In the climate change debate today, there is great concern about the global impact of large coal mines. But 100 years ago, the hot topic in Newcastle was the local impact of little mines. The Newcastle Sun reported in August 1922 …

“A good deal of activity is noticeable among the “baby” coal mines in the hills of Waratah and Lambton. They are generally one-man affairs, the work is hard and the methods crude.”

Some were tiny burrows in a hillside, others a shaft with a wooden tripod overhead to haul up coal in buckets. In the post war economic downturn unemployed men looked to scratch a living by selling coal to nearby householders, the tough nature of their enterprise reflected in the mine names … “Try Again Colliery”, “Lone Hand”, “Perseverance”.

While the “baby” mines were a boon to some, they were a grievance to many. The councils were concerned about undermining of streets and damage to pipes. Residents complained of water run-off and danger to their properties. An inspection by the Department of Mines in November 1922 attended by miners and residents turned ugly and “the parties became bitter in their denunciation of each other and indulged in heated personal remarks.”

Matters weren’t helped by the Department’s manifest disinterest in resolving the dispute. Their view was that the big coal companies who owned the mineral rights were entitled to sublease to the “baby” miners, and the Department could do nothing. Waratah Council then took legal action against one of the mine owners, and the court imposed a substantial fine. By 1924 newspaper reports on the mines had disappeared. Their closure was due to a combination of factors –poor quality coal, increasing suburban development, the threat of fines, but mainly because households were moving to the new technologies of gas, and coal-fired electricity. Ironically these energy sources that were the solution to the local “baby” mines in 1922, are now central to the global climate change problem in 2022.

The article above was first published in the August 2022 edition of The Local.

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Additional Information

The locality sketch on the 1923 real estate poster shows 17 “baby” mines. Many of them are unknown apart from their name on this map.

1. Bayley’s Reward Colliery
2. The Bowler Colliery
3. Brown Hill Colliery
4. Carclew Colliery
5. Clay Cross No. 2 Colliery
6. Federal Colliery
7. Hanbury Colliery
8. Meadow Colliery
9. The Nest Colliery
10. Perseverance Colliery
11. Red Bank Colliery
12. Sea View Colliery (sometimes spelled Seaview)
13. Silverdale Colliery
14. Talk o’ the Hill Colliery
15. Try Again Colliery
16. Winn Colliery
17. Wright’s Colliery

Other “baby” mines in the Lambton/Waratah area recorded in other sources such as newspaper reports and Department of Mines annual reports include …

1. Lone Hand [End?] Colliery
2. Rosehill No. 2
3. Tubber Robinson’s mine
4. North Lambton Colliery
5. Mawkes Colliery (1896-1898)
6. Lambton Heights / Lambton Heights No. 2
7. Braye Park Colliery
8. West End Colliery
9. Cornsay Colliery
10. Electric Colliery
11. Emergency Colliery
12. Jenkins Colliery
13. Mason’s Colliery
14. Meredith Colliery
15. Morris’ Colliery
16. Reay’s (Ray’s) Colliery
17. Red Hill (Redhill) Colliery
18. Liddle’s Colliery
19. Quarry Colliery
20. Green’s Colliery
21. Sunlight Colliery
22. Bebside Colliery
23. Side Colliery
24. Thornton Colliery
25. Brickfield Hill

Lone Hand (Lone End?)

Although “The Sun” has named this mine as “Lone End Colliery”, I suspect that may be an erroneous reference to the “Lone Hand Colliery”. In the annual report of the Department of Mines for the year 1921, Inspector Bissett states that …

“Two small mines were commenced during the year; these were Lone Hand and Rosehill No.2 Collieries.”

The Lone Hand Colliery is mentioned again in the 1922 annual report, but is not mentioned in subsequent years.

Rosehill / Rose Hill Colliery

Note that Rose Hill (occasionally misspelled Roe’s Hill) was the name of the hill to the north of Lambton township, as shown on this 1908 real estate map.

Tubber Robinson’s mine

William Robinson (known as “Tubber”) had a “baby” mine in George Street near Notley Street, North Lambton. He also had mines at Wallsend in the proximity of the High School. William’s brother Jeremiah (Jerry) Robinson had a “baby” mine in Seventh Street, North Lambton.The photo below shows the George Street mine.

