Rosewood History

The Westvale Colliery

Brisbane Courier (Qld), Wednesday 5 December 1928, page 17

At West Vale Colliery a siding will be built to the pit, connecting with the main line in front of Yarrow’s.

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In 1929 the proprietors of Westvale Collieries had a siding 1½ miles in length constructed to their pithead at Lanefield, connecting with the main Southern and Western Line about half way between Rosewood and Lanefield. It was put down under the supervision of Mr. W. M. Haenke (for the collieries) and Inspector Provan (for the railways). Mr. T. Rafter was in charge of the gang of men. It was officially opened by Councillor F. J. W. Eichstadt (chairman of the Rosewood Shire Council) in August. Councillor Gunthorpe (manager of the collieries) said that the construction of the siding meant a solution to their transport difficulties which had been considerably hampered in wet weather. They were often held up for days and even weeks when the roads between the collieries and Rosewood station were impassible.

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Thursday 15 August 1929, page 8

IPSWICH. August 15
ROSEWOOD COAL MINES
The official opening of the railway siding leading to the West Vale Collieries at Rosewood, was performed on Monday. The first output of coal from the West Vale Colliery was in 1924. Since that time the coal has been carted to Rosewood, but owing to the bad condition of the roods in wet weather it was found impossible to keep up orders as required. The proprietors decided to put in a railway siding, the work of which has now been accomplished, and already the colliery’s orders have been doubled. Weather conditions now will not debar the work ot the mine. The line, the length of which is one and a half miles, branches off from the main line, along the road, thence across into Mr. A. Krause’s property up to the mine. The line is capable of carrying the biggest railway engines, and is considered a ffirst-class job.

With the object of thanking the shire council for granting the colliery permission to have the line built aloug the road, and to show appreciation of the assistance received in different ways, the proprietors of West Vale Collieries arranged an official opening and banquet. On the arrival of the train at 1.30 at the mine, Councillor F. J. W. Eichstadt (Chairman of the Rosewood Shire Council), in a brief address, declared the line open. Councillor Eichstadt was introduced hy Mr. M. W. Haenke (West Vale Collieries), whose remarks were supported by Mr. F. Gunthorpe (manager). 

BEST USE OF COAL
An adjournment was made to the Rising Sun Hotel, where a banquet was held. Mr. Eichstadt presided and toasts appropriate to the occasion were honoured. 

Mr. M. W. Haenke (Westvale Colliery) gave an address on the coal industry as it is today, and explained why coal should he used to its full extent. In parts of the world, he said, coal was being used in dust form as fuel, the coal being ground as fine as toilet powder, and blown into furnaces by draught. By that means of firing it proved lo be better fuel than by the ordinary way. The former system, he said, would be that adopted in coming times. Referring to low carbonisation—that is, wheroe a certain amount of gas is taken out — he said this would mean smokeless fuel and the by-products would be taken out of it. That way of using coal meant that more heat units would be got out of it than in the ordinary way. Mr. Haenke instanced improved results obtained in England by this method. 

Councillor Eichstadt said coal was sent way from Rosewood for gas, while Rosewood contained no gas works of its own.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Saturday, 22 July 1933, page 5

A new company took over Ardath Colliery at Lanefleld, and in future this place will be known as Westvale No. 4 Colliery.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld) Wednesday, 13 March 1940, page 9

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Queensland Times (Ipswich), Friday, 18 April 1941, page 5

MINING CONDITIONS. The Mining Warden (Mr. W. Rillie) asked if the conditions of a mineral lease sought by W. L. Haenke and S. M. Dixon at Westvale, were accept able to the council. It was pointed out that the bords driven would not exceed 6yds. in width; the bords would be driven as near as possible at right angles to the length of the lease; the pillars between each bord would be not less than 15yds. in width; the width of cut-throughs not to exceed 4yds., only one out-through to each bord to be allowed under the roadway; and pillars not to be extracted without departmental approval. 

The Warden also inquired the depth below the road at which mining operations would be permitted. It was decided to agree to the conditions. provided the lessee accepts the responsibility for all road repairs which may be necessitated by subsidences.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld), Thursday, 24 July 1941, page 4

DEMAND FOR COAL ONLY FAIR.
In his report for June. Mr. J. Haggerty, Inspector of Mines at Ipswich, stated that notice had been received that Westvale No. 3 Colliery had commenced driving a new tunnel. The new opening was two miles north-west of the present Westvale No. 3 Colliery. He also reported that the demand for coal supplies was only fair during the month, and that several of the collieries were laid idle for an occasional day. 

Mr. E. B. Hardie, Assistant Inspector of Mines at Ipswich, stated that 13 accidents were reported during the month, seven of which caused disoblement for more than 14 days, four for 14 days or less and two, for which the period was as yet undetermined. None was of a serious nature.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Thursday 16 November 1950, page  2

Westvale No. 6 mine, Rosewood field, was closed down because of an unsafe return airway. The mine had no second means of egress. Miners at the colliery were absorbed in another tunnel. There has been no loss of coal production. Westvale No. 6. will reopen when repairs have been made.

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Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.) Friday, 6 April 1951, page 6

 

 

© Jane Schy, 2025