Ferndale Colliery 1977 to 1984
The Ferndale Colliery is around 46 to 48 m underneath the northern half of Wickham. It extends northwards to Tighes Hill. The following map shows its southern extent just north of Throsby Street. The long rectangles are pillars of coal that were not removed since they were required to hold up the roof of the mine. Note the shaft in the top left, beside the Bullock Island Railway Line.
Part of Coffey Drawing No. 4, Site Relative to RT455 Ferndale Borehole Seam Workings
(Drawing published in Planning Proposal 41 and 47 Throsby Street Wickham for Public Exhibition Oct 2021)
The Ferndale Colliery shaft was completed in July 1977. Wickham was booming at the time; one month later the foundation stone for the first Wickham Public School was laid. The Ferndale Colliery closed 9-years later following a disaster in 1886 which is retold in the following article.
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 5 Apr 1919 (Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45478863)
“A NEWCASTLE DISASTER
COAL MINE DESTROYED 33 YEARS AGO – NEVER REOPENED
Alderman Pepper, of Wickham Municipal Council, told a reporter of the Newcastle “Sun” the following story :-
On Thursday, March 18, 1886, the miners started work after 8 o’clock in the morning, but in half an hour were alarmed at an unusual noise, which turned out to be water rushing down the shaft with terrific force. Dirt and rubbish from the surface came with it, and caused a general stampede of the men along the tunnels. While they were thus saving themselves, the rush of water from Throsby’s Creek tidal waves caused a great fall of earth which took trees below with it, and flooded the pit.
– Like an Earthquake. –
The noise of the fall was so loud and the tremor of the earth so great that many people thought an earthquake had happened. As the scene of the calamity is only a short distance from Elizabeth-street, and off the Maitland-road, it was not many minutes before almost every resident of the place was on the spot. It was an anxious time for all, especially those who had relatives working in the pit. As the men reached the surface safely the manager, the late Mr. John Powell, gave instructions to have the roll of workmen called to see if any were missing. All but two answered to their names. These were Henry Hargrave and John Jenkins. The former was married and the latter single.
Satisfied that the missing men must be still in the mine, a party was formed to search for them. Meanwhile the news spread over the district, and additional people gathered at the pit’s mouth. Senior-constable Smith and Constable Millington were quickly on the scene, and a message was dispatched for medical assistance. Drs. Hedley and Craven readily responded to the call, and attended to the injuries of the men who had been knocked about in the rush.
– A Voice from the Deep. –
The late Mr John Dixon, father of the present Mayor of Merewether (Alderman Jonathan Dixon), was inspector of collieries at the time, and he entered the mine with others to assist in the search. After the party had explored the workings for nearly five hours, Constable Smith, who was watching near an opening in the ground heard someone below calling for help. This was soon forthcoming, and a rope lowered. In a few minutes Hargrave was drawn up to the surface, after five hours imprisonment in the dark and dangerous regions of the pit.
All this time anxiety prevailed among the crowd, in which was the young wife of Hargrave, prostrated with grief, as the chance of again seeing her husband alive seemed hopeless. Joy, mingled with tears of gratitude, however, soon took the place of despair when husband and wife were reunited. The scene was most affecting, and one that lingered long in the memory. Hargrave’s escape from a terrible death was miraculous. He was much exhausted when he was landed at the top of the pit, but sustained only slight injuries. He is believed to be still alive and living in the district.
—A Flooded Tomb. —
The search party continued their efforts to find Jenkins, either alive or dead; but while many hours were devoted to the task, he was never again seen, and his tomb was the flooded colliery, which was never reopened.
About four years after the occurrence a young man, John William Carr, while bathing in a lagoon caused by the collapse at the Ferndale colliery, dived in the water, and was not seen to come up again. His body was recovered some time afterwards by a young man named Woollett, who procured a boat and grappling irons for the purpose.”
With the mine now abandoned, nothing much was done until it caught fire 4-1/2 years later, in 1898.
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 9 Nov 1898 (Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141062306)
“Fire in the Ferndale Pit.
ALARM AMONG WICKHAM RESIDENTS.
CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE FUMES.
