 5 5 Upcast Shaft & Enclosure 5 5 5 5 5 Fan Engine House 5 5 4 4 5 Store House 5 4 4 4 4 Upcast Winder House 5 4 4 4 4



5.6 SUMMARY STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The former Lambton Colliery site is of State heritage significance, and is recognised through its listing on the Lake Macquarie City Council LEP since 1992. The Upcast Shaft group is the only surviving section from the original mine and is significant because: Ø The colliery was established and owned for 45 years by one of the State’s prominent

nineteenth and early twentieth century mining companies, the Scottish and Australian Mining Company (a and d)

Ø Lambton Colliery at Redhead was regarded as a “model” mine for its use of state of the art technology. (e)

Ø The shaft contains a rare example of cast iron “tubbing” used to line the shaft walls. (e)

Ø During its most productive era the colliery was owned by Australia’s largest company, the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. (a and d)

Ø The colliery has a long association with Thomas, Frank and Sydney Croudace, members of a family of prominent mining engineers. (b and d)

Ø The colliery was the first coal mine in Australia to be fully mechanised. (a, d and e) Ø The introduction of mechanisation was accompanied by widesspred concern,

expressed in public rallies, in parliament and by industrial action, at the possible social and economic consequences of reduced employment in the coal mining industry. (a and d)

Ø At the time of its closure in December 1991, the colliery was the only coal mine on the Newcastle coal field still using original shafts and many of its original pit -top buildings. (a and e)

Ø The life-span of the colliery embraces a century of technology and social change in the coal mining industry – mechanisation, the decline of steam power, economic depression, industrial conflict, safety and family tradition. (a, d and e)

Ø For over 90 years coal from the mine was conveyed over one of the major and longest surviving private colliery railways in the Hunter Region (a, d and e)

Ø The surviving (upcast Shaft Ensemble) turn-of–the-century buildings at the colliery represent a unique and consistent ensemble of industrial buildings of a former era. (a, c, e)

Ø The group includes the rare remains of the Waddle Fan housing. (e) Ø The Fan Engine House building contains rare aesthetic detail for an industrial building

of the period. (c and e) Ø The buildings and Shaft Enclosure are representative of masonry industrial buildings

of the period. (g) Ø The function of the Upcast Shaft group can be easily interpreted for historical and

educational purposes for an understanding of early coal mining technology. (a, c and e)

Ø The proximity of the colliery to the town of Redhead and the surviving former company-owned residential buildings in the village, demonstrate the close relationship that developed between early collieries and their local communities. (a and d)

(Note: the above sections shown in italics are taken from the Conservation Plan by Irving & Pratten 1992).



6.0 CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES This Conservation Management Plan (CMP) has been prepared as good heritage practice in relation to planned future changes by the Lake Macquarie City Council that may affect the former Lambton Colliery buildings. The listing of the site on the State Heritage Inventory and the Lake Macquarie City Council’s Local Environmental Plan (2004) as an item of Local heritage significance, including the associated LEP provisions, are likely to require specialist heritage consultant input for future changes on the site. 6.1 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS Local Government The former Lambton Colliery site falls within the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area. Lake Macquarie City Council’s Local Environmental Plan (2004) Schedule 4 (Heritage Items other than of indigenous origins) lists the following as items of Local significance: Item Number

Suburb Item Name Address Significance

Property Description

RH-01 Redhead Lambton Colliery 1 Geraldton Dr Local Lot 68 DP 878840

RH-03 Redhead Under-Manager’s House

17 Geraldton Dr

Local Lot 7 DP 878840

RH-04 Redhead “The Gables” 87 Redhead Rd Local Lot 4 DP 737493

RH-07 Redhead Mine Manager’s House

21 Elsdon St Local Lot 100 DP 609787

Items RH-03; RH-04 and RH-07 are not included in this study. The LEP does not contain any detailed information regarding the items listed, the individual buildings on the site, the site as a whole or the curtilage. Part 6 Heritage Provisions, clause 43 Objective states:

“The objective of this Part is to protect and conserve archaeological sites and places of Aboriginal, natural or European cultural significance. It does this by making provisions that conserve the remaining fabric, relics, settings and views, and evidence of the cultural significance of heritage items and the environment of heritage conservation areas.”

Part 6 Heritage Provisions, clause 44 Protection of heritage items and heritage conservation areas states: “The following development may be carried out only with development consent:

(a) demolition of, or movement of the whole or a part of, a heritage item; (b) demolition of, or movement of, a building, structure, work, relic or tree within a

heritage conservation area; (c) alteration of, or addition to, a heritage item that makes substantial structural or

non-structural changes to its exterior, such as to its detailed, fabric, finish or appearance;

(d) alteration of a building , a structure, work, relic or tree within a heritage conservation area by making substantial structural or non-structural changes to its exterior, such as to its detailed, fabric, finish or appearance;

(e) alteration of a heritage item by making substantial structural changes to its interior;

(f) disturbance or excavation of a place of Aboriginal heritage significance or an archaeological site while knowing, or having reasonable cause to suspect, that the disturbance or excavation will or is likely to result in a relic being discovered, exposed, moved, damaged or destroyed;

(g) erection of a structure on, or subdivision of, land on which a heritage item is located or which is within a heritage conservation area.



Part 6 Heritage Provisions, clause 48 Development requiring notification states: (1) “A development application proposing the following development requires notification in accordance with Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan No 1 – Principles of Development: (a) the demolition of a heritage item, (b) the carrying out of any development allowed by Clause 53 (Conservation incentives). (2) Subclause (1) does not apply to designated development or advertised development.

Part 6 Heritage Provisions, clause 51 Development affecting known or potential archaeological sites or relics of European heritage significance requires the LMCC to assess the impact of the development on the item, or possible relic that may be located on the site. The LMCC must provide a copy to the heritage council for comment and must not grant consent until the Heritage Office has provided comments. This clause does not apply if the development does not involve disturbance of the ground and if LMCC is of the opinion that the heritage significance of relics or items above ground will not be adversely affected by the proposed development. Part 6 Heritage Provisions, clause 52 Development in the vicinity of a heritage item requires LMCC to consider the impact on the item of a development in the near vicinity. Consideration includes size, shape, setbacks and materials. This clause examines impact on views, overshadowing undermining and physical damage and any other potential adverse impact. Part 6 Heritage Provisions, clause 53 Conservation incentives allows LMCC to grant consent for the use of a heritage item or land for a purpose that otherwise would be prohibited. The requirements include retention of the item, the use is in accordance with the CMP and all necessary conservation work is undertaken on the item as per the CMP. Part 5 Special controls for protection of the environment for particular land, clause 34 Trees and native vegetation states:

(2) Except as provided by subclause (3) a person must not clear any tree or any native vegetation unless in accordance with a development consent.