The photo below of William and his sons with a pit pony, was taken near Robinson’s house in Fifth Street North Lambton.

North Lambton Colliery

The North Lambton Colliery, whose photo appeared in the published article, was somewhat different to the other “baby” mines. In contrast to most of the “baby” mines that employed only one or two men and were very short-lived in operation, the North Lambton colliery operated for 20 years (1905 to 1924), and at its peak employed 28 men in 1918. The mine, despite its larger size, used the same primitive techniques as the “baby” mines, sinking a shallow shaft, erecting a wooden tripod, and hauling coal up the shaft in buckets.

The Department of Mines annual report for the year 1905 notes that

North Lambton Colliery.-On 26th September, Mr. J. Jeffries notified, in terms of section 30 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, that he had opened a new mine on land leased from the Scottish Australian Mining Co., the name of which would be North Lambton.

The location of the colliery being close to the water reservoir on Newcastle Road Lambton, can be ascertained from a report to the Newcastle Water and Sewerage Board in February 1906 …

The proprietor of the North Lambton Colliery gave notice that the workings of his colliery are now approaching within 40 yards of the Lambton reservoir fence, and stated his intention of removing coal to that boundary in terms of a lease held by him from the Scottish Australian Mining Company, Limited.

Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 1906.

Similarly, in 1918 …

The engineer of the Water and Sewerage Board reports that it is understood Mr. Long, manager of the North Lambton colliery, intends sinking a shaft near the eastern fence of the Lambton reservoir property. The proposed mining work will probably not affect the reservoir or the pump-house, but might affect the 12-inch scourpipe from the reservoir and some trees.

The Newcastle Sun, 9 September 1918.

The Newcastle Sun of 30 September 1922 noted that the colliery was a …

… tribute mine working the outcrop pillar coal left by the Lambton colliery. The coal from North Lambton, employing sixteen persons, is carried to the Lambton screens, and there put into waggons and sent for shipment.

The Sydney Mail of 8 August 1923 in publishing their photo of the mine, noted that …

This small mine is situated at North Lambton. It has an output of 30 tons per day, and gives employment to 10 men. It has been working for 20 years, and is owned by Mr. W. Long, who is shown seated on his cart, loaded with coal. The winding gear is worked by a horse hauling on the cable.

The North Lambton mine notified the Department of Mines of discontinuance of operations in 1924.

Mawkes (Mawks) Colliery

Between 1874 and 1896 miner William Mawkes and his wife Elizabeth purchased four blocks of land between High, Hill and Dent Streets in Lambton. (See Vol-Fol 189-163, 195-67, 828-122, 1100-19.)

The Department of Mines annual report for 1896 has an entry on page 83 noting the opening of a new mine.

Mawke’s Colliery, Lambton.-This is a new mine, lately opened on Mr. Mawkes’ private property. There are two men employed below ground, and everything is in good working order.

The table of coal output on page 43 records 2 men employed, with 320 tons of coal extracted during the year. In November 1896 Lambton Council received correspondence …

From the Under-Secretary for Mines, Sydney, in reply to an inquiry from the Mayor re the undermining done by Mr. Mawks [sic], and stating that Mawks had been warned not to encroach any further. Received, and it was decided to procure the inspector’s report for perusal by the council.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 18 November 1896.

The report received by the council in December 1896 stated that “Mawkes had encroached 3 or 4 feet” and the council requested that he “secure the places encroached upon.” In June 1897 the council received communication …

… from the Under-Secretary for Mines, enclosing reports on undermining of streets as submitted to the department by Mr. John Dixon, Inspector of Collieries, as follows :- That he had inspected Mawks’ [sic] mine on the 9th instant, and found a narrow drift driven across the street, evidently to get the water away from his other workings. He (the inspector) did not think this drift would in any way damage the street. But if the tops coal was taken down in the six-yard bord that ran parallel with the street, and causing the surface to subside, it would damage the street to some extent. The report was received, and it was decided to caution Mr. Mawks not to remove the top coal from the drive referred to in the report.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 30 June 1897.

The Department of Mines annual report for 1897 has a one line entry on page 129 noting “Mawk’s Colliery, private property, Lambton, 1 man employed.” The table of coal output on page 27 records 2 persons employed at the colliery with 462 tons of coal extracted during the year. The 1898 report on page 141 states that …

On 7th April, Mr. W. Mawks notified having closed his small pit, known as Mawk’s Colliery.

