Rosewood History
The Excelsior Colliery
(formerly Bedworth)
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. ), Tuesday, 23 April 1907, page 8
Coal and Gas.
THE ROSEWOOD LANDS
FAVOURABLE OPINION BY MR. R. A. WEARNE, B.A.
On Thursday last, Mr. R. A. Wearne B.A. (principal of the Ipswich Technical College), Mr. C. C. Currier (an expert who is intereosing himself in the discovery of natural gas on the Glenalvon Estate), and a representative of this journal paid a visit to the Rosewood district, the object being principally to allow Mr. Wearne to make himself acquainted with the geological formation of the country in the vicinity of the spot where natural gas was struck while boring for water on the Glenalvon Estate.
The first locality visited was the site of the Bedworth Colliery, about a mile and a half from the township of Rosewood, in the direction of Ashwell. This is being worked by a Gympie company, who have obtained mining rights from Mesrs. W. Freeman, W. Perram. and W. Yarrow (three paddocks of 80 acres each). Shafts have been sunk on much of the three properties, but the enterprise is as yet in its infancy. What is intended as the main shaft has been sunk to a depth of 103ft, but is now temporary stopped, owing to an in-flow of water. It is intended to put on machinery to cope with this difficulty, and when it has been overcome the company hope to be able to operate on a five-foot seam, the presence of which has already been established at one of the other shafts. The coal is intended for use in the Gympie mines, where small quantities have already been sent, and it is also hoped that there will be a surplus for the open market. Mr. J. W. Butler, a miner with long experience in Gympie and elsewhere, is in charge.
The Glencoe Colliery is in this neighbourhood, but time did not permit of a visit to it. There coal is being raised in considerable quantities: some 70 tons were sent away from the Rosewood railway station on Thursday, and about 80 tons were to be despatched on Saturday last. ‘
The object of visiting the Bedworth Colliery was to establish the connection that existed between the geological formation there and that in the vicinity of the Glenalvon gas-bore, and this was very satisfactorily done. At a depth of 50ft a band of lignite was struck in one of the Bedworth Colliery shafts. Lignite is a sort of “half-way house” between coal and peat. From a geological standpoint the presence of this substance is important, as it is an indication of the possible presence of natural gas and oil. Mr. Wearne collected some specimens for future reference.
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Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. ), Monday 13 February 1911, page 2
A new set of special regulations was issued today, dealing with the management of the following collieries: The Sunrise colliery (Kingsthorpe), the Excelsior colliery (Rosewood), the Dinmore colliery (Dinmore), the Speedwell colliery (Loamside), the South Aberdare colliery (Bundanba), the Dundee colliery (Howard), the Blair Athol, No. 1 (late Wallsend) colliery (Blair Athol), and the Blair Athol No. 2 (late New Hope) colliery (Blair Athol). The regulations prescribe the duties to be carried out by the manager, overman, fireman, wheelers, bottomer, banksman, weigher, engineman, colliers, and other persons engaged in the mines.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday, 27 May 1911, page 14
Some excitement prevails here owing to the likelihood of the Excelsior coalmine being again opened up and fresh developments of a permanent character being made. Mr. W. E. Thomas is now in town selling shares and distributing prospectuses, and is meeting with great success. This mine was closed down some months ago, owing to the difficulty in carting the coal to the railway-line. It is now proposed to sink a shaft almost alongside the Marburg railway, and this will greatly facilitate the proper working of the mine.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich,), Monday 17 July 1911, page 8
The Ipswich and Rosewood Coal and Coke Company, Limited, has been formed for the purpose of working two coal-mine properties, one on the Tivoli line, known as the New Eclipse, and the other at Rosewood, known as the Excelsior.
