Rosewood History
The Roughrigg Colliery
The following was complied with information from Greg Cochrane, grandson of Charles Cochrane.
Charles Cochrane was born 11th Apr 1882 at Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the son of Alexander Cochrane and Mary Curran. In 1902 he married Agnes Inverity Stewart Kelso in the Avonbridge Manse, Falkirk, Scotland. Agnes was born18th March, 1886 at Slamannan, Stirlingshire and was the daughter of James Holmes Kelso and Jane Stewart.
Charles woked as a miner at the Roughrigg Colliery in Avonbridge, a small village which lies within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. Historically it was within county of Stirlingshire.
Charles and Agnes arrived at Brisbane, Queensland from Liverpool on 23rd October 1911 per the Ayrshire, accompanied by their three children Mary, Violet and James.
Charles found work at the Caledonian Mine at Walloon and rode his horse to work every day for several years. In his spare time he would go prospecting on the other side of the hill and he ultimately came up with a commercial seam of coal.
In 1913 Charles bought land at Perry’s Knob where he began farming. His farm was called Hillcrest Farm. He sold his first coal in 1922.
In July 1926, Charles successfully applied to the Rosewood Shire Council for the use of the reserve in front of C. Bundrock’s (Portion 537) for coal mining purposes. The reserve was actually a road used only by one person so there were no objections. (Now Cochrane’s Road, Tallegalla)
Here Charles opened the Roughrigg Colliery, so named after the mine he worked in back in Scotland.
When No 1 opened, miners would come from Ipswich and stay the week and go home on weekends. One of these was a Scottish man. After work when the men were all cleaned up, he would stand and play the bagpipes.
Eventually Charles expanded and there were ultimately 7 tunnels; Nos 1 to 7, the latter closing in 1969.
Roughrigg No 3 was the mainstay mine. It had a big pithead and a steam engine to drive the winch. Charles bought the boiler from the Marburg Butter Factory when it closed down. Prior to that a whim and a horse was used to winch the coal up. Eventually they used an electric winch.
Tom Deas snr was mine Manager at Smithfield (across the Bremer River) and came to Roughrigg as Manager of No 3. He was Manager of No 6 and No 7 until James Cochrane took over in 1956.
In 1958 the first coal washing plant was erected at Roughrigg No 7 on the Marburg Rosewood Road.
Charles and Agnes Cochrane died in 1956 and 1968 resp. and are interred at the Tallegalla Cemetery.
A number of members of the Cochrane family worked as coal miners. Two sons of Charles and Agnes work at the Roughrigg Colliery.
1. James Cochrane. James took over as Manager in 1956.
Sons of James Cochrane: Donald James Cochrane – Manager at Roughrigg and Robert Cochrane – Underground Manager at Roughrigg
2. Robert Cochrane b. 1930 Brisbane worked at Roughrigg until it closed.
Son of Robert Cochrane: Gregory Malcom Cochrane (Fitter). 1976-1978 – Normanton Colliery; 1979-Oakleigh Colliery (Under Fitter); New Hope Colliery; Jeebropilly Mine – open cut.
Greg’s son Tyrone Cochrane worked at the Jeebropilly Mine. The Last Ipswich Coal Miner – How the Roughrigg Mine opened on the northern slope of Perry’s Knob. – Ipswich First
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954), Friday 23 July 1926, page 1
MINING VENTURE. Charles Cochrane, Tallegalla, asked for the use of the reserve in front of Bundrock’s for coal mining purposes. W. Rohl and R. H. G. Bundrock advised that they would not object to the proposal. Cr. Schumann thought no objection should be offered, as the reserve actually was a road used only by one person. He moved that the application be granted. The motion was seconded by Cr. Heiner and carried.