Clause (3) lists the various groups and reasons where consent is not required. (Refer to the LEP for detail)

The Council is required to assess the impact of any development in the vicinity of a heritage item, to determine the impact that the proposal will have on the significance of the item or place. The LEP contains requirements for the preparation of heritage assessments and CMP’s for buildings considered to be of heritage significance. This CMP addresses this requirement for each building on the site as well as the overall site group. Zoning The former Lambton Colliery site is zoned 2(1) Residential The Zone Objectives are:

(a) Permit development of neighbourhoods of low-density housing, and (b) Provide for home based businesses, general stores or community service

activities whilst maintaining and enhancing the residential amenity of the surrounding area, and

(c) Ensure that housing development respects the character of surrounding development and is of good quality design, and

(d) Provide for sustainable water cycle management. Implications of the LEP The former Lambton Colliery site doesn’t require re-zoning for other uses such as community facilities, sporting facilities. Re-zoning of the site may be required for use of the site, for a restaurant or coffee/tea house.



The NSW Heritage Act The NSW Heritage Act was amended in 1999 to create the State Heritage Register (SHR). Any items on State agency Section 170 Heritage Registers that were identified as being of State or High significance were transferred onto the State Heritage Register. The former Lambton Colliery site is not presently listed on the SHR, however due to the listing on the LMCC LEP the former Lambton Colliery site is listed on the State Heritage Inventory. Following the completion of this CMP, an application for listing on the SHR should be made by Lake Macquarie City Council. The Heritage Act requires consent from the Heritage Office to undertake works to items on the State Heritage Register where those works may affect the heritage significance of the listed item. The Heritage Act allows some limited exemptions from this requirement listed in the “Standard Exemptions for Works requiring Heritage Office Approval”. This document relates to specific activities such as building maintenance, minor repairs, and alterations to certain interiors or change of use. The document provides detailed definitions of these works and the extent to which they can be undertaken. Exemptions do not normally apply to excavation work. Excavation Permits A person must not disturb or excavate any land knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect that the disturbance or excavation will or is likely to result in a relic being discovered, exposed, moved, damaged or destroyed unless the disturbance or excavation is carried out in accordance with an excavation permit. A person must not disturb or excavate any land on which the person has discovered or exposed a relic except in accordance with an excavation permit. A relic is defined as:

…any deposit, object or material evidence, more than 50 years old relating to European settlement of an area or to a period of European settlement.

All “relics” are protected under the Heritage Act 1977 regardless of whether the place is listed as a heritage item on a local, state or national level. For places listed on the SHR, an excavation permit is obtained under section 60 of the Heritage Act 1977. For all other places, the disturbance of “relics” requires an Excavation Permit under Section 140 of the Heritage Act 1977. Should excavation work be undertaken on the former Lambton Colliery site, which is likely to disturb or destroy relics, and Excavation Permit must be obtained from the Heritage Office. Excavation for services and maintenance for items listed on the SHR, which do not impact on areas designated as archaeologically significant is exempt from requiring an approval under Section 60 of the Heritage Act. This exemption applies only when the entire area covered by the listing has been the subject of an archaeological assessment. The assessment will identify areas, which are archaeologically significant and should not be excavated except for compelling reasons, and only with the approval of the Heritage Office. The assessment should also identify areas free of archaeological relics, so that excavation for services and maintenance can occur without the need for a Section 60 approval.



6.2 HERITAGE LISTINGS To determine appropriate conservation policies for the building the external constraints that will impact on the future of the site have been investigated and are summarised in this section. Currently, the former Lambton Colliery site has the following heritage listings:

Reg

iste

r of

the

Nat

iona

l Est

ate

Nat

iona

l Tru

st o

f A

ustr

alia

DU

AP

198

9 (H

unte

r RE

P)

Lake

Mac

quar

ie

City

Cou

ncil

(LE

P)

Her

itage

C

ounc

il N

SW

(S

HR

)

former Lambton Colliery site, Redhead

No Yes Classified 1991

Yes Sch 3 Local

Yes Sch 4 Local

No

Australian Heritage Council The Australian Heritage Council is a Federal Government advisory body that maintains a National Heritage List, a Commonwealth Heritage List and retains the former Register of the National Estate as an evolving record of Australia’s natural, cultural and Indigenous heritage places that are worth keeping for the future. The National Heritage List is a list of places with outstanding heritage value to our nation, including places overseas. Listings are protected under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC). The Commonwealth Heritage List is a list of places managed or owned by the Australian Government and identified as having Commonwealth heritage values and protected under the EPBC Act. The National Trust of Australia The National Trust register lists buildings and items of heritage significance in NSW. The organisation, whilst having no statutory power, is an influential force regarding environmental matters in the state. Inclusion on the National Trust register generally indicates a high level of community support and insensitive redevelopment is likely to meet with community disapproval. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) has classified the former Lambton Colliery site in September 1991. The significance stated: Lambton was built as a “model” colliery to the latest designs; it was the first in Australia to be fully mechanised; it is the last of the Nineteenth Century collieries still operating on the Newcastle coalfields; and it still retains many of its early buildings. The Hunter Regional Environmental Plan 1989 Listing The former Lambton Colliery site is listed as an item of “Local Environmental Heritage” in the Hunter REP 1989. This listing has been superseded by the Lake Macquarie LEP. The Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2003 Listing The buildings are listed as items of Local Significance. (Schedule 4) Issues Arising from the Heritage Listings The recognition of the importance of the former Lambton Colliery site in the listings, the 1992 Conservation Plan and the need for an alternative adaptive re-use highlights the need for this CMP. The objective of this study is to further define the heritage significance of the site and buildings through the process of assessment of cultural significance as defined by the NSW Heritage Office. The resulting clarification of the heritage significance will allow the various registers to more consistently reflect the value of the place. An application for listing on the State Heritage



