The Maddingley area of Bacchus Marsh was surveyed for brown coal deposits in the 1930s. By the early 1940s brown coal in large quantities was being extracted and was transported to Melbourne where it was used to fire boilers for the Australian Paper Mills (APM) company. By the 1970s APM was using natural gas instead of coal. Maddingley brown coal was then used to fire boilers for the CRA/VISY cardboard factory at Bacchus Marsh. This factory closed down in 1990. During the 1990s the mine was acquired by the Calleja family company who ran transport and waste management operations.The Maddingley Brown coal mine was a major industry in Bacchus Marsh for 50 years. A sample of coal from the mine is a reminder of the importance of this local industry over an extended period of time.Two cylindrical plastic containers mounted on rectangular baseSample of pulverised brown coal produced from Maddingley brown coal deposit located at Bacchus Marsh Victoria, October 1981. Moisture content 12% - Specific energy - 22 GJ/Tonne - Particle size - 25% +90 Microncoal mines, mining, brown coal, maddingley brown coal mine

Lal Lal Coal Mine, 1923. Two black and white photographs of the Lal Lal Coal Mine. .1) A man, Bill Thomas of Talbot, stands high on a timber construction. .2) A mine site with poppet head and two chimneys..1) verso: Lal Lal Coal and [Iron?] Mine 1,000 ton hopper or brown coal Designed and Built by D. Mather 1923 [15?] miles of sapplings in the building [Ci?] called and drying [oval] 120' long 45' x 20' wide Bill Thomas shown in this photo, from Talbot.lal lal, lal lal coal mine, donald mather, mather, bill thomas, talbot, mining

Used at State Coal Mine to oil equipmentTin oil can with a long spout and top and rear handle

Photograph included in book "Victoria: Gold and Minerals" issued by Mines Department Victoria, 1935Photographvictoria, brown coal, wonthaggi, coal mine, conveyor system, mining

Black and white phoptograph of works in progress at the open cut brown coal mine at Morwell Victoriamines and mining

Used in State Coal Mine by Bill Tyrell'S' shaped hook with a sharp point on one end and two claws on the other.

Used in State Coal Mine by propman to oil cable and rollersApproximately 2 litre tin can with spout, rear fixed handle and top loose handle"W.T.S." on base in red paint

Handwritten extract from M. & Geol. Journal, Jan,y 1940. Notes mention winders, shaft guides, cages and skips.document, gold, mining reports, state coal mine wonthaggi, m & geol journal jan 1940, t platt inspector of mines

black and white photograph: boilers ( x 5 ) inside shed. ON BACK in pencilorganization, business, outtrim coal mine

Used by miners as identification disc.Small brass disc with number stamped on, two holes near top edge, brass chain attached.1758

Small brass disk with a number stamped on. Two holes near top edge."1089"

Skip token used by miners to identify which skips they had filled.Small brass diamond with rope attached through a hole in the top corner."18"

Shower rose from Kirrak Area change rooms.Steel cylinder with small opening at the top

Used by Fred Oldaker in S.C.M to carry sticks of dynamiteRectangular tin, painted black with hinged lid

One of a collection of 9 photographs/postcards donated by F. WinnSepia photograph of two coal miners (one with light on helmet), standing in front of shed at Wonthaggi Coal Mine.On back: "Wonthaggi Coal Miners"wonthaggi coal mine, coal miners, f winn

Progress Report of the Select Committee of the Legislative Council on the State Coal Mine. Together with the Minutes of Evidence and Plan. Ordered by the Legislative Council to be printed, 23rd December 1910. By Authority: J. Kemp, Government Printer, Melbourne.victoria government, state coal mine

Safety helmets were used by miners in the process of extracting coal from the Wonthaggi Coal Mine. Mining was carried out in tunnels Early fibre glass safety helmet worn by miners at the Wonthaggi Coal Mine in the extraction of black coal.Sticky label reads "Col Davidson" hand written. On front of helmet - "DUPERITE". "MADE IN AUSTRLIA"hat

Sheet with four side of a tea box printed in blue and gold. Two sides have Pure Hutchinson's Tea, the other two have Hutchinson's Post Office Store & Garage Brown Coal Mine. This Package Contains 1/2-lb. Net weight. F. W. Niven Pty. Ltd. Printed under one.business, printers, cambridge press, cambridge press collection, hutchinson's tea, hutchinson's post office store & garage, brown coal mine, f w niven pty. ltd.

