Oakleigh Colliery

Rosewood History

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday, 1 June 1951, page 4

SUBSIDENCE AT ROSEWOOD A witness in the Mining Warden’s Court yesterday told Mr. C. Innes, Acting Warden that mining operations had caused subsidences in the Rosewood district. The Court was hearing an application by George Henry Rule and Robert Inglis Rule, trading as Oaklelgh Collieries for a lease to mine coal on Perry’s Knob.

The applicants were represented by Mr. P. B. Fallu (Messrs. Dale and Fallu).

Raymond George Auld, manager and secretary of the Oakleigh Colliery, said the workings would be at least 130ft. under buildings owned by John William Evans. He said he was prepared to leave a solid block of coal under Evans’s buildings, and, if necessary, reserve an area of one acre around his house and buildings.

Replying to Mr. Evans, witness said the works were 60 to 70 ft. deep near H. W. Harding’s cowballs. He admitted there was subsidence where there had been total extraction, but said no damage had been done.

John William Evans, in evidence, asked that an area of three acres of coal be left in a block surrounding his house and buildings. He said there had been subsidence in the district where there were mines. He had seen a subsidence in Harding’s cowyard, and the concrete had cracked. He claimed that land in that locality must be shifting, because he could see more of Rosewood over the hill than he used to see. He said there had been several slips during the last rain. Acres of land had slipped where there were no mines underneath.

Mr. Innes recommended the application for approval.

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