(Name altered in June 1886 to "New Anvil Creek Colliery". Finally in 1908 renamed "Central Greta Colliery".)

OWNERS:

REFERENCES - MINES DEPARTMENT:

LOCATION:

(A) Portions 197, 204, 61 and 192, Parish of Branxton.

(B) Mining Lease:

(C) Relation to neighbouring mines:

(i) East of Ayrfield No. 3 Colliery.
(ii) East of Greta Colliery.
(iii) Mainly south of Central Greta Colliery.
(iv) South-west of Whitburn Colliery.
(v) South-west of New Greta Colliery.

(D) Anvil Creek Colliery was some 500 yards slightly south-west of Greta Railway Station and thus mainly south of Greta Village.

DISTANCES:

(A) Anvil Creek Colliery was 12 miles 30 chains (19.8 km) distant by road from Cessnock Post Office via the Cessnock-Branxton Road (Highway 82) and the Cessnock-Greta Road, (un-numbered).

(B) Anvil Creek Colliery was 13 miles 1 chain (20.8 km) distant by road from Maitland Post Office via the New England Highway (No. 15) and the Cessnock-Greta Road.

(C) Anvil Creek Colliery was 1 mile (1.6 km) distant by the local village streets from Greta Post Office.

(D) Anvil Creek Colliery was 32 miles distant by rail from Port Waratah Shipping sidings to the junction to the mine property.

AREA:

When William Farthing commenced his Anvil Creek Colliery, his mine holding was 555 acres. This figure is supported by several sources, including Edwards and Allen's map of Newcastle and Maitland Coal Mines.

A copy of the 1873 prospectus for the formation of the Anvil Creek Colliery Company found amongst Rev. William Purves papers held at the Mitchell Library, Sydney, shows the Anvil Creek Colliery mine property as being 605 acres freehold.

In April 1895, when P.M. Waddy and R.M. Saunders acquired the Anvil Creek Colliery workings, the area is shown in the Registrar-General's records Volume 1160 Folio 49, as being 619 acres 6½ perches.

SEAM:

The seam at Anvil Creek Colliery dips towards the west from the mine.

The "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue dated Saturday 5th march 1864 indicated that William Farthing had won a contract from the "A.S.N." Shipping Company to supply the excellent quality coal from his mine. In the "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper, in its issue dated Wednesday 1st February 1865 informs that the Anvil Creek Colliery coal was superior in quality to any other Australian coal then being produced. Shipping firemen had reported to the newspaper, that this coal was free of chitter and clinker, and only made a small amount of ash.

Mr W. Keene, the then NSW Examiner of Coalfields, on Friday 12th may 1865, in reporting to his departmental superiors on the discovery of a coal seam near Greta Village, described his find as being of equal good quality and identical with the seams of Anvil Creek Colliery. The "Maitland Mercury" newspaper in this period reported that the seam found by Mr W. Keene was 12 feet 9 inches in thickness.

A report in the "Town and Country Journal" newspaper in its issue dated Saturday 14th August 1880, gives this seam description of the coal in the Anvil Creek Colliery, thus:

The "Town and Country Journal" newspaper also informed its readers, that there was a further seam 4 feet 2 inches thick below the main coal seam. It said the dip of both seams was 1 in 8 towards the west.

During 1880, the Mines Department recorded this analysis of the Anvil Creek Colliery coal. This analysis was also shown in the above issue of the "Town and Country Journal" newspaper. It was shown thus:

Its coke was 55.7%.

An obituary for William Farthing published in the "Town and Country Journal" newspaper on Saturday 1st October 1887, advises that William Farthing in 1861 had found a bed of coal, 12 feet in thickness in Anvil Creek. Further that this seam was a clean, bright coal with a good roof and a good pavement (floor).

Mines Department's Geological Surveyor, Mr C.S. Wilkinson, in the 1884 Annual Report stated that in the Anvil Creek Colliery, the seam was generally 14 feet 4½ inches thick.

COMMENCED OPERATIONS:

From late 1861 William Farthing had a mine working in Portion 197 Parish of Branxton on 10 acres that he had leased from Samuel Clift. Samuel Clift was a well-known personality in the Hunter River District. He had held large areas of land throughout the region. It does seem that William Farthing with his team of miners, by the end of 1864 had recovered most of the available coal within this small lease.

William Farthing and Rev. William Purves had been close friends and associates at the Shamrock Hill Creek coal mining area at East Maitland, during the period that William Farthing was working in James and Alexander Brown's small pits on this field. Rev. W. Purves was a Presbyterian minister, who it is said conducted regular services in a church in the small village at Shamrock Hill. Over the years, Rev. W. Purves also had been a successful businessman, who acquired a number of valuable allotments and tenement buildings in both George Street and Sussex Street, Sydney, amongst other land dealings. Rev. W. Purves was quite a wealthy man in his own right. On Monday 2nd April 1855, William Farthing and Rev. William Purves had bought adjoining portions of 48 acres each being Lots 12 and 13 in the Parish of Stockrington.