A Water Board map from 1909 shows a coal shaft marked on Mawkes’ property.

William Mawkes died on 5 October 1916. In April 1919 Lambton Council received correspondence from …

Mrs. Mawkes, stating that she disclaimed any responsibility with regard to the subsidence in High-street, caused by undermining, said to be worked by her late husband, and in any case she was not in a position to contribute to the cost of filling in same if council considered her liable.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 9 April 1919.

The council subsequently received a letter from Mrs Mawkes …

… agreeing to contribute the sum of £2 towards the cost of filling pitfall near her residence in High-street, which was said to be caused through mining by her late husband some years ago. Council considered that as Mrs. Mawkes was the owner of the property she must be held liable for the whole cost of filling in the subsidence.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 23 April 1919.

The newspapers do not report how this dispute over costs was eventually resolved. Elizabeth Mawkes died on 26 October 1948.

Lambton Heights Colliery / Lambton Heights Colliery No 2

Lambton Heights Colliery

The Lambton Heights colliery was a small pit operated by brothers James Joseph Fitzpatrick and Patrick Joseph Fitzpatrick between 1918 and 1921 on land between High and Hill Streets to the north of Lambton. The Department of Mines annual reports show that the mine reached a peak of six employees in 1920-1921.

The Department of Mines annual report for 1918 indicate that the Fitzpatrick brothers opened the mine on 15 July 1918. The following month the Hunter Water Board engineer reported that …

… Messrs. Fitzpatrick Brothers have recently acquired the Lambton Catholic Presbytery property, and it is understood intend to use same for coalmining purposes. He recommended that the Department of Mines be requested to advise the board as to the boundaries of the land under which it was proposed to remove coal, and as to whether such removal would affect the board’s water pipes and sewer in proximity thereto.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 13 August 1918.

In 1918 the Roman Catholic Church owned five separate blocks of land between Hill and High Streets, with the Presbytery building located on one of the middle blocks. Somewhat confusingly the land records indicate that the Fitzpatrick brothers only purchased these blocks from the church in various stages from 9 June 1920 to 9 June 1922. I assume that in the 1918 water board report that ‘acquired’ meant obtained a lease with a view to purchase.

In February 1919 Lambton Council received a complaint from …

Mrs. Mawkes, drawing attention to annoyance caused to her tenants by shot-firing in the early hours of the morning in a colliery near her property.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 13 February 1919.

As Mrs Mawkes owned all the land to the west of the Roman Catholic blocks, it is quite probable that her complaint related to the Fitzpatrick’s Lambton Heights Colliery. In 1920 a mine inspection revealed damage to High Street.

At Fitzpatrick Brothers’ Colliery between Hill and High streets [the Senior Inspector of Mines] found that they had gone out side of their boundary, and had undermined Hill-street. High-street was under mined many years ago. There was a considerable amount of water in the old workings. The pillars under both streets were small, with a surface covering of be tween 25 to 30 feet. Under the conditions he considered It would be much safer for the pillars to be removed entirely, and the streets let down and subsequently filled up properly. The only objection to this course would be that the water and gas mains were laid in the street. A discussion ensued, the aldermen making strong comment concerning the owners of these small collieries running outside their boundaries.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 4 November 1920.

The subsidence issues continued in 1921.

Aldermen Lightfoot and Hardy reported that they had made an inspection of the workings of Fitzpatrick’s Colliery, situated on private property, between Hill and High streets. On the west side of High-street a bord had been driven six yards wide, extending under the road at the corner of Dent and High streets for a distance of 13 feet, and in a south- westerly direction there was a bord seven yards wide, extending eight yards under High-street. The workings towards Hill street showed that the coal had been recently extracted. A bord had been driven 12 feet wide for a distance of 12 feet under the road and broken through into some old workings. The roof was sound ed, and there appeared no immediate danger In the vicinity. The place was well timbered, and had been worked under the big tops. The workings under High street were considered dangerous, and would require immediate attention. Coming back to the old winding shaft a cross cut had been driven 6 feet wide from the shaft in a southerly direction, but after driving a few feet the course was altered to a south-westerly direction, and driven to a width of 4 feet. The length of this drive extended right across High-street. A lengthy discussion ensued in dealing with the report. the aldermen considering it was a serious matter, both to the safety of the streets and to private property in the vicinity. There was also the danger to the water, sewerage, and gas mains if a subsidence should take place.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 9 March 1921.