Register will provide additional protection for the place, which is currently protected by the Lake Macquarie LEP. This CMP will define the heritage significance of the place and individual buildings and the level of that significance. Adaptive re-use of the site will be guided by the levels of significance and the conservation policies associated with those levels of heritage significance. 6.3 FUTURE ADAPTIVE RE-USE REQUIREMENTS A Masterplan for potential adaptive re-use of the site is being prepared using this CMP as the basis for setting parameters for future development. The Masterplan must address the site as a whole and the individual buildings that make up the place. The Lake Macquarie City Council has indicated their preference for use of the site for community activities and has nominated a stakeholder group to provide input into the potential future uses of the site and its buildings. Individual Buildings It may be possible that individual buildings of heritage significance could be used for different purposes requiring works associated with their adaptive re-use. This CMP should be used to guide any development together with the engagement of a heritage professional to co-ordinate further detailed study of the building fabric and development of proposals. Future Owners The former Lambton Colliery site may remain in single local government ownership, be owned privately, or be partially Council owned and privately owned. The significance of the site would restrict any physical division of the site area that would interfere with the interpretation of the group of buildings. It is anticipated that the Conservation Management Plan and the site Masterplan will largely direct the future use of the site. 6.4 ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE The Building Code of Australia is the operative building ordinance for the conservation and continuing use of the former Lambton Colliery site buildings. The requirements for compliance of the buildings with the BCA are based on the class of the building. The classification of the building is determined by the purpose for which it is adapted to be used. Where parts of the building are to be used for different purposes each part of the building will be classified separately. Where compliance with the BCA may compromise the architectural integrity of the building and diminish its Cultural Significance, alternative solutions may be negotiated through the Fire, Access and Services Advisory Panel of the Heritage Council. The BCA does not necessarily apply to existing buildings and discretion may be used in its application to existing buildings. The BCA however does apply to existing buildings that undergo a major refurbishment and may require the whole of the existing building to be upgraded to comply with the code. The provision for disabled access is an important aspect of the BCA requirements and this must be addressed by the Masterplan for the individual buildings on the site. (Refer to 6.5 Implications of existing Condition)



6.5 IMPLICATIONS OF EXISTING CONDITION The buildings on the former Lambton Colliery site vary in condition depending on the age of the previous maintenance, the materials used in the construction and the affects of vandalism undertaken on the building in recent times. The Section on Conservation Policies addresses repairs to existing fabric. Generally existing significant fabric should be repaired rather than replaced. Where fabric has deteriorated to the point where it is believed to be beyond repair, advice should be sought from a conservation specialist before undertaking repairs. Significance Buildings with Exceptional and High significance should be regularly maintained, even at the expense of lower or non-significant buildings. Buildings of Exceptional and High significance should have intrusive elements removed where possible during maintenance contracts. The objective of regular maintenance is to protect and preserve original significant building fabric. Preservation of building materials is encouraged in lieu of their replacement, which should only occur as a last resort and match the material and profiles exactly. Maintenance Buildings of heritage significance will require ongoing maintenance. The work will include items of major maintenance, removal of building fabric considered to be Intrusive and capping of disused services. Priority should be given to materials requiring more frequent maintenance such as timber items and cast iron windows. Repairs of masonry joints should take precedence over paintwork for aesthetic purposes. Services The former Survey Office building on the former Lambton Colliery site is heavily serviced for a food preparation and toilet facility function. The future function of the existing buildings is likely to require new or different services depending on the eventual function of the building. The preference is to minimise introduced building services and incorporate them in a new building on the site in the future. Access Adaptive re-use of the site and buildings will require consideration for inclusion of ramps and lifts to comply with the current disabilities access codes. The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) requires that people with disabilities (physical, visual impairment, impaired hearing, intellectual/psychiatric) are given equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to the full range of social, political and cultural activities. The DDA also makes it unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods and services or facilities against people on the basis that they may have a disability. The DDA is administered by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC). Under the DDA, Disability Access Plans can be prepared by agencies to assist in clarifying their obligations under the Act. It is recognised that heritage buildings often pose complex and difficult problems in terms DDA compliance. The document “Access to Heritage Buildings for People with Disabilities” prepared by E J Martin (Cox), August 1997 provides a framework for access to heritage places. It addresses issues such as parking, entrances, stairs, doors, thresholds, interiors, amenities, interpretation and landscapes, and sets down principles for the benefit of all people associated with access for people with disabilities and heritage places.

Plate 6.1: Possible design for an internal ramp between levels.

Existing path

New internal ramp and stair.



Additional structures The existing buildings are limited in area and are sensitive to the introduction of modern services. Presently the former Survey Office has been divided into a series of small service rooms for toilet and food preparation facilities. Future uses of the site may require the introduction of additional buildings linked to the existing structures by a means as to minimise the visual impact on the heritage significance of the site. A future building will provide the opportunity to remove some or all of these existing building services from the heritage structures and place them in a purpose designed building.

Plate 6.2: Site Plan showing the recommended maximum area for possible future development, based

on the curtilage requirements of the heritage buildings.

6.6 CURTILAGE The Site The present site is all that remains of a much larger site that incorporated a large number of buildings constructed between 1887 and 1990. Originally a railway spur line swept across the site in a broad arc from the north-west corner to the south-east corner. The site also contained a passenger platform used in the colliery’s early years was located north of the Office Building.

Recommended maximum area for a future building development.



Plate 6.3: The site in 1992 with the surviving buildings shown in red. (Irving & Pratten Conservation Plan) The site is now part of a residential subdivision formed following demolition of the majority of the former mine buildings and structures. The primary aspect of the site is from Collier Street in Redhead, with secondary aspects from Geraldton Drive and Sea Scape Drive, within the subdivision. The Buildings Individual buildings on the site have maintained a curtilage of various sizes around them. The Irving & Pratten Study of 1994 recommended a minimum curtilage around the buildings. In addition to this, there are two important photographs of the former mine known at the time as Durham Colliery, taken in 1894 by photographer Ralph Snowball. These photographs are important references regarding the early configuration of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble and the view corridors of these aspects should be preserved.