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Thursday 17 March 1927, page 7
Messrs. C. Cochrane wrote, for his partners and himself, agreeing to the councils terms of £50 and culvert pipes supplied for the improvement of the road to their mine at Tallegalla. They were ready to go on with the work for this amount.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Wednesday 2 November 1927, page 11
TENDERS are invited for the CARTAGE OF COAL from Roughrigg Colliery to Birru Siding, on Marburg line. Tenders close On SATURDAY, November 5, with Manager, Roughrigg. Colliery, Marburg line.
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Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld), Tuesday 13 December 1927, page 1
A visit was made to Mountain Ash, Roughrigg collieries. It was found that Roughrigg and Mountain Ash were not working owing to the bad state of tho roads, over which they have to cart their coal to the railway.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Wednesday 18 January 1933, page 2
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Esk Record and Upper Brisbane River Advertiser (Qld. : 1931 – 1942) Saturday, 25 April 1936, page 4
Mr. Chas. Cochrane, coal mine proprietor, of Marburg, who with his wife, three adult daughters, four children, his sister-in-law and Mrs. Janet Cochrane, left by the Moreton Bay last Saturday on a holiday visit to Scotland.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954), Wednesday, 10 July 1946, page 2
Railways Take Coal from Rosewood
About 120 tons of coal were removed by rail from the siding near Roughrigg Colliery yesterday, and its transport to and through Ipswich was watched by details of Ipswich police. “We didn’t expect any trouble,” Inspector D. Mahony, Ipswich Police Chief, said yesterday, but we were there just in case.” Roughrigg miners had stated that they would get the coal away in spite of the ban placed on it by the State Executive of the Locomotive Engine-drivers’ Union, but they were not called on to use the two trucks which they had ready. Seventeen full coal hoppers from this colliery in the Rosewood area passed through to Brisbane with about seven tons to the hopper.
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Bundaberg News-Mail (Qld. : 1942 – 1961), Thursday 12 May 1955, page 1
MINER WON £30,000
BRISBANE, Wednesday. — Winner of the first prize of £30,000 in the special Mothers’ Day Casket, Edward Bunning, 34, of Marburg, was working underground in a coal mine when told of his win.
A former farmer and labourer, Bunning has been getting about £17 a week for the past three years at the Roughrigg colliery between Marburg and Rosewood.
Bunning left the colliery almost immediately after he had been told of his win. Mine manager, Mr.Tom Deas, said he had not given notice, “But he’d be a fool if he didn’t.” he added.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Wednesday 5 October 1938, page 6
COAL AT MARBURG. STILL BEING HEWN.
Transport Union Acts.
Information that coal Is being mined at Roughrlgg, in the Marburg dlstrict, has resulted in action by the Queensland Colliery Employees’ Union to prevent this breaching of its plans to enforce the miners claims by a stoppage in production.
The Secretary of the union (Mr. A. E. Phillips) said yesterday that the coal being hewn from Roughrigg by the owning group was being transported to Brisbane by truck. The drivers had been traced, and in consequence the Amalgamated Road. Transport Union had been approached with a request that it should assist the Q.C.E.U. by taking action to stop the handling of the coal. The A.R.T.U. had agreed, and in consequence the owners of the trucks were to be informed that the drivers would be taken off the job.
Drivers of trucks taking coal away from other collieries also have been pursuaded in the past few days to desist.
Leaders of the Q.C.E.U. nevertheless are aware that the loading and transport of coal still is proceeding in some quarters; and measures are being taken to deal with the parties responsible. The picket system now has been extended, to prevent the delivery of supplies from Roughrigg, Ideal, and Hampstead mines. From the last two, the union believes, spoil of very low fuel value still is being transported for factory use.
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Friday 7 October 1938, page 7
PICKET INCIDENTS. MINERS MET WITH GUNS.
Truck Emptied at Roadside.
With industry feeling the coal shortage more acutely every day, the miners found it necessary to tighten up their picketing to prevent increasing attempts to secure supplies from collieries by road transport. Incidents in consequence became more frequent, with the most sensational an occasion when pickets at one pit allegedly were confronted with firearms.