During the past week another subsidence occurred in Hill-street from the mining on private property between Hill and High streets,and what was formerly known as land of the Roman Catholic Presbytery. The council have no proof that the owner of the mine has made intentional encroachments under the streets, but where the coal is extracted right up to the boundary, it will cause a drag for a considerable distance when any subsidence takes place. The council and the residents consider that the Mines Department should hesitate in granting a permit to extract coal under private property, which has a depreciating effect upon properties in the vicinity, and a danger to the public streets, as well as the inconveniences that may be occasioned by the fracture of gas, water, and sewerage pipes.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 30 May 1921.

The Mayor (Aldermen Polak), Deputy Mayor (Alderman Lightfoot), and the town clerk, accompanied by the engineer and assistant engineer of the Water and Sewerage Board, on Friday made an inspection of Hill and High streets, adjoining the spot where mining operations are being carried out on private lands recently occupied by the Roman Catholic presbytery. The land from which the coal is being extracted was one mass of pitfalls, and as the workings were carried right up to the boundary line the subsidences were dragging over into the street and causing considerable damage. A crevice indicating a recent disturbance in the under- ground workings was visited, almost the full width of Hill-street, and from which damage was occasioned to the water mains. The action of the department in giving consent to mining operations in a residential portion of the municipality was commented upon. Reports of the inspection will be submitted to the council and the board.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 13 June 1921.

The Department of Mines annual report for 1921 states that the “owners of Lambton Heights Colliery notified abandonment.” By 1922 the Fitzpatrick brothers had purchased not only the Roman Catholic land, but the adjacent land of Mrs Mawkes.

Lambton Heights No 2 Colliery

The annual report for 1922 states that “Lambton Heights No 2 mine opened with four persons employed.” The caption on a photograph in a 1922 article on the “baby” mines confirms that Lambton Heights No 2 was owned by the Fitzpatrick Brothers, and the output was 15 tons of coal a day.

The location of the No 2 mine is uncertain. It is possible that the No 2 colliery was in the general area of the first colliery, however a December 1925 article about mine subsidence in Hill Street notes that “coal was extracted from private land in the vicinity a few years ago”. This is suggestive that coal was no longer being extracted in this vicinity in 1925, a year in which the Department of Mines annual report indicates that Lambton Heights Colliery No 2 was operating and employing two men. In 1926 there was just one person reported employed at the mine. The 1927 report, in a single and final mention of Lambton Heights No 2, states that no inspections were performed, possibly because the pit had closed.

On 16 May 1951 James Joseph Fitzpatrick lodged Deposited Plan 23208 for a subdivision of his land into 11 allotments. The subdivision included a 33 feet wide “Public Garden and Recreation Space” along Hill St. This reserve was possibly included because the land at that location was too badly affected by pitfalls and water seepage from the mine workings to be usable for residential purposes.

The Fitzpatrick brothers subsequently sold the subdivision to William Henry Hudson, master builder. By 1954 houses had been erected on all of the allotments.

Department of Mines Reports

The table below summarises references to the collieries in the Department of Mines annual reports to the Lambton Heights collieries. I have not included every reference but only those where there is new or changed information.

Year	Notes
1918	p132. Lambton Heights Mine opened, 2 persons employed, natural ventilation. p144. Owner: Fitzpatrick Brothers. Head office in Verulam Rd Lambton. p147. J J Fitzpatrick is manager p149. Mine opened on 15 July 1918.
1919	p138. 5 persons employed
1920	p82. 6 persons employed p89. mining the Borehole seam, shaft 3′ 6″ diameter, 24′ deep
1921	p95. 6 persons employed. p96. Owners of Lambton Heights Colliery notified abandonment.
1922	p79. Lambton Heights No 2 mine opened, 4 persons employed, natural ventilation.
1923	p68. 3 persons employed.
1924	p76. natural ventilation
1925	p70. 2 persons employed
1926	p79. 1 person employed
1927	p79. No inspections