Plate 6.4: The No. 2 or Upcast Shaft showing the enormous Waddle fan and the associated purpose built structures in 1894. (Source: Newcastle Regional Library Hunter Photo Bank 001 00044)



Plate 6.5: Lambton ‘B’ Pit (Durham Colliery) in 1894. (Source: Newcastle Regional Library Hunter Photo Bank 001 00044)

It is important for the interpretation of the site that these views be maintained to allow a future understanding of how the site functioned.

Plate 6.6: Site Plan showing View Corridors.

The Conservation Management Plan establishes a curtilage around the buildings taking into account the view corridors, to enable the buildings to be viewed as they were originally set on site. This curtilage allows for low site works such as car parking and paving, landscaping and

Upcast Shaft Group

Downcast Shaft Group now demolished.



small individual elements such as lighting or a sculptural form. The impact of these introduced works in the area on the heritage significance of the buildings must be considered.

Plate 6.7: Site Plan Showing Areas for Possible Future Development, the original minimum curtilage area and the area of open space with low landscaping and site works (shown Striped).

Area for future building development.

The minimum immediate curtilage area as recommended by Irving & Pratten in their Measured Study of the Former Upcast Shaft Ensemble February 1994.



7.0 CONSERVATION POLICIES 7.1 EXPLANATION This Conservation Management Plan identifies the cultural significance of the former Lambton Colliery site at Redhead, and should be used as a basis for decision making to ensure that future planning is done with due regard to the significance of the place. This Conservation Management Plan is intended to be used by: Ø The Lake Macquarie City Council as a guide to the conservation and ongoing

maintenance of the site and buildings. Ø Any future Lessee of the buildings as a guide for the future uses of rooms and

activities and minor maintenance of the buildings and site. Ø Any consultants undertaking work on the site. Ø Approval Authorities (Lake Macquarie City Council & the Heritage Office) Ø Other Government agencies and authorities.

This section contains the Conservation Policies, which are aimed at ensuring that proposed changes to the fabric and use of the historic the former colliery buildings are undertaken in such a manner that they do not affect their cultural significance. 7.2 INTEGRATION INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SITE Adoption of Conservation Plan The effectiveness of this Conservation Plan depends on its being implemented. The document should be made available to, and read by all Staff who use or are involved with development or maintenance of the site and buildings. In addition, it is essential that the Lessees are aware of the process, which is to be followed when proposing maintenance, or other work, which involves the modification of significant building fabric.

Policy 1 The Lake Macquarie City Council should formally adopt this Conservation Management Plan as one of the basis for the future management of the place and the significant buildings.

Policy 2 The Lake Macquarie City Council should implement a management structure that: Ø Integrates conservation into the overall management of the site; Ø Provides for the long term conservation of significant fabric; Ø Disseminates the aims and intentions of this CMP to appropriate officers; Ø Outlines the responsibilities at each staff level, for implementing the CMP; Ø Incorporates the CMP into future lease arrangements; Ø Integrates the use of the CMP into maintenance plans.

Conservation Methodology The Australian ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter) has widely been accepted across Australia as the underlying methodology by which all works to buildings, which have national and state significance, is undertaken. The Burra Charter is included as an Appendix A of this document.

Policy 3 Ensure all conservation and associated development works on the site are undertaken: Ø In accordance with the Australia ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places

of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter); Ø In accordance with the aims and intentions of this Conservation Management Plan; Ø In accordance with the requirements under the Lake Macquarie City Council LEP

2004 (Schedule 4 Heritage); Ø In such a manner that respects the cultural significance of the place.



Access to the Conservation Management Plan This Conservation Management Plan is a publicly accessible document with an ISBN Number making it a publicly available document. Copies of the completed Plan will be lodged with the Heritage Office, the State Library of NSW, Lake Macquarie City Council Library and the Australian National Library. Conservation Management Plans are a means of allowing community access and participation in places of cultural importance. They can be a valuable tool for engendering continued public support and ideally should be placed on public exhibition.

Policy 4 Ensure this Conservation Management Plan becomes a publicly available document.

Policy 5 On completion of this document, copies should be lodged with: Ø Heritage Office Library (1 copy) Ø State Library of NSW (1 copy) Ø National Library of Australia (1 copy) Ø Lake Macquarie City Council Library (2 copies) Ø Department of Commerce Library (1 copy)

Review of the Conservation Management Plan A regular review of the policies contained within the Conservation Management Plan should be undertaken to ensure that appropriate conservation approaches and methodologies are integrated not only with the planning of new or conservation works, but also into the day-to-day maintenance program of the place.

Policy 6 Review this Conservation Management Plan regularly, ie within ten years, or whenever critical new information comes to light or changes in use or management takes place.

7.3 MANAGEMENT OF THE SITE The land and buildings at the former Lambton Colliery Precinct, Redhead site are owned and managed by the Lake Macquarie City Council. This Conservation Management Plan review has been prepared for the Lake Macquarie City Council, who is currently considering the future direction of utilisation of the former mine buildings. The CMP examines the existing buildings, together with associated maintenance and repair works in preparation for an adaptive reuse proposal of the heritage significant structures. The former Lambton Colliery Precinct site reflects a particular pattern of development in its surviving built environment and the associated setting of the surviving buildings. It is essential that any new development or adaptive re-use proposal be based on an understanding of the historical development of the site, as well as the significance of the surviving built fabric and its integral industrial/railway setting. Change of use or Ownership A change of use or ownership should be accompanied by a strategy for the ongoing protection of the buildings and their setting to ensure retention of the cultural significance of the place. This strategy should be built into any lease or future sale agreements for the site. Similarly any other government department or authority in which the property title may be invested should adopt the strategy.

Policy 7 Any change of use OR ownership should be accompanied by a strategy for the ongoing protection of the significant fabric, curtilage and the setting.



Ideally the buildings should not remain unoccupied, as this tends to lead to rapid deterioration of the fabric through natural causes and vandalism. Surplus buildings can be put to temporary uses provided that this does not result in substantial modifications to significant fabric. Temporary uses can include storage, however should not pose a fire hazard. Modifications to significant fabric should not be undertaken for short-term uses, ie less than five years.