The Ferndale Colliery, at Wickham, which was abandoned some 4-1/2 years ago, has been known to be on fire for two months past. The smoke issuing from the upcast shaft in the Wickham Park has, however, grown in volume latterly; and, when a strong wind is blowing, the fumes, which contain a big percentage of the deadly carbon monoxide, ore not only obnoxious, but dangerous to the residents. The smoke has the same pungent smell which was met with in the Stockton Colliery at the time of the disaster; and, when it is considered that 2 per cent of the carbon monoxide will produce helplessness, and 3 per cent death in a little time, there is at least some cause for precautions. The residents have not been aware of the presence of the carbon monoxide, but to anyone who has had previous dealings with this gas it is easily detected in the smoke. There are two shafts, one near the Bullock Island railway, which is acting as the downcast, and the other in the park, which the natural ventilation has made the upcast shaft. It is a fortunate circumstance that the ventilation has taken this course, for the fumes would be much more objectionable if they were coming up at the shaft near Hudson Bros.’ old establishment, where population is. It is understood that. Mr. W. Humble, Government, Inspector of Collieries, has called upon Mr. A. A. Danger, the owner of the property, to either hermetically seal off the shafts, or fill them in, with as little delay as possible.”
The closing of the mine shafts was not without controversy, with subsidence a major consideration.
Sydney Morning Herald, 14 Nov 1898 (Source: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14184980u)
“THE ABANDONED FERNDALE COLLIERY.
The Wickham Municipal Council has communicated with the Railway Commissioners, calling their attention to the fact that the owner of the Ferndale Colliery, which was the scene of a disaster some years ago, proposes to withdraw the cylinders from the shafts, and pointing out that the railway line, which is situated between the up and down cast shafts, may suffer in consequence. An animated discussion took place in regard to a suggestion of the owner of the pit at the last meeting of the Wickham Council, and several aldermen contended that the withdrawal of the cylinders would, by creating a draw, lead probably to serious subsidences of the local park and railway property. It was stated that the depth of the shaft is about 150 ft [46 m]. Reference was also made to the escape of noxious gases, and it was contended that the shafts should, in the interests of the health of the residents, be hermetically sealed. One alderman stated that at Linwood the fire stink emitted from the abandoned mine was a positive menace, and the lives of the residents were in danger. Several warm speeches were delivered, in the course of which it was asserted that those residing in the locality lived in dread of inhaling the poisonous gases, and that the Mines Department was powerless to act. It was resolved to communicate with the owner of the colliery in question, pointing out the danger which might result from giving effect to his proposal.”
Surface Subsidence 1920 & 1922
Since the closure of the Ferndale Colliery, subsidence events have occurred. Below are two events in 1920 & 1922.
The Newcastle Sun, 2 Mar1920 (Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162645482)
“FERNDALE SHAFT
Collapse of Filling
A further subsidence has manifested itself in the shaft of the old Ferndale Colliery, on the property of the Dangar estate, adjacent to the works of Messrs. Goninan and Co., at Wickham.
Some time ago the surface formed by the filling in of the shaft subsided over an area covering the width of the entrance to the colliery. Latterly the edges of the hole have broken away, and now the area of the broken land Is about three times the size of the shaft hole, and the water has made its way to the surface.
Mr. P. Fleming, Wickham municipal Inspector, attributes the movement to the probable rotting of the timbers used in filling the shaft, and says that the collapse bas no significance in relation to the danger arising from the undermining of a considerable portion of the Newcastle district by colliery workings. In this instance there Is no danger to the public, as the subsidence is right away from any thorough fare, and is protected by a barbed wire fence.”
Newcastle Morning Herlad and Miners’ Advocate, 17 Aug 1922
(Source: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141066931?searchTerm=wickham%20%22ferndale%20colliery%22)
“OLD COLLIERY CREEP.
SLIGHT DAMAGE AT WICKHAM.
A slight creep Is reported to have occurred in the workings of the old Ferndale Colliery at Wickam, which were closed over thirty years ago. What is apparently a subsidence of portion of the old workings has caused damage to some of the property in Church-street, Wickham. Upon the opening of the new power-house of Messrs, A. Goninan and Company early yesterday morning several cracks were noticed in the brick wall on the eastern side of the building. The damage is sufficiently serious to necessitate the wall being pulled down and re-erected. A cottage near the power-house has also been slightly affected. Last night movements were still discernible in the wall. The old Ferndale workings are full of water, and as this provides good support no serious settlement of the surface Is anticipated.”
Mine Subsidence District
Much of Wickham is in the Newcastle Mine Subsidence District. In fact, much of Newcastle is in this district as shown in the following map. The Newcastle Mine Subsidence District is proclaimed under the Mine Subsidence Compensation Act 1961 which is administered by Subsidence Advisory NSW. The Planning section of this website shows how this mine is now impacting the current redevelopment of Wickham.
DFSI Spatial Services 2017, Ref: PP5203 Mine Subsidence Districts Newcastle