Though the miners believed they had effectively dealt with attempts to take coal away from the Roughrigg Colliery at Marburg, it was reported yesterday that trucks had begun to ply between Brisbane and two mines in the Lanefield area. In consequence the squad of pickets in the Rosewood district had been heavily reinforced. Involving in the cases of three mines the maintenance of watches through the 24 hours each day.
It was reported from this area yesterday that very early one morning when the pickets intervened ….. attempt to take away coal, firearms were produced in an endeavour to intimidate them. Yesterday morning a picket, informed that an empty truck had passed through Rosewood, heading for the coalfield, distributed it self over the roads leading back to Ipswich. Some time later, on a route that avoided the township, the men hailed a driver taking a full load of coal away. When he stopped the pickets ordered him to take the coal back, but he refused. Finally he emptied the fuel on the roadside after the miners had informed him that if he did not unload voluntarily, they would do it for him. This incident occurred on the outskirts of Rosewood.
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Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), Thursday 11 April 1940, page 13
COAL STRIKE
Picketing at Rosewood is “very, very dead” – IPSWICH, April 11.
There was no picketing of Rosewood mines this morning. “Like Julius Caesar it’s very very dead,” commented Sergeant R. Argus at the Roughrigg Colliery this morning. “We have not seen a sign of a picket since Monday afternoon.” The Roughrigg Colliery was working at full pressure this morning and several truck loads of coal hewn at the mine left there for an unknown destination. Each truck load is being escorted by police under the control of Sergeant Argus. “We take the trucks as far as the end of the rough road and then return,” Sergeant Argus stated. “Not one picket has been sighted and not a single word has been said to any truck driver.”
When Mr. C. Cochrane (owner of the Roughrigg Colliery) was asked this morning whether the workers in his mine would present themselves before the Committee of Management of the Queensland Colliery Employees’ Union as had been reported, he dismissed the idea with a laugh, and said: “Do you think it likely.”
There is no sign of antagonism towards these miners in Rosewood, and apart from being escorted to a place of safety by the police at night, they are leading their normal lives.
Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. ), Thursday, 11 April 1940, page 9
“Somebody’s Imagination must be playing a trick with them. We have not seen a picket since Sunday afternoon,” said Sergeant B. Argus, at Ipswich today, commenting on the report that four miners, who kept an all night vigil about a mile from Roughrigg colliery on Monday night, had been molested by police. Sergeant Argus, who is in charge of the police flying patrol stationed at Marburg, said that since the flying gang was at the mine on Monday they had not sighted a single picket. The police did not interfere with pickets of any description. “We were on duty at the mine, but nothing untoward occurred. In fact, since Monday things have been quiet,” he said
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Longreach Leader (Qld), Saturday, 13 April 1940, page 18
The strenuous efforts by a flying squad of miners prevented the resumption of work at all except one of the Rosewood Collieries on Monday. Men at the Roughrigg mine near Marburg, refused to come out, and the president of the Queensland Collieries Employees’ Union told the men assembled outside the pit head, that the Union would ask the Transport Union to see that coal was not carried from the mine.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Thursday 3 January 1946, page 5
APPLICATION FOR COAL LEASE.
