Wongawilli - Timeline


1906 Coal mine to be opened at Wongawilli, 3 1/2 miles from Dapto Railway Station and 7 miles from Wollongong.
1910 40 horses and 10 bullocks with 8 drays were drawing coal to Dapto Station 40 tons of coal a day was being produced
 1916 Wongawilli mine was opened and developed by G & C Hoskins Limited to suppy coke to Lithgow. 150 tons at grass face. A railway to transport the coke was needed. Hoskins sought a railway link from Wongawilli
 1916 The Railway to Wongawilli was being built and excavations for the coke works were proceeding
 1917 Men arrived to work at the Wongawilli mine. 20 out of 40 coke ovens were completed and in use. The incline to the colliery was also ready for use.
 1918 Wongawilli sent 1600 tons of coke from the coke works, a crusher was installed to crush coal for coking.
 1922 After a closure whilst the works were improved, there were now 52 ovens available. Direct Dapto to mine transport was required and a school needed.
 1923 The coke trade was brisk with 27 trucks to Lithgow. 3 coal washing machines were installed and a direct road to Dapto was needed.
 1925 An Epsicopalian Church Hall was erected 'a few years ago' close to the mine
 1927 Wongawilli Public School was opened in the Church Hall and the Wongawilli Parents and Citizens Association formed.
 1927 Additional 25 coke ovens were operational making 105
 1928 Wongawilli Public School was opened by W. Davies ex. M.L.A.
 1939 Mount Pleasant Loco No. 2. to Wongawilli Coke Ovens
 1943 Mount Pleasant Loco No. 1. to Wongawilli Coke Ovens
 1951 85 ton AIS electric diesel loco hauls load from Wongawilli to steel works
 1976 Wongawilli Public School Closed
 1993 Wongawilli Colliery was consolidated with Kemira and Nebo mines to become the Elouera Colliery officially opened on 1 February 1993.
 2004 Proposal to turn Elouera Colliery into a tourist coalmine after its planned closure.
 2005 BHP Billiton stops production at Elouera in June. In October contract miner Delta begins extraction of coal under an agreement with BHP Billiton.
2005  Wongawilli suburb boundaries finalised and gazetted by the Geographical Names Board.
 2007 BHP Billiton sells Elouera Colliery to Gujaret NRE. Gujaret NRE re-christens the Elouera mine as the NRE Wongawilli Colliery.
 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 


Last Modified: 5/07/2008
 

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