Policy 8 Once restored and secured significant buildings must not be allowed to remain unoccupied for any length of time. If unavoidable provide security.

Future Use The continued use of the site and its buildings under the management of the Lake Macquarie City Council is desirable. The site is associated with coal mining and the steam locomotive era and is recognised to be culturally significant. This CMP considers future uses of the site and contains policies relating to changing use. A use preserving the character of the buildings and conserving significant fabric and important volumes such as the Boiler House should be encouraged. The responsibilities for maintaining the individual parts of the buildings and the site as a whole needs to be established prior to any new lessees utilising part or the entire site.

Policy 9 Continue the process of adaptive re-use of the former colliery site whilst retaining its cultural significance.

7.4 7.4 PROCESS FOR APPROVALS This document should form the basis of any forward planning for the former colliery site. It should also be consulted when planning maintenance work or the upgrading of individual buildings. This CMP should be used as the basis for the preparation of Statements of Heritage Impact to accompany future development applications. A future development may be proposed that is contrary to the recommendations of this CMP. A Statement of Heritage Impact is a useful tool for arguing the case for alterations to a heritage item and ensuring that a best result between function and the retention of heritage significance is achieved. Requirements of Council The Lake Macquarie City Council LEP 2004 incorporates Schedule 4 Heritage items other than of indigenous origins and including potential archaeological sites.60 The Lake Macquarie City Council Development Control Plan (DCP) 1 (Revision 02) provides guidance for the proper care and maintenance of the City’s built heritage. Major maintenance and repairs involving replacement or removal of building fabric will require a development application supported by a Statement of Heritage Impact identifying the scope of works. A detailed survey and recording of the fabric should be undertaken to form the basis of the documentation of repair or alteration works and as a record of the building or item before any changes are made.

Policy 10 Seek approvals for development and conservation work as required by legislation.

60 Lake Macquarie LEP 2004 Schedule 4



Summary of the Approvals Process

Development Application

All work except routine maintenance (see requirements of Council in DCP 1)

Statement of Heritage Impact

All work to areas identified as having significance, including maintenance that will impact on items of significance.

Detailed Conservation Assessment

Alterations and additions to items of State Significance.

Detailed Fabric Analysis (with SoHI)

Nominated items of State Significance which are to continue to fulfil the same function.

Existing Listings Information from this CMP can be used to compliment the existing listings in the following ways:

Ø the detailed information in the inventory can be used to update the State Heritage Register and Inventory; and

Ø Update the heritage list in Schedule 4 of the LEP; Ø Update other listing such as the National Trust Register.

Policy 11 Update listing information on the relevant state and national inventories: Ø State Heritage Register Ø State Heritage Inventory Ø The National Heritage List Ø National Trust Register Ø Lake Macquarie City Council LEP

7.5 CONTEXT The present site of the former colliery is a remnant of a much larger coal mining operation including railway corridor links to the present Fernleigh Track on the corridor of the Belmont line. The remaining buildings are part of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble, which was critical to the ventilation system of the underground mine tunnels as well as providing a secondary means of access/egress for the miners. Formation of the Site The present site was purchased by The Scottish Australian Mining Company in 1886 to expand its coal trade from its existing mines at Lambton, well into the future. The Collier ceased coal extraction in December 1991 and demolition work began in February 1993 to remove all buildings and equipment from the site with the exception of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble.

Policy 12 Retain the surviving Heritage Curtilage to the upcast Shaft Ensemble to allow the buildings to be viewed from the aspects reflected in the two photographs of the buildings by Snowball in 1894.

Development of the Site Future development of the site should be limited to preserve the curtilage of the existing arrangement of the surviving Upcast Shaft Ensemble to help understand the workings of the coal mining activities on this section of the site.

Policy 13 Planning future development on the site should recognise and preserve the historic aspects defined in surviving photographs and the sections of building fabric of exceptional and high heritage significance.



Policy 14 Preserve the Upcast Shaft Enclosure and Waddle Fan as a relic of the coal mining era and as an example of cutting edge technology of the period as part of Croudace’s “Model” colliery.

7.6 INTEGRITY OF THE DESIGN The present layout of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble consist of the surviving four original structures or part thereof – the Upcast Enclosure and remains of the Waddle Fan; the Fan Engine Room; the Winder House; and Boiler House. Additions to the buildings over the life of the colliery were removed in 1994 during the stabilisation work on the surviving Upcast Shaft Ensemble. The Covered Way was introduced following the stabilisation works as part of the adaptive re-use work for a Community Hall.

Policy 15 Consider demolition or alteration of recent alteration and additions to the site to assist in interpreting the original site functions and to lessen any impact on heritage significance.

Design Features Croudace appears to have spared no expense in the design and construction of the “model” colliery. The Fan Engine House is an example, with a highly decorative plaster wainscoat (also used in the now demolished Winding Engine House of the Downcast Ensemble).

Policy 16 Preserve the original detail of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble in order of significance. Reconstruct, highlight or interpret areas or detail that has been altered to provide an understanding of the original building or function.

7.7 ARCHAEOLOGY An archaeological assessment should be undertaken before any work involving excavation near or around the site of the Waddle Fan or the former Chimney to the Boiler House located in the current car park. Based on the available documentary evidence, it is unlikely that archaeological evidence revealing information on the workings of the mine that are not currently known would be uncovered in the (remnant) remainder of the site.

Policy 17 Ensure that any excavation works that may damage or disturb archaeological relics is undertaken in a manner that conforms to the heritage Act of 1977 (as amended) and guidelines issued by the Heritage Office.

7.8 CONSERVATION APPROACH The policies contained within this Conservation Management Plan are aimed at ensuring that all works, including conservation works, are undertaken with reference to the cultural significance of the site. An understanding of the historical development of the buildings should be a prerequisite for all those carrying out conservation works to the place. It is essential that conservation work be undertaken in accordance with current conservation principles and methodologies. The current methodology stresses the need to document the reasoning behind the selection of a particular approach, either conservation or intervention, to enable those undertaking work in the future to understand the aims and intentions of a particular project. The need for involvement of conservation practitioners in all stages of a project is essential. In addition, specialist advice from a conservator may be required for the conservation of particular elements such as metalwork.



