Clydebank Colliery

Rosewood History

Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld), Wednesday 7 March 1928, page 1

DISPUTE AT CLYDEBANK
At Clydebank Colliery there was adispute over the placing of men on account of their places, having finished, and claims for working in the wet. Finally, it was agreed by the manager that be would carry out the cavilling rules regarding the putting up of men as the places finished, and also that he would pay the wet work rate to date and have the roads drained. He also promised the men to put ashes on the roads so that they would be dry in future.

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Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld), Tuesday 27 November 1928, page 1

CONDITIONS AT MINES.
Mr. Martin Miller, miners’ assistant check Inspector, reports for the week ended November 24, 1928.
At No. 1 and No. 2 tunnels of Clydebank Colliery, conditions were as follow:—At No. 1 tunnel, the temperature varied. from 79 degrees to 78 degress to 78 degrees to 76 degrees, but the ventilation was sluggish, due to the falling in of the return airway. A connection was about to be put through to the bottom of the tunnel, which should, restore thoe return airway, and also make a second outlet from the working places. The timbering was well attended to. At No. 2 tunnel the ventilation was very fair and the temperature, registered from 75 degrees to 72 degrees to 75 degrees to 70 degrees. The timbering and other safety conditions were receiving careful attention.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday 22 November 1930, page 8

The new Clydebank tunnel which is being driven on the lease formerly held by the Gowrie Fern Colliery Company is down a distance of 40 yards and securely timbered. Inspector Haggerty reports. A shaft has also been sunk on to the coal seam, in readiness to connect with the tunnel, for the ventilation of the mine. It is expected that this mine will be producing coal in the courseof another six weeks.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Wednesday 3 September 1930, page 2

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Monday 22 December 1930, page 6

“WE WILL TRY.”
CLYDEBANK MINERS.
DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS ENTERTAINED.
To bring into more cordial relationship the directors, managers, and employees of the Clydebank Collery, the men arranged a social function for Saturday night. It was a happy gathering, characterised only by sincere good feeling and jollity. Nearly all the men attended, and had as their guests two of the three directors (Messrs. H. Walker, Chairman, and T. Walker), and the two Managers (Messrs. W. Brown and W. Lancaster). The Secretary of the Clydebank branch of the Queensland Colliery Employees’ Union (Mr. C. Brennan) presided.

Explaining the purpose of the gathering, the Chairman said it appeared to him something was wrong with the coal industry internally. Proprietors, managers, and men seemed to allow distance to creep between them. Be cause the men at the mine had realised this they made that gesture that night with a view to bringing the three sections at the mine into closer relationship. The men had to bear a lot of the blame, for they knew they had good directors and managers. When the function was being arranged he spoke to the directors, and the fact that they hailed the proposal with delight gave him heart. In conclusion, he expressed a hope that the holding of re-unions would not be allowed to end there; and that next time the directors and managers would be “in with them” in the arranging. “If the men take away the spirit which is fostered by this gathering, some good must come,” he added.

“The coal trade is having a bad time,” said Mr. B. Rutherford, in proposing “The Coal Industry.” After tracing its development over hundreds of years, he claimed that the production of coal was second only to primary production in world importance. Even then articles used in the most important pursuit were dependent upon the fuel for manufacture. Eighteen years ago production from the world’s mines was 1,250,000,000 tons; but, he believed, it was even greater today despite the competition from oil.

“DOWN TO ZERO.”
Mr. H. Walker, responding, said: “We all know the state in which the industry is today. It is about down to zero so far as Queensland is concerned. We are supplying practically no shipping coal, which is a severe drawback, meaning that we really are dependent upon local business, which can consume only a third of the production of which the mines are capable. It follows that competition is keen.” For this he did not blame the owners, he added. To get business they had to sell at considerably reduced rates. The absence of a market for coal also was reflected in the shortness of time the men worked. “I thank you for giving me an opportunity to be here.” he said. “I was proud to think that the men at Clyde bank were willing and considerate enough to invite me to attend as a director, and without hesitation I accepted.”

So far as the men’s industry was concerned, he had no complaint, for they worked well. Nevertheless, he appealed to them to work in with the management. It was hard to keep the trade they had because of the competition, but by cooperation, and the keeping of clean, marketable coal, they could achieve their aim. No complaints had been made about the men by the managers. “lf it had not been or our directors, we would not have had the trade we secured this year.” said Mr. Brown, briefly voicing a tribute to the directorate when proposing its members’ health. It was the concern of the heads to find the coal, and the men’s job was to get it out.