Bituminous coal is the most common type of coal, abundantly found in ancient coal deposits which can be dated back millions of years. Often referred to as soft or black coal, this specimen exhibits a high carbon content, ranging from 76-86%. It also holds a relatively high energy density (27 MJ/kg) meaning that it releases significant amounts of energy when burned. Bituminous coal is most commonly used for electricity generation, as well as in the production of steel. This particular piece of coal was collected as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria in the nineteenth century. It originates from Cape Paterson, a seaside village located in South Gippsland, Victoria (located on Bunurong Country). The discovery of bituminous coal in this locality was first made in 1826 by explorer William Hovell. More discoveries were gradually made over the following decades and in 1859 the Victorian Coal Company commenced the first active coal mining operations in the state by sinking a number of shafts and bores near the area of Cape Paterson. Evidence of this coal-focused past can be found today at the State Coal Mine Museum in the nearby town of Wonthaggi. This specimen is significant as it was collected from the locality of Cape Paterson in Victoria, an area that has since become historically instrumental in the mining of coal and other substances in the state of Victoria. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A solid hand-sized piece of bituminous coal with a shiny black-grey surface and jagged edges.Existing Label: BITUMINOUS COAL / Locality: Cape / Patterson, VIC. burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, state coal mine museum, wonthaggi coal mine, victorian coal company, bituminous coal, coal victoria, coal energy generation, william hovell, cape paterson, coal specimen

The Ballarat School of Mines was established in 1870 and was the first site of technical education in Australasia.Correspondence to the Ballarat School of Mines for the month of August 1908. Includes correspondence from: *Jumbunna Coal Mine, South Gippsland * Ballarat Fine Art Public Gallery Association Letter 289 Ballarat Dine Art Public Gallery Association Ballarat 21 August 1908 F.J. Martell Esq Director The Ballarat School of Mines Ballarat Sir The reply to request contained in your letter dated 11 June for transfer to the President Council of the Ballrat School of Mines of Debenture Stock referred to therein, I am instructed to inform you that the Council of the Ballarat Fine Art Public Gallery Associaiton finds, after exhaustive inquiry, that although it has been the practice, for convenience sake, to classify the Association assets under seperate headings, the Debenture Stock in question has always been justlu regarded as all assets of the Association with which it did not parch when consenting , in late 1893, to accept the Deparmental Regulations for Technical Art Schools. The Council is, therefore, of opnion that it would be acting wrongfully to make the desired transfer. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, J.A. Powell Secy ballarat school of mines, frederick martell, jumbunna, coal, south gippsland, gippsland, j.s. wittkowski, ballarat fine art gallery, j.a. powell, art gallery of ballarat, gallery association, egerton and gordons mining company, a.h. walsh, dressmaking, c.h. james, jubilee extended quartz mining company, letterhead, depatment of public instruction, p. board, eduducation department melbourne, i. coulter, lease, miller and co, g.h. warner, h.c. taylor, teroscia, port kembla, w.s. macartney, alumni, john britain, department of woods and forests western australia, rutherglen, john harris, a.d. gilchrist, scottsdale, tasmania, r.c. elliott, tocomwal, kites, john byatt, greta pryar, pennsylvania women's press association, kalgoorlie, melville g. gray, tasmanian consols limited, jumnanna coal mine, borough of creswick, john wallace, glen forbes, ponsonby carew-smyth, huddart, parker and co, ballarat fine art public gallery association ballarat, greenmont mines no liability, i.d. cameron, a. pearson, alber j. robin

This particular specimen was recovered from the Lal Lal Coal and Iron Mine in Victoria, 19km from Ballarat. Brown Coal was discovered here in 1857, just alongside the Geelong to Ballarat Railway line. This discovery of lignite (brown coal) was the first in Victoria, which would bring important benefits to the region and state, both of which had previously been reliant on coal imports. In the 1860s, iron ore was found just 5km from Lal Lal, and the area was converted into an Iron Ore Mine. The Lal Lal Iron Mining Company took over operations in 1874, who then peaked iron production in 1884. This mine continued operations until June 1884, when the blast furnace was extinguished and never recommenced. The blast furnace at Lal Lal is considered one of the most important and highly significant sites ion early industrial history in Australia, as it is the only remaining best furnace from the nineteenth century in the Southern Hemisphere. The furnace ruins are 17 metres high, and are clearly visible today on Iron Mine Road, Lal Lal, near the Bungal Dam. This specimen of Lignite (brown coal) is significant, as it was mined from the area where brown coal was first discovered in Victoria, leading to an important and controversial future of the mining and use of brown coal in this State. The Victorian Heritage Database has listed the Lal Lal Coal Mine with local significance, with their Statement of Significance stating: "The Lal Lal coal mine is historically significant as the site of the first discovery of lignite (brown coal) in Victoria, and one that promised important benefits to regional and state industries that were reliant on coal imports at the time. The significance of the stie is reduced by the poor state of preservation of the coal mining and processing fabric". This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A hand-sized light-weight, soft and combustable sedimentary rock specimen, that is dark brown in colour. The specimen has jagged edges, as though parts of the rock have crumbled away. Brown coal, or Lignite, is formed naturally from compressed peat, and is typically found in natural basins. The stages to the formation of coal ('coalification') begin with plant material and wood, which will decay if it is not subjected to deep burial or heating, and turn into Peat. Peat, when sufficiently compressed naturally, will turn into Brown Coal (Lignite), and finally into Black Coal (sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite). Each successive stage has a higher energy content and lower water content. It is brownish-black in colour. Brown Coal has a high moisture content, between 50 and 75 percent, and a low carbon content. Some Brown Coals may be stratified, with layers of plant matter, which means little coalification has occurred beyond the peat natural processing stage. When Brown Coal is submerged in dilute nitric acid or boiling potassium hydroxide solution, it reacts to produce a reddish solution, of which higher-ranked coals do not. When brown coal is pulverised and burned in boilers, the steam is used to drive turbines, which generates electricity. It is the lowest rank of coal, as when burned, it creates a relatively low heat content, which in turn does not create a great output of steam. burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, brown coal, brown coal specimen, lignite, lal lal, lal lal coal mine, lal lal iron mine, ballarat, blast furnace