Newspaper articles

Article Date Event Date	Notes
4 Mar 1921	First mention of the term "baby coal mines" in the newspaper. "The streets of Newcastle are not paved with gold, but underneath them all is something nearly as precious. Coal seams are everywhere, and it is only a matter of digging and coal can be found. Where less fortunate peoples have to pay £5 and £6 a ton for coal, many people in the suburbs of Newcastle just dig in their back yards, and from the baby coal mine there take enough to supply their own needs."
16 Aug 1922	Article on the "miniature mines" of Waratah and Lambton.
20 Sep 1922	"So that the people who operate "baby" coal mines in the hills of Waratah, and endanger the safety of houses in the vicinity, might have a stop put to their mining, the council asked the Minister for Mines to grant no more permits for the taking of coal from these lands. The official reply received last night was vague and indefinite ..."
25 Sep 1922	"Trying to put a stop to the private mining that goes on at Lambton, and endangers the safety of water and gas mains, apart from damaging the roads, the Mayor last week asked the Minister for Mines not to grant permits for this mining. The latter replied that most of the mineral leases were held by a mining company which seemed to have a perfect right to lease certain areas to private people for the purpose of exploiting the remaining coal seams."
30 Sep 1922	Description of various collieries in the northern coal field, including a brief mention of the small North Lambton colliery.
18 Oct 1922	"Several Inspectors from the Department of Mines will visit Waratah next week, and in company with the Mayor and aldermen, will visit the sites of the "baby" coal-mines in the hills, which have been complained of by residents who are fearful of damage to their properties."
30 Oct 1922	"Expert opinion on the question of the damage likely to result to streets and dwellings on Roe's Hill, Waratah, through the opening up of "baby" coal mines, will be given by Chief Inspector Atkinson, of the Department of Mines, who will visit the shafts complained of to-morrow afternoon."
1 Nov 1922 31 Oct 1922	"Many householders came out to emphasise the general grievance when Chief-Inspector Atkinson and Inspector Tennant, representing the Mines Department, made an inspection of the "baby" coal mines on Lambton and Waratah hills yesterday afternoon ... At times the parties became bitter in their denunciation of each other— that is, the property owners and the coal hewers … The Mines Department had to consider the resources of the country, said Inspector Atkinson, and to see they were not wasted ... The inspector intimated that the department could not offer much assistance."
12 Nov 1922	A long report on the "baby coal mines" in the hills of Waratah and Lambton, including a couple of thumbnail photos.
15 Nov 1922	Waratah council given legal opinon on the "baby" coal mines that "showed that the council had power to stop such mining under public roads. The owner adjoining any land being undermined had a natural and legal right to prevent his land being endangered, but there was no cause for action for damage until the land was disturbed."
29 Nov 1922	"Another chapter in the history of baby coal mines was unfolded last night when Waratah Council served a notice upon William Metcalfe to fill in shafts sunk in Sixth and Seventh streets, Rosehill. A prosecution is to follow if the order is not obeyed."
22 Dec 1922	William Metcalfe prosecuted by Waratah Council "for having made a hole in a public road without authority… Metcalfe was fined £5, with £4 8s 5d costs, in default one month's gaol."
24 Jan 1923	"William Metcalfe, who is working a 'baby' coal mine at Waratah, was proceeded against by the Waratah Council for allowing a shaft to remain in a street of the municipality… A fine of £8 was imposed, together with 8s 6d court costs and 42s professional costs."
25 Sep 1923	"North Lambton, more familiarly known as Lambton Heights, merges into the Jesmond district. There are a number of 'baby' coal mines in the district, and the landscape is dotted with wooden tripods, over small shafts, used to lower and raise the miner-proprietors, and the coal they win from their little collieries." [This is the last mention of the 'baby' coal mines in the newspaper, until a couple of references to 'baby' coal mines at Wallsend in 1931.]
23 Feb 1931	"After working for six months getting everything in readiness, the largest of the 'baby' mines at Wallsend has begun producing coal."
15 Jul 1931	"Owing to the flooding of several small 'baby' coal mines at Wallsend, the already large number of unemployed has been added to. These mines employ between 25 and 30 men." [Last reference to 'baby' mines in Trove.]