Policy 18 Conserve the significant fabric of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble both externally and internally in accordance with the guidelines relating to treatment of fabric of different levels of significance (refer to Policy 22).

Policy 19 Ensure that a record of the underlying methodology for each conservation project is maintained including: Ø documenting major decisions; Ø records of any testing undertaken; Ø ensure that this record is archived.

Policy 20 Seek funding to ensure all building works, including maintenance, are undertaken by skilled trades people familiar with conservation methodology and practice and supervised by a qualified professional.

Treatment of Fabric The aim of any conservation work to the Upcast Shaft Ensemble should be to ensure that the existing fabric is stable, and to retard further deterioration, without detracting from the cultural significance of the place. There may be exceptions to these general rules for the treatment of fabric. Refer to the detailed policies to follow for rules relating to specific individual items. The following general policy refers to both internal and external elements, including decoration. There is no distinction or difference in level of significance between internal and external fabric. Refer also to the more detailed levels of significance found in Section 5 – Cultural Significance.

Policy 21 Elements identified as having Exceptional or High significance should be retained and conserved, preferably in situ. The retention of items of Moderate significance is desirable. Items of Low significance may be retained or removed. Intrusive items should eventually be removed. The following table should be referred to as a guide for the treatment of the various building components and fabric.

Grading (significance)

Recommended Treatment of Spaces & Fabric

EXCEPTIONAL

Maintain, preserve, restore, reconstruct or adapt in accordance with the Burra Charter. If adaptation is necessary for the continued use of the place, minimise changes, removal and obscuring of significant fabric and give preference to changes that are reversible.

HIGH

Maintain, preserve, restore, reconstruct or adapt in accordance with the Burra Charter, in conjunction with minimum adaption for supplementary new construction if required for function.

MODERATE

Retain in situ in accordance with the Burra Charter (preferred). Adaption or removal in part is acceptable if necessary; or for adaptive reuse to ensure overall conservation. Retention may depend on factors other than heritage value.

LITTLE

Retain, recycle, add compatible new construction and/or remove in part as necessary for adaptive reuse, minimising adverse impact on fabric of exceptional or high significance and having the least practicable impact on fabric of moderate significance. Conservation of overall form and configuration preferred, often already substantially altered and can accommodate other change.

INTRUSIVE Remove or modify, in the long term, to reduce adverse impact.



The Original Upcast Shaft Ensemble To retain the cultural significance of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble listed as exceptional significance, it is essential that the form of the original building be retained. An important element of the buildings is the volume of the individual rooms or structures. This space was created to house and operate the various engines and is associated equipment with the vertical Upcast Shaft and Waddle Fan.

Policy 22 Conserve the external facades and internal room volumes identified as having exceptional or high significance including the: Ø retention and conservation of nineteenth century fenestration, joinery, plaster and

stone elements; Ø removal of intrusive openings, partition walls, brickwork, metalwork and joinery; Ø reconstruction of known missing details and elements such as wall openings; and Ø provision of continuous care and maintenance.

Policy 23 The preservation of the remains of the Waddle Fan and Upcast Shaft Enclosure are paramount to understanding the function of this section of the mine and displaying the unique use of “tubbing” to retain the sides of the shaft from collapse.

7.9 INTERPRETATION OF THE PLACE The former Lambton Colliery Precinct, Redhead has been identified as being of State significance to NSW and the City of Lake Macquarie. It contains evidence of coal mining activity from the late nineteenth and most of the twentieth centuries. The buildings contain evidence of its unique detailing and decoration of the late nineteenth century demonstrating the quality constructed into this “Model” mine.

Policy 24 Interpretation of the significance of the mine’s history and usage should be provided for the public to increase their understanding and awareness of the place and its broader historical, physical and contemporary context with Redhead and its development. Develop an Interpretation plan for the site to be incorporated into the buildings or elsewhere on the site in an area available for public access.

7.10 INTRUSIVE BUILDING ISSUES Items listed as Intrusive should be removed where possible to reveal the original heritage fabric they cover. Some additions have been constructed in areas obscuring the views of the significant items as well as whole rooms in their original volumes. This should also include incidental items such as disused or redundant services assessed as not significant as well as minor renovations or additions that detract from the item of significance.

Policy 25 Remove intrusive elements when undertaking renovations and maintenance of the heritage building. Consider the heritage impact prior to planning alterations to this significant building, or adjacent existing buildings with a known impact on heritage.

7.11 ADAPTIVE RE-USE The former Lambton Colliery Precinct, Redhead was used as a coal mine from 1886 to 1991, then as a Community Hall from 1994 to 2005 and then in 2006 Lake Macquarie City Council took ownership of the site from the local community group surrounding the site. The site and buildings, renovated in 1994, are now in a state of severe decay requiring substantial work to restore the significant heritage fabric. Introduction of new functions to a building may result in a new vocabulary of details and materials developed to compliment the existing character of the building. Period detailing



should be restricted to elements for which there is evidence of their original configuration. Where there is no evidence of the original detail, it is not necessary or appropriate to invent a period detail. The work undertaken in 1994 reflects this policy. The use of imitation (non-authentic) heritage detailing should be avoided. The use of high quality integrated modern design is acceptable for modern elements and is preferable to inappropriate period design. New works which impact on significant fabric must be reversible in accordance with the guidelines in the Burra Charter.

Policy 26 Ensure that modifications for adaptive re-use of buildings respect the original design features of the structure or grounds.

Policy 27 Ensure that all new work: Ø recognises the major heritage status of the complex; Ø allows for the conservation of significant fabric; and Ø the use a modern design compliments the surviving significant fabric.

Policy 28 Undertake the introduction of new fabric in areas of high and exceptional significance in such a manner that: Ø it does not result in any loss of cultural significance; Ø is identified as new work; and Ø is reversible.

Significant fabric must not be removed or damaged by the introduction of new fabric unless it is absolutely necessary and justified by an Impact Statement.

Policy 29 Areas of moderate significance and upwards should not be modified for short term (ie up to five years) for temporary uses. These uses should be added in areas where modifications to the fabric will not have any impact on the cultural significance of site.

Policy 30 Implement a mechanism to ensure ad-hoc works do not occur unless an assessment of the significance of the fabric has been undertaken.