Water colour painting of the Alcoa Anglesea coal mine. Painted by Jan Robley.Signed by artist Jan Robley.jane robley, alcoa power station, painting

This is one of two cast brass nameplates of James & Alexander Brown in our collection. The Newcastle, NSW, firm was renowned for its coal mining and exporting business established in colonial Australia in 1843. The firm had an office in Melbourne and sold coal for commercial use and from the Wharf for the domestic market. The coal was then distributed along the southwest coast of Victoria in steamships or steam packets and into the regional areas of Victoria by cart and wagon. In 1890 there was a strike of coal workers but the Geelong Advertiser, September 1, 1890, announced that “a firm of coal merchants only recently received some large cargoes from Newcastle”. This supply of coal could have originated at the colliery of James & Alexander Brown. About James & Alexander Brown: - James (1816-1894), John (1823-1846) and Alexander Brown (1827-1877) migrated with their parents from Scotland to Sydney, Australia, in 1842. The next year James leased land and was assisted by his brothers Alexander and John in mining coal in the area near Maitland. The market was very competitive, with the government controlling prices. James was instrumental in a legal battle that resulted in the introduction of open competition for coal mining. James and Alexander had become business partners by 1852 and moved south of Newcastle where they established and worked a profitable mining enterprise. Their assets by 1857 included a ships’ chandlery, a fleet of steamships and an overseas trading business. They were the first firm to import rum, sugar and coffee into Newcastle. By 1892 they were exporting coal to New Zealand, China, North America, and various colonial ports. They had elaborate workshops to service their own steam engines and steamships. They were the first to use a steam collier vessel in Australian waters and they set up the second tug boat in Newcastle, the beginning of being owners of many more tug boats and performing a towing business. By 1868 James & Alexander Brown was the largest coal producer in the colony. James focused on managing the colliery and Alexander on overseas trade. It was estimated that the firm had produced over eight per cent of coal in New South Wales by 1914. James & Alexander Brown advertised in the Melbourne Herald in the early 1900s and kept an office at Queen Street, Melbourne as well as at the Wharf, stating their telephone numbers for both places. The coal was available for ‘Immediate Delivery’ for household and industrial purposes. The advertising claimed that their Pelaw Main coal was the famous household coal that met the highest test in Australia and burned bright and clean. Domestic customers could purchase the coal at the wharf or pay for delivery. Commercial customers could load their purchases into their steamships or wagons for further distribution into regional Victoria. After James’s death in 1894 his son John managed the firm, which was also known as J & A Brown. John passed away in 1930 and his sons took over. In 1931 the firm amalgamated with Abermain Seaham and the new name was J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries Ltd. commonly abbreviated to JABAS, which merged with Caledonian Collieries Ltd in 1960 and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. was formed. The pair of nameplates is significant for its connection with the firm James & Alexander Brown. The firm was established in 1845 and became one of the largest collieries in colonial Australia. It was involved in trading within Australia and overseas. James was involved in the introduction of open competition for coal mining prices. They were the first to use a steam colliery in Australian waters and the first to import goods such as rum, sugar and coffee into New South Wales. The firm had a Melbourne office in the early 1900s, selling and distributing coal throughout Victoria, which likely included the Port of Warrnambool, which opened in 1890. The nameplates are likely to have originated from the Melbourne location.Brass Entrance Name Plate, one of a pair. Eight holes are formed through the plate; one in each corner, and four more holes are within the inscription area. The cast plate has three rows of text with the company’s name and type of business. The plate was owned by James & Alex. Brown. "JAMES & ALEXR. BROWN / COLLIERY PROPRIETORS / & STEAMSHIP OWNERS"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nameplate, james & alexander brown, j & a brown, james & alexr brown, colliery proprietors, steamship owners, ship chandlers, coal mine, coal export, australian import, australian export, newcastle, colliers, coastal trade, steamships

