Rosewood History

The Caledonian Colliery

 

Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Friday 29 May 1908, page 19

CALEDONIAN  ESTATE.
The Caledonian colliery, owned by Mr. W. R Black, is situated at Walloon, about eight miles east of Ipswich, and is connected by the main Southern Railway by a siding a mile in length. It was first opened up about twenty years ago, and was worked for a long time bv Captain Rea. About six years ago Mr. Black purchased it, and has since worked it. Only one seam has been operated on, and that averages 3ft 6in. in height, giving about 4000 tonsto the acre or about 2,000,000 tons for the whole estate. On an adjoinrng property a bigger seam known as the old Walloon, is being worked, and it is intended to put down bores on the Caledonian Estate to ascertain if it extends through that property also, underlying the seam at present being worked.

The Caledonian coal is especially suited for gas makimg, and is also sought after for household requirements. The Government Analyst gives the following analysis of it:  Moisture .48, volatile hydrocarbons 46.45, fixed carbons 43.68, ash 9.45, sulphur nil. The manager of the Brisbane Gas Company in a letter says: “I have never made an exact test of the Walloon coal you supply to my company. My expeirence with it during the past sixteen years leads me to believe the make of gas to be from 11,000 to 12,200 cubic feet per ton of coal, the quality of gss, about twenty-one or twenty- two candles, and from 8cwt to 9cwt. of very fair coke per ten. The coke is very suitable for household purposes. Some time ago I used shale for enriching, but I had to return to Walloon again. I consider there is a saving of from 50 to 60 q in using Walloon as an enricher. It is a clean coal, and not liable to fracture in transit .”

In working the mine there has been no introduction of special machinery as in the big seam at the Blackheath, and all the mining is done by the usual mining methods. The engines and surface works are of the customary servicable type. As much as 180 tons has been hauled up the shaft (176ft) in a day, but the average output is 75 of 80 tons.

Mr. A. Boughen is the manager, and there are about thirty men on the paysheet.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Saturday, 8 October 1910, page 6

The  Coal Industry in the Rosewood Electorate
(By Our Special Reporter.)
On Tuesday morning last I visited both the Caledonian Colliery, at Walloon, and the Glencoe Colliery, at Rosewood and I was indebted to Mr. Harold Lebeter, of Walloon, for driving me round  those collieries.

THE CALEDONIAN COLLIERY, WALLOON.
This coal property, comprising 1000 acres freehold, is owned by the Caledonian Company, Limited, the subscribers being those I have already mentioned in connection with the Abermain and Blackheath Collieries, and it is styled the “A.B.C. Mines,” from the initial letter of the respective properties. 

The Caledonian Colliery was originally opened up by the late Capt. Rea some 25 years ago, and he worked it himself for a long time. Then Mr. John Wright, of Tivoli, leased the mine, subsequently being joined in partnership by Mr. W. R. Black. The latter, however, purchased the property between seven and eight years ago, and has worked it ever since. Mr. Arthur Boughen is the manager. The workings are now carried on in a new tunnel No. 2, driven to a depth of 250 yards, and the mine in connected with the main Toowoomba line by a siding of between 700 and 800 yards in length. The old workings are situated half-a-mile further to the northward of the new tunnel, which, Mr Boughen stated, was sunk about 18 months ago, and from which they have been getting coal only for the past five weeks. All the machinery at the surface is entirely new. There are 25 hands employed, and 70 tons of fuel are raised a day. 

The coal is known as cannel, and is supplied under contract to all the principal gas companies in Queensland namely, at Toowoomba, Ipswich, and Brisbane. It is also in large request by house holders. A coal-train leaves Walloon every morning. 

No. 2 tunnel is driven in a south-westerly direction, and the intention is, at a later date, to connect the underground workings of the new tunnel with those of the old one, where there are two shafts-No. 1: and 2; and No.1 tunnel (sunk by Mr. Black about 16 years ago), is also situated on the block of land originally operated on. All the surface machinery and top equipment are left intact with the view of re-opening those workings if necessary.