On Monday 10th October 1864, an agreement was made between William Farthing and Rev. W. Purves, that William Farthing should take over some of Rev. W. Purves' land, being Portion 61 and Portion 192, Parish of Branxton for the purpose of sinking a coal mine. This transaction was covered by a mortgage for £3,650-0-0 ($7,300.00). The mortgage contained a lien on William Farthing's 10 rail coal wagons made by J. & A. Rodgers of Newcastle, a horse and gin utilised to sink the shafts, together with the railway and rails extending from the then Great North Railway to the new coal pit.

William Farthing appears to have commenced his Anvil Creek Colliery early in January 1865 using a horse and gin, (a type of crane and windlass), to sink the entry shafts.

ENTRY:

William Farthing's first shaft at Anvil Creek Colliery was about 500 yards south-west direction from Greta Railway Station. This shaft was 105 feet deep and some 15 feet in diameter. The shaft was commenced utilising a horse gin or "whim". Later the horse gin was replaced by a portable single cylinder steam engine to complete the shaft sinking. This portable steam engine had an 8 inches diameter cylinder with a 15 inches stroke. It operated two cast iron drums, each 3 feet 6 inches in diameter and 16 inches wide. The drums were "keyed" onto a wrought iron shaft 9 feet 7 inches long and 4½ inches in diameter.

When the shaft was completed a pit-top was erected. This framework was built from squared bush logs, some 40 feet high, and supported a work platform 15 feet square, 14 feet above the ground surface. This platform had a 2 inches thick hardwood floor. The pit-top also supported two poppet-head wheels, 7 feet in diameter to carry the 13/8 inches diameter wire haulage ropes. These ropes raised two cages in the shaft. Each cage was 4 feet 6 inches long, 3 feet 2 inches wide and 4 feet 6 inches high. Each cage could hold a single ½ ton capacity wooden skip. The cages were raised by a steam engine.

Some 170 yards in a south-east direction from the main shaft, a second shaft was sunk to provide a return airway. This shaft was some 50 feet deep and only 8 feet in diameter.

A fire broke out underground in Anvil Creek Colliery on Monday 27th February 1871. Despite the efforts of the Maitland Volunteer Fire Brigade, both shafts had to be covered by earth fill to smother the fire. On Saturday 11th March 1871, passengers travelling on an "Up" passenger train, reported on their arrival at Maitland, that the Anvil Creek Colliery was again burning fiercely. The "main" and "air" shafts were refilled with earth to extinguish the underground fire. During 1871 Mr William Farthing, the mine owner, sank a further shaft some 110 yards west of the main shaft to enable him to continue obtaining coal to meet his contracts.

In April 1872 the original main shaft was re-opened. Despite extensive damage underground at the seat of the fire between the two shafts, Mr William Farthing decided to restore the main shaft to a workable condition. Normal mining resumed in May 1872. During this activity, Mr W. Farthing drove a tunnel 140 yards long, 10 feet wide and 6 feet high, some 66 yards east of the third shaft sunk during 1871. A travelling road tunnel was made in the latter half of 1872. This tunnel was 495 feet long, 10 feet wide and 6 feet high. It ran in at a south-west direction from a point 80 yards east of the main shaft.

Following a change of ownership on Thursday 7th August 1873, the new company, Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company, strengthened the hoisting gear on the main shaft entry by adding more stays.

In October 1876 another underground fire wreaked havoc. Professor T.W. Edgeworth David in a paper published in the Mines Department 1907 Annual Report informs that the mine had to be flooded to extinguish the conflagration. In the early 1880's some attempts were made to re-open the mine, but all were unsuccessful.

Mr Perce Waddy and Mr Robert M. Saunders, both of Maitland, on Friday 18th June 1886 formed a new company known as New Anvil Creek Colliery. Mines Department 1886 Annual Report informs that this new company drove another tunnel in a westerly direction, 330 yards direct north of William Farthing's 1872 tunnel. An underground parallel companion heading 88 yards long was made 22 yards from the company's new tunnel on its southern side to become the return airway. A shaft, 50 feet deep and 8 feet in diameter, was sunk from the surface to break into this companion heading to allow the foul air to be forced out by an underground furnace. Mines Department 1886 Annual Report informs that this new company had sunk another shaft 650 yards south-west from its tunnel entry as an additional ventilation shaft. Mines Department 1889 Annual Report informs that this New Anvil Creek Coal Company's shaft was 278 feet deep and 12 feet in diameter, and it provided natural ventilation.

METHOD OF WORKING:

Anvil Creek Colliery was worked on the bord and pillar method of mining. Several aged Greta Village miners described the system used at both Anvil Creek Colliery and Greta Colliery as being the "Staffordshire type" workings. In Anvil Creek Colliery, pillars were some 8 yards wide and 12 yards long. Main headings, bord headings and cut-throughs separating the pillars and appear to have been 16 feet wide.

In the early days of the colliery, miners bored holes, shot down the coal, then filled into half ton capacity wooden skips. Also in these early days, it does seem that when the working was close to the shaft bottom, the skips were shoulder-pushed to and from the cages. Pit-horses were introduced for underground haulage sometime prior to 1870.