The Excelsior Mine is situated about one mile from the Rosewood Railway station, and on the Marburg railway extension. A shaft has been sunk on the first seam, which shows about 4ft of coal. The mine has been opened out sufficiently to allow of about 15 men starting work immediately. Suitable widening machinery, as well as chutes, &c., was erected sometime ago, but it is the intention of the company to sink a new shaft close to the Marburg line, and the siding is already being put in. This will bring the present shaft within 400 yards of the siding, and a temporary tram-line will be laid so as to facilitate the handling of the coal, and the placing of it in the trucks at the new siding during development work, sinking new shaft, and connect with old workings to comply with the regulations for air, &c. Two other known seams exist in the property, one about 45ft below the present one being worked, and the other about 200ft below. It is believed, however, that several seams exist below these, and the company will, no doubt, take steps to prove this later on. The thorough development and proper working of this mine will (it is hoped) prove Rosewood to be a permanent and large district for coal, which will mean a great deal to all business people and farmers in the district. The area of the Excelsior property is 228 acres, and it is held under the usual coal lease conditions on a royalty from Messrs. C. Perrin, C. and G. Urry, and T. Harding.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Tuesday 8 August 1911, page 4
Thel Excelsior Pit started operations today. The number of men at present employed is small, but, as the pit is opened up, employment will be found for a much larger number.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Wednesday, 23 August 1911, page 6
Work has been again resumed in the Excelsior colliery (late Bedworth), at Rosewood, and it is possible now that the Rosewood-Marburg branch of railway is approaching completion, that greater expansion will follow.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Friday 2 February 1912, page 6
THE ROSEWOOD MINERS. On Wednesday (writes our Rosewood correspondent) a representative from the Glencoe Colliery was present at the mass meeting of miners at Bundanba. After his return a meeting was held, and the Glencoe miners decided that they would join with the Bundanba men in going out on strike. The miners working at the Excelsior Colliery are also out, although I understand they do not belong to the Miners’ Union.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich), Wednesday, 26 June 1912, page 6
EXCELSIOR- ROSEWOOD COLLIERY.
Leaving “Glencoe,” my steps were directed towards the above-named colliery. A finger-post directs you “To Marburg, Minden, and Tallegalla.” A hundred yards along this thoroughfare and one catches a glimpse of the loading-stage of the Excelsior-Rosewood Colliery. Instead of the colliery itself being, as its first name indicates, “higher up,” the site of the coal producing centre is “lower down” about a quarter of a mile on the fringe of a brigalow scrub.
The loading stage is connected with the Marburg branch line by a short siding, some 30 chains in length. This colliery is situated on Mr. A. Perrem’s property, and it is now being worked by the Ipswich and Rosewood Coal and Coke Company. Mr. F. D’Arcy is the deputy-manager, Mr. H. Harris, who is well and favourably known in the coal trade throughout this district, being the directing, or general, manager, and Mr. Carl Knudsen the registered secretary.
This colliery, too, is very prettily surrounded by admirable pastoral scenery. The work now being done is mostly of a developmental nature, and the employees are engaged below in driving for another seam, the existence of which, of course, has been proved. The shaft is sunk to the depth of 75ft, where a 4ft seam is now being worked, and small orders (about 10 tons a day being raised) for the fuel are executed and conveyed to the chutes alongside the siding by steam haulage, an engine being erected under the loading- stage, and to reach it the waggons have a somewhat elevated journey.
So far as the quality of the coal is concerned, it is well spoken of, but the chief drawback to this colliery, which was opened up some five years ago by the Bedworth Colliery Syndicate, were the hardships encountered in getting the coal to the Rosewood railway station, especially during wet weather. Horses and drays, as well as the drivers, then had “merry” (or would it be more correct to say “muddy”) times. The scene is changed! The “iron horse” is now requisitioned to carry the product un earthed from its resting place to distant centres.
At a more recent period, a company of working miners (with Mr. George Duck, of Dinmore, as manager) tried to move things along at the Excelsior Colliery, but the difficulty experienced in getting their coal to market (with a very small capital at their command) compelled them to withdraw from their undertakings. With the advent of railway facilities, however the prospects of the success of the Excelsior Colliery are much brighter. Nine hands are constantly engaged, and the recently-formed company (comprising Ipswich, Rosewood, and Brisbane residents) have acquired the mineral rights of several adjoining farms namely, those of Messrs. T. Harding and C. and G. Urry.
First-class machinery is erected at the pit-head, and there is a fine air-shaft sunk to the workings. Mr. D’Arcy has been connected with this colliery, more or less, since it was first sunk, and he states that there is a large area of good coal to work upon; so that the new company should now have every thing in their favour for a prosperous future.
Returning to Rosewood, I observed a strange sight. In the distance, in front of me, I perceived, a “Rising Sun” (hotel) over looking John-street, and at the rear of me (at a greater distance) was a setting sun! From this particular observation, on a rise, Rosewood presents a most attractive panoramic picture.
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Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Saturday 3 August 1912, page 4
A fire occurred at the Excelsior Colliery early this morning (our Rosewood correspondent advised last night), where-by the engine shed and part of the machinery were destroyed. The origin of the fire is a mystery.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday 3 October 1913, page 7
THE. EXCELSIOR-ROSEWOOD COLLIERY.
This colliery has been closed down, and all the machinery and wood-work are being dismantled.
© Jane Schy, 2025