In the Warden’s Court yesterday afternoon, an application by Charles Cochrane and Agnes Cochrane, trading as Roughrigg Colliery, for a mineral coal lease. No. 196 Ipswich, was adjourned to January 22, 1946, awaiting a reply from the Rosewood Shire Council. Evidence was given by James Cochrane, mine underground foreman, residing at Tallegalla, who was authorised agent for the applicants In the matter. He stated that he had, in the company’s interests, marked out the land mentioned in the application on November 21, 1945, in accordance with the regulations. He had also lodged the application In the Warden’s office on the same date, and posted two copies of the certificate of application in the Warden’s office, he had caused a copy to he advertised in the “Queensland Times,” on November 23, 1945, and he had sent a copy to the Rosewood Shire Council. Applicants were the sub-lesees of a lease of the adjacent land. The applicants were the owners of No. 615. Mr. H. V. Gibbs (Messers. Walker and Walker) appeared on behalf of the applicants.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Saturday 21 April 1951, page 8
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Tuesday 29 May 1951, page 7
COAL MINING APPLICATION
In the Mining Warden’s Court yesterday, before Mr. Chas. Innes, Acting Mining Warden, application was made by Charles Cochrane and Agnes Cochrane, trading as Roughrigg Colliery, for coal mining lease No. 394, relative to private land at Marburg. Mr. H. V. Gibbs (Messrs. Walker and Walker) appeared for the applicants. In respect of a letter from the Moreton Shire Council Mr. Gibbs stated that no roads had been applied for in the application. Documents showing that the statutory requirements had been complied with were tendered. No objections were lodged. The application was recommended for approval, subject to survey; underground mining operations to be carried out at a depth of not less than 60 feet from the lowest part of the surface.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Friday 12 June 1953, page 6
Applications for Coal Mining Leases 439 and 441 were made by the firm of Roughrigg Colliery in the Mining Warden’s Court yesterday. Mr. H. V. Gibbs appeared for the applicants, and evidence was given by Mr. J. Cochrane, a member of the firm, in support of the applications.The Warden recommended the leases for approval, subject to survey.
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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld4), Wednesday, 17 June 1953, page 2
Marburg Truck- Train Smash
INJURED MEN HELPED FROM CRUSHED TRUCK CABIN
The crew of a coal train which collided with a truck at Marburg early yesterday morning, ran to the wrecked vehicle to find the two occupants injured and badly shocked. The rescuers took some time extricating the men from the crushed cabin.
The railmen told investigating police, that although the emergency brakes were applied the train skidded on frost-covered rails and forced the track along the rail way lines for more than 50ft.
The injured men are Robert Ccchrane (24), of Marburg, the driver of the truck, and his passenger, August Kleve (62), of Rosewood. Both were admitted to the Ipswich General Hospital. Cochrane suffered head injuries, a possible fracture of the right elbow, abrasions to the leg, and shock; and Kleve is receiving treatment for head injuries, a probable fracture of the skull, fractured ribs, lacerated left ear, and shock.
The train crew Reg. Barton (guard), of Rex Street, Ipswich, Robert Cathcart (driver) 67 Tiger Street, West Ipswich, and Colin Hurley (fireman), Rowland Terrace. Ipswich-said that after the train stopped they raced to the truck to aid the occupants but had some trouble getting them out of the wreckage.
The railmen were later assisted by miners of the nearby Roughrigg Colliery.
Train Delayed The train was delayed over an hour while railway workmen cleared the line. Mr. Harold Qualischefski, who has a farm directly opposite the Malabar crossing where the accident occurred, brought a tractor from his cultivation to drag the truck from the lines after the injured men had been released. Rosewood Ambulance was summoned and first aid given before Kleve and Cochrane were transported to Ipswich for further attention.
Marburg police said that it was possible that a dip in the road approaching the Malabar crossing obscured the vision of the truck driver and he was unable to see the coal train. Police were told that the train driver had sounded his whistle. The truck, which as the property of the Roughrigg mine owners, was hauling a timber jinker. The truck was extensively damaged. At midnight, hospital authorities reported that the condition of both men was “satisfactory.”
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Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette (Qld), Thursday 12 May 1955, page 7
MINER WINS FIRST PRIZE IN CASKET
BRISBANE, Wednesday. — Winner of the first prize of £30,000 in the special Mother’s Day casket, Edward Bunning (34) of Marburg. was working underground in a coal mine when told of his win. A former farmer and labourer, Bunning has been getting about £17 a week, for the past three years at the Roughrigg Colliery, between Marburg and Rosewood.
© Jane Schy, 2025