SOMETHING FOR COMMUNITY.
Responding, Mr. T. Walker expressed appreciation of the men’s tribute. That emphasised the fact that the employees were pulling together with the management, which was in the best interests of the concern. They also were appreciative of the spirit which prompted the arrangement of the gathering. Were they held annually the profit would be great. In the history of the industry a time never was when co-operation between the employer and the employee was so vitally needed. The company had to face keen competition; and, Mr. Walker, asserted, some of the owners were not too scrupulous in the methods they adopted. If the Clydebank men were not able to produce coal of first quality, and at a price equal to the others, they would have to go down. That had to be avoided. In the five years’ life of the concern £26,000 had been paid in wages, therefore the directors flattered themselves for having done something for the community. He trusted that co-operation would continue at the colliery.

The Chairman proposed the health of the managers. “We have two of the finest men in the district at the head of us,” he said. Mr. Brown responded, evoking storms of laughter with his references to daily experiences and to exchanges of petty personal abuse at the pit. “We have had a few disputes in our time,” he said; “but we have fixed them up in the tin shed.” The men, he said, were a good lot.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr. Lancaster, who proposed the toast, “The Employees.” He trusted that the present happy relationship would continue to exist. This was needed if trade were to be retained. “We have a product second to none in the district if we keep it clean,” he added.

“The toast is very much appreciated,” said Mr. H. Bernett, in responding. “We men should try to do our best at Clydebank, not for ourselves, but for the whole concern-management and the colliery.” (Applause.) “We will try, and will show that, if our mine is small in size, it is great in activity.’

GIFTS TO MANAGERS.
The most pleasing item of the night was the presentation of pairs of sleeve links to the Managers by the directors. Mr. T. Walker said the spirit manifest that night brought to them re alisation of the excellent efforts of the Managers. Making the presentation, the Chairman of the directorate said he and his colleagues were proud of the way the Managers and the men co-operated. Much unnecessary work was avoided.

Messrs. Lancaster and Brown responded.

The toast of “The Press” was proposed by Mr. Rutherford, “The Coal Carter” (Mr. A. Raabe) was submitted by the Chairman, and “The Artists” by Mr. J. Brown.

An entertaining programme of music and recitations was provided by Messrs. P. Wall. Lex. Campbell. E. Day, and H. Walker.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday, 14 February 1931, page 6

MINERS’ FINE SPIRIT.
During the recent heavy rain the Clydebank Colliery at Walloon became flooded. The miners engaged therein immediately held a meeting unknown to the directorate, and decided to de-water the mine at no cost to the proprietors. Within three days the water was got out of the mine. Needless to say the prompt, praise-worthy action of the miners is very keenly appreciated by the directorate.

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Brisbane Courier (Qld), Thursday 23 July 1931, page 14

To Reopen. – The old Clydebank Colliery is to be reopened by a number of miners, and will be known as The Good Hope Colliery.

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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW ), Monday 2 November 1931, page 6

Operations in Queensland
A party of miners have reopened the old Clydebank tunnel, and in future this place will be known as the Good Hope Colliery. Another party has been prospecting near Normanton Colliery, in the Rosewood district, and has driven a tunnel down to a fair seam of coal. Preparations are being made to put the coal on the market, and in future this place will be known an Ardarth Colliery.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Friday 6 October 1933, page 9

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday 11 November 1933, page 8

CURRENT TOPICS. MINING APPLICATION.
Before Mr. W. Simpson, P.M., in the Mining Warden’s Court yesterday, an application for a mining lease on behalf of Clydebank Collieries, Pty., Ltd., was granted. Mr. W. E. Hargreaves appeared on behalf of the company. The application was for the lease of 9a. 1r. 22p., part of a Government road in the County of Churchill, parish of Walloon.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Saturday, 14 January 1939, Page 14

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Saturday, 21 January 1939, Page 14

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Wednesday, 1 February 1939, page 6

CLYDEBANK COLLIERY SALE.
After first producing coal in April, 1931, and closing down in May last year, the Clydebank Colliery Co., Ltd., property, about a mile from the Walloon railway station, was offered at auction yesterday. No bid for the freehold was forthcoming from the good attendance of buyers, but competition was animated for the plant, which was disposed of in separate lots, buyers represented several colliery concerns operating in this district. Mr. E. H. Meyers, of Messrs. Jackson and Meyers, reported satisfactory figures were obtained.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Saturday 9 December 1939, page 11