It is the intention of the newly formed company to shortly introduce more up-to-date appliances in connection with the working of the Caledonian Collieries. The haulage power used at present is steam. 

The Caledonian Colliery coal was awarded a diploma and a gold medal for its superior quality at the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908. 

Mr. W. R. Black, by-the-way, is at present in the old country, combining business with pleasure. Unfortunately, however, he has been laid up with an attack of appendicitis, but the latest information in regard to his health is to the effect that it has improved. 

The manager (Mr. Arthur Boughen) is native of Ipswich (Churchill), and his father (Mr. Robt. Boughen), is an old resident of this State, having arrrived in Moreton Bay in the ship Hastings in 1857. He is also one of the pioneers of the Rosewood Scrub. Mr. A. Boughen was a member of the Ipswich F company of volunteers 25 years ago, after which he became attached to the Ipswich Mounted Infantry (C Company); altogether he served 13 years in the defence force. He has worked 18 years at the Caledonian Colliery, and has occupied this present position for six years, previous to which he acted as deputy-manager.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Friday 13 June 1924, page 6

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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, as follows.

At Caledonian Colliery the ventilation throughout the mine was veryf air. It was well conducted round the working faces. The temperature varied from 78 degrees to 76. degrees, and 72 degrees to 69 degrees. The timbering and general safety were well attended to.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Saturday 29 March 1929, page 14

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Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld)  Friday 3 October 1930, page 8

MR. W. R. BLACK DEAD.
BRISBANE, Thursday.
Queensland’s greatest philanthropist, Mr. W. R. Black, who had given £200,000 to charity, died this morning. He was responsible for the establishment of six homes for children and for the poor about Brisbane and was the founder and helper of many churches and schools throughout Australia and in other parts of the world.

The late Mr. Black was born in Ireland in 1850 and arrived in Mary borough in 1880. He came to Brisbane in 1885 and commenced business an a coal merchant. Under his able guidance, the business flourished until It became one of the biggest of its kind in the city.

Mr. Black bought several collieries in the Ipswich district and became the largest colliery owner in Queensland. He gave freely to every worthy cause and all charitable organisations will be poorer for his loss.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Tuesday 12 September 1944, page 5

ROSEWOOD MINING APPLICATION
In the Mining Warden’s Court yesterday, before Mr. R. H. Allen, an application was made by Halls Ltd. for Mining Lease (Coal) No. 187, constituting part of John street, situated in Rosewood.

Mr. M. P. Pender (Messrs. Pender and Pender) appeared for the applicant company.

John Potts, Matthew-street. Rosewood, mine manager and agent for Halls Ltd., the applicant company, said the application was lodged on August 8, 1944, and the position had been marked out with four posts, bearing the necesesay inscription. The lease was required so that coal could be mined under part of Portion 357B, which had been secured. Halls Ltd. would be the only mining people affected by the lease, because they held the property on either side.

Mr. Allen said the application would be recommended for the approval of the Minister for Mines.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Friday 22 June 1951, page 4

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Tuesday, 21 April 1953, page 8

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Saturday 6 June 1953, page 7

An application for a coal mining lease (No. 438) by Caledonian Collieries Pty. Ltd., was recommended for approval by Mr. J. P. Donlevy, S.M., in the Mining Warden’s Court yesterday. The lease, which is for a 21-year term, covers about 34 acres of land at Walloon.

Mr. T. H. Palmer (Messrs. Hargreaves and Palmer) appeared for the company, and tendered a declaration stating that the required formalities had been complied with.

Evidence was given by William Harth, Griffiths Rod, East Ipswich, manager of the company’s mine at Walloon, where mining rights were held over land adjoining the subject property. Mr. Donlevy recommended the application for approval, subject to survey and the usual conditions governing mining under roads, &c.

 

© Jane Schy, 2025