This is one of two cast brass nameplates of James & Alexander Brown in our collection. The Newcastle, NSW, firm was renowned for its coal mining and exporting business established in colonial Australia in 1843. The firm had an office in Melbourne and sold coal for commercial use and from the Wharf for the domestic market. The coal was then distributed along the southwest coast of Victoria in steamships or steam packets and into the regional areas of Victoria by cart and wagon. In 1890 there was a strike of coal workers but the Geelong Advertiser, September 1, 1890, announced that “a firm of coal merchants only recently received some large cargoes from Newcastle”. This supply of coal could have originated at the colliery of James & Alexander Brown. About James & Alexander Brown: - James (1816-1894), John (1823-1846) and Alexander Brown (1827-1877) migrated with their parents from Scotland to Sydney, Australia, in 1842. The next year James leased land and was assisted by his brothers Alexander and John in mining coal in the area near Maitland. The market was very competitive, with the government controlling prices. James was instrumental in a legal battle that resulted in the introduction of open competition for coal mining. James and Alexander had become business partners by 1852 and moved south of Newcastle where they established and worked a profitable mining enterprise. Their assets by 1857 included a ships’ chandlery, a fleet of steamships and an overseas trading business. They were the first firm to import rum, sugar and coffee into Newcastle. By 1892 they were exporting coal to New Zealand, China, North America, and various colonial ports. They had elaborate workshops to service their own steam engines and steamships. They were the first to use a steam collier vessel in Australian waters and they set up the second tug boat in Newcastle, the beginning of being owners of many more tug boats and performing a towing business. By 1868 James & Alexander Brown was the largest coal producer in the colony. James focused on managing the colliery and Alexander on overseas trade. It was estimated that the firm had produced over eight per cent of coal in New South Wales by 1914. James & Alexander Brown advertised in the Melbourne Herald in the early 1900s and kept an office at Queen Street, Melbourne as well as at the Wharf, stating their telephone numbers for both places. The coal was available for ‘Immediate Delivery’ for household and industrial purposes. The advertising claimed that their Pelaw Main coal was the famous household coal that met the highest test in Australia and burned bright and clean. Domestic customers could purchase the coal at the wharf or pay for delivery. Commercial customers could load their purchases into their steamships or wagons for further distribution into regional Victoria. After James’s death in 1894 his son John managed the firm, which was also known as J & A Brown. John passed away in 1930 and his sons took over. In 1931 the firm amalgamated with Abermain Seaham and the new name was J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries Ltd. commonly abbreviated to JABAS, which merged with Caledonian Collieries Ltd in 1960 and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. was formed. The pair of nameplates is significant for its connection with the firm James & Alexander Brown. The firm was established in 1845 and became one of the largest collieries in colonial Australia. It was involved in trading within Australia and overseas. James was involved in the introduction of open competition for coal mining prices. They were the first to use a steam colliery in Australian waters and the first to import goods such as rum, sugar and coffee into New South Wales. The firm had a Melbourne office in the early 1900s, selling and distributing coal throughout Victoria, which likely included the Port of Warrnambool, which opened in 1890. The nameplates are likely to have originated from the Melbourne location.Brass Entrance Name Plate, one of a pair. Eight holes are formed through the plate; one in each corner, and four more holes are within the inscription area. The cast plate has three rows of text with the company’s name and type of business. The plate was owned by James & Alex. Brown. "JAMES & ALEXR. BROWN / COLLIERY PROPRIETORS / & STEAMSHIP OWNERS"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nameplate, james & alexander brown, j & a brown, james & alexr brown, colliery proprietors, steamship owners, ship chandlers, coal mine, coal export, australian import, australian export, newcastle, colliers, coastal trade, steamships

Printed book. Softcover. 172 pages : illustrations, portraits. Citation: The story of Maddingley Brown Coal Pty Ltd: the APM years 1927 to 1989. By Max Emery. Research assistance provided by Margaret Love and Bernice Clarke. Self-published by the author, Eli Waters, Qld., 2023. BMDHS Location: AR/SU4non-fictionA comprehensive history of the operations of the Maddingley Brown Coal company operations in Bacchus Marsh. This work is a detailed account of the workings of the mine and the people who operated it and also a social history of the impact the mine made in the community of Bacchus Marsh. It contains numerous photographs, illustrations, diagrams, charts and reproductions of documents. maddingley brown coal mine, coal mines bacchus marsh region