7.12 USE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS The adaptive re-use of the existing significant buildings on the site must be planned to avoid problems of overcrowding and over servicing the available accommodation. Growth in the amount of accommodation should be considered before committing to a defined area. Proximity to services for ablution facilities, modern communication, plant and electrical rooms etc., must be coordinated to reduce the impact on the significant fabric.

Policy 31 Plan adaptive re-use of spaces to minimise over crowding and allow for future growth.

Policy 32 Locate ablution facilities, modern communication, plant and electrical rooms etc. to minimise impact on the significant building fabric.



Policy 33 Proposals to adaptively re-use significant building areas should be based on an understanding of the historical development of the building in context of the site and its cultural significance, as set out in this Conservation Management Plan, and should: Ø not require major alterations to significant building spaces or modifications to

significant building features; Ø not obscure interpretation of the history of the site or building.

7.13 INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS The adaptive re-use of the site will require the possible introduction of new services such as toilet facilities, lifts or stir climbers and potentially kitchen facilities. Planning of new facilities for the site should take into consideration the significant phases of development and levels of significance of the site. The introduction of a new building on the site will be required to respect the significance of the site and the original arrangement of buildings.

Policy 34 Ensure that when planning new facilities, or upgrading existing facilities, consider the: Ø intention of the original design; Ø significance of the fabric; and Ø extent to which the fabric has already been modified.

Ensure that new works are designed in such a manner as not to obscure evidence of the original design intention.

Policy 35 Any new buildings should be designed in such a manner as to compliment the design vocabulary used during the significant phases of development and the relationship between the built structures and the landscaped setting.

7.14 MOVABLE HERITAGE Movable heritage includes movable items that have been assessed to be of cultural significance. An item of movable heritage reveals the use of a place and contributes to the overall cultural significance of that place. Movable heritage includes such things as furniture, garden ornaments, equipment, machinery, door furniture, coal wagons, railway lines etc. (Refer also to Policy 16.)

Policy 36 Undertake an inventory of all known movable heritage items surviving both on and off the site with the assistance of an experienced heritage professional. Establish a safe repository, preferably on site. Catalogue all items to be stored.

7.15 MAINTENANCE OF EXTANT ITEMS The building fabric of the former Lambton Colliery has been assessed as being of cultural significance. To retain the cultural significance of the building both the form and detail need to be conserved. This is particularly important in a coastal and industrial environment due to salt and chemical pollution attack. Further detailed investigation of the building fabric is required prior to maintenance work, which will impact on significant fabric. The external building fabric requires continual maintenance, which should be planned and undertaken on a regular basis. Conservation principals and methodology should be used on elements of moderate significance or higher. It is recommended that a Maintenance Plan be prepared, setting out methods for the maintenance of each significant element including a cycle for each type of maintenance. The Maintenance Plan should be a working document and should be revised on a regular basis. Special items such as stonework, joinery and metalwork should be identified in the Plan to ensure care is taken when working near them.



Policy 37 Maintain the external fabric of the former mine buildings according to conservation principals including: Ø preparing and implementing a Maintenance Plan; Ø undertaking cycle maintenance; Ø educating maintenance staff and contractors in conservation methods; Ø reviewing the Maintenance Plan on a regular basis; Ø the Maintenance Plan should be passed on whenever responsibility for

maintenance changes.

Brickwork The external facades of the building are constructed of load-bearing machine made brickwork. Early photographs show the bricks to be of two colours, light (cream) and dark (red). The present condition of the brickwork is generally good, with stains from pollution and organism growth evident. The joints are in fair condition, with a general deterioration of the mortar to a depth of 5 to 10mm over parts of the entire building. The brickwork has been generally painted since the 1940’s.

Policy 38 Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning methods that leach the colour or remove the surface of the face brickwork.

Policy 39 Obtain a good match for colour and texture for any face brickwork replacement work, even if it is to be painted.

Metalwork The extant original and early cast iron “tubbing” is an important part of the character of the Upcast Shaft Enclosure. The headframe of the Upcast Shaft replaced the timber frame, however it is important for the role it played in the twentieth century mining activities on site. Interior metalwork relates to the roof structure timber trusses and cast iron window frames.

Policy 40 Conserve the extant original nineteenth and twentieth century metalwork by the: Ø repair of damaged elements including rust conversion and stabilisation; Ø reinstatement of missing elements if detail is known; Ø repainting elements in appropriate colours if element was intended to be painted.

Timber Structure & Timber Joinery The joinery to the buildings consists of heavy timber trusses, roof purlins and introduced timber windows where wall openings were bricked up. No original timber doors survive on site.

Policy 41 Retain and conserve the existing original structural timber and joinery in the original colliery buildings.

Policy 42 Conserve the timber joinery by: Ø regular inspections; Ø reinstatement of missing elements Ø repair of damaged elements; and Ø regular re-painting.



Roof Sheeting The buildings were originally constructed with galvanised iron roofs including the ridge vents. The present buildings show evidence of painted corrugated iron in short sheets externally, exposed internally above the purlins.

Policy 43 Future re-roofing of the building should be in corrugated metal with a ventilated ridge.

7.16 RECORDING It is essential that a record of the changes to the former Lambton Colliery Precinct site be maintained and archived. Recording should be undertaken wherever modification to significant fabric occurs, including during major maintenance works. It is likely that recording of the modification or removal of significant fabric will be a part of the DA conditions of consent.

Policy 44 Ensure recording, when required, is undertaken in accordance with the Heritage Office Manual. Catalogue and archive all recordings.



8.0 POLICY IMPLEMENTATION 8.1 SHORT TERM Urgent Works In the short term it is essential the site be kept safe by removal of screen planting currently being used by vandals to hide behind when avoiding security staff or local residents. Damage to walls due to dampness should be initially mitigated by the removal of the concrete ramp against the building leading to the Hall facilities entrance. Gutters and downpipes should be inspected and all drainage maintenance items rectified and the moisture in the walls monitored before aesthetic repair work on the walls is undertaken. The upcast Shaft Enclosure is in urgent need of structural repair to prevent further deterioration of the once load bearing masonry structure. Introduced steel lintels to openings punched in the walls in recent decades are now rusting significantly, requiring repair or replacement of the steel. The lime mortar joints to the shaft enclosure masonry require re-pointing. An internal new structural steel support system may be the safest and most economical way to correct the current situation with minimal intrusion on heritage. Structural advice should be obtained from an engineering consultant with experience on heritage buildings.

Plate 8.1: Three views of the fan units used in the later period of the life of the mine, replacing the Waddle Fan. These units were removed following closure of the mine. (Source: Ed Tonks)

Plate 8.2: The remains of the original Upcast Shaft Enclosure showing the major openings in the masonry fabric at present (J. Carr)

General Works The majority of work required on the site in the short term is maintenance, the last external maintenance having been undertaken over ten years ago. External maintenance should take precedence over internal at this stage until a likely adaptive re-use proposal is secured. Generally the structures will deteriorate at a greater rate externally due to the exposure to the ocean and normal weather conditions. Proposals for the adaptive re-use of the various buildings on the site should take into account the findings in this Conservation Management Plan.



Early heritage advice should be sought during the process of determining a compatible adaptive re-use option for the building before detailed designing begins. Design proposals should be assessed according to their impact on the significant fabric of the building, as well as the impact on vistas to the buildings, the site as a whole and the physical context. 8.2 LONG TERM The long term conservation of the significant fabric should be undertaken, both internally and externally. It is likely that most of the conservation work will be undertaken in conjunction with the conversion of the buildings for new uses. The upcast Shaft Enclosure requires structural strengthening as outlined above under Urgent Works and general maintenance to stabilise the remains of the structure for display purposes and to ensure its survival in the long term. Methods of structural strengthening need to be examined in detail to provide a methodology that minimises impact on the remaining structure, however in the short term the structural support required may impact visually on the structure until a more discreet solution is constructed. A SoHI should accompany any proposed solution or staged solution together with recording of the existing structure before and during the works. The barrel covered way to the entry off Collier Street has a visual impact on the whole Upcast Shaft Enclosure due to its height and metal roof sheeting. Irving and Pratten recommended segmental curved roofs similar to the former Downcast Shaft buildings which had a shallower curve than the half semi-circular vault style eventually constructed. A possible option is to remove the roof sheeting to the high barrel area and replace it with curved clear polycarbonate sheeting Additional buildings required for the long term economic viability of the site must not impact on the cultural significance of the site, but be planned to compliment the existing buildings.

Plate 8.3: The Upcast Shaft Enclosure Ensemble following demolition works and before the subdivision work. (C. Jones 1992-3)

Plate 8.4: The complex following completion of the subdivision works (Ed Tonks).



8.3 8.3 MAINTENANCE WORKS To prolong the life of the existing building fabric and any replacement fabric, it is essential that a cyclic maintenance program be instigated. The maintenance program should include mechanisms for continued, regular maintenance of the building fabric. This cyclic maintenance should be undertaken according to conservation principles and policies set out in this CMP and the Burra Charter. 8.4 RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibility for the conservation of the former Lambton Colliery Precinct buildings rests with the Lake Macquarie City Council in the first instance. The council must obtain approvals from the NSW Heritage Office to undertake major building works, minor works that affect the significance of the item or excavation works that may potentially uncover archaeological remains. Lake Macquarie City Council should obtain heritage advice when planning to undertake any work on the site that may affect the significant fabric. Staff and sub-contractors engaged to work on this site should be made aware of the significance of the place and the requirements associated with the retention of that significance. 8.5 REVIEW OF 1994 CONSERVATION GUIDLINES Irving & Pratten prepared a set of Guidelines for the Conservation of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble in 1994 as part of a measured drawing study of the complex following the demolition of all other remaining structures on the site. The following table reviews those Guidelines and adds comments where required. The v symbol is used to note that the guideline item(s) are still relevant. No Heading Comment 1 v Introduction Add: Refer to heritage consultant for advice on maintenance issues with existing

fabric or introduction of new buildings or structures. 2 v What the Conservation Plan

said about significance Refer to Section 5.0 CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE in this report for further detail on assessment of significance.

3 v General Principals Refer also to Section 6.6 CURTILAGE in this report and also the site Masterplan for further detail on the preferred area for additional building(s).

4 v Specific Recommendations concerning work on the original buildings

Items (a) to (g) are still relevant to the existing buildings and possible future adaptive re-use design options. The ceiling to the Winder House (Survey Office) should be removed if possible to expose the trusses.

5 x The Electric Winder House The Electric Winder House has been demolished. 6 v Re-interpreting demolished

structures’ of the Upcast Shaft Ensemble

This has not been done to date, however the outlining of the demolished structures and the Waddle Fan pit would be advantageous to any interpretation plan for the site.

7 v New Work or Additional Structures

The roof form of any new structure will be important and the reasons for selection of a style or type clearly justifies in the SoHI at DA stage.

8 v Setting Sightlines & Landscaping

The sixty year old Norfolk Island pine trees planted on the Collier Street boundary should remain as they are now a local landmark.

9 v Car Parking The Masterplan calls for the use of reinforced turf pavement to new car parks. 10 v Signage A free-standing Directory of Site Uses sign could assist reduce individual signs.



Plate 8.1: Plan of Existing Site layout (Source OPWS)

8.6 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Irving & Pratten Lambton Colliery Redhead Conservation Plan 1992 Irving & Pratten Measured Study of Former Upcast Shaft Ensemble 1994 Ed Tonks Lambton By The Sea 1995 NSW Heritage Office Assessing Heritage Significance 2001 NSW Heritage Office Conservation Management Documents 1996 Australia ICOMOS The Burra Charter 1999 James Kerr The Conservation Plan 2000 Jackson Teece Redhead Grange, 1 Geraldton Drive, Redhead: Heritage Report 2005 Suters Turner & Doring City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study 1993



9.0 APPENDICES

9.1 Inventory Data Sheets 9.2 Heritage Office Minimum Standards of Maintenance & Repair 9.3 Heritage Office Standard Exemptions 9.4 Historical Photographs

NSW Department of Commerce Office of Public Works & Services


9.1 Inventory Data Sheets



9.2 Heritage Office Minimum Standards of Maintenance & Repair



9.3 Heritage Office Standard Exemptions



9.4 Historical Photographs