Ventilation for the workings was provided by an underground furnace. A list of plant and equipment utilised by William Farthing and valued by James B. Winship on Monday 22nd April 1872 for the prospectus issued for the formation of the Anvil Creek Coal Company, shows the mine had two cast iron furnace frames. These frames or fire boxes were 2 feet long, 1 foot 8 inches wide and 2 feet high.

Skips of coal were raised in the cages to the platform built on the poppet-head. Here the coal from the skips was tipped so that it could run over screening bars, ¾ of an inch apart. Coal ran down the bars to run into hopper wagons owned by the company.

On Monday 27th February 1871 at about 8.30 a.m. a fire started at the bottom of the air shaft causing great damage to the mine. The pit surface foreman, Mr Alexander Farthing, (William Farthing's son), told a "Maitland Mercury" newspaper reporter that a new mine employee, with only one week's experience, was directed on this Monday morning to light the furnace fire. Evidently the new hand had lit his furnace without ensuring that loose coal was cleared away. This employee then went to other duties. With such volatile coal, the ventilation fire was soon an immense blaze. All hands were called out of the mine, and an effort was made to contain the fire by sealing the air shaft with planks supporting clay on their top. After a 3 hours period, portion of this cover was removed, but smoke and flames burst out with redoubled fury.

In these days of limited telephone connections, it was not until late evening that word was received at West Maitland of the need of assistance at the Greta mine. "Maitland Mercury" newspaper in its issue dated Saturday 4th March 1871 records that ten of the Volunteer Fire Brigade under the leadership of Mr Charles Cridland, the fire brigade superintendent, with the horse drawn vehicle travelled a slow and weary journey to the Anvil Creek Colliery. Flames by this time were reaching a height of 30 feet. The fire had a firm hold on the coal in the top and sides of the shaft. Water was moved by the fire engine from a deep hole in Anvil Creek, and poured down the shaft without much success.

The next morning at 9 a.m., it was realised another plan was required. The fire engine was moved to be closer to the main shaft and the colliery engine house. Nearby a large brick tank (or reservoir) held underground water pumped out of the mine. With some additional lengths of hose, water was placed down the main shaft. This was sufficient to clear some smoke. Mr William Farthing, the colliery owner and Mr Cridland, the fire brigade superintendent went below. Despite numerous efforts by the mine employees and the fire brigade, the underground fire was burning too fiercely. There was no other recourse than sealing both shafts by earth fill. When the air shaft was showing that some fire was again burning strongly on Saturday 11th March 1871, additional earth fill had to be placed on that shaft.

Some short period later, Mr William Farthing arranged for another shaft to be sunk into his mine to enable him to continue with coal production to meet his sale orders. Some suggestion (not supported by documentation), was that this shaft was that shown on the "colliery mine plan", as being 110 yards west of the main winding shaft.

On Tuesday 2nd April 1872, just over 12 months from the underground fire, William Farthing re-opened his main shaft and entrance shaft. Underground damage was considerable, over 1200 tons of coal burnt to a cinder. Despite many fall-ins, the fire had burnt furiously. Mr Farthing went ahead to repair his main winding shaft, because he thought the fire had been extinguished.

Rev. William Purves, William Farthing's friend had provided another mortgage of £8,000-0-0 ($16,000.00) in January 1870 to permit Farthing to expand his mining development. When Rev. W. Purves died on Tuesday 26th April 1870, his executor, John Morison Saunders, gave an extension to the "Purves" mortgage. However the loss of coal production and increased costs and expenses due to the 1871 fire, prevented William Farthing meeting his financial commitments. The trustees for the Anvil Creek Colliery Company by a token payment of ten shillings ($1.00) to William Farthing, took possession of the mine, plant, assets and liabilities. This transfer appears in the Registrar-General's records in Book 137 No. 851 dated Thursday 7th August 1873. Mr Farthing handed over his mine, and a new colliery manager, Mr Charles Francis, was appointed.

Under the new company administration, the Anvil Creek Colliery, appeared to have had progressive ideas. More rail wagons were imported from England late in 1874 to make the wagon fleet a total of 90 vehicles. On Monday 18th August 1874 a weighbridge was installed. On Wednesday 4th November 1874 a new colliery dam was completed. It does seem that during the last half of 1874, its miners worked a full fortnight of 11 days each pay. On Tuesday 18th May 1875, Anvil Creek Colliery was supplied with two new 40 horse power steam winding engines from Chapmans Limited.

On Monday 10th January 1876, William Farthing returned to the Anvil Creek Colliery, not as its owner but as the mine manager. He replaced Mr Jim Swinburne, who had only a stint of 6 months as the colliery manager.

Trouble again visited Anvil Creek Colliery on Friday 7th April 1876, when a serious "creep" occurred in the mine, closing some work places. The Lodge officials, Mr W. Hughes (President) and Mr J. Dickson (Secretary) agreed that the miners would work day about to save jobs, until such time as new places could be found. On Friday 7th July 1876, Mr W. Farthing, manager, reported to the local newspapers, that some 24 bord places were being cavilled, and that the miners would be required to share these places, or to again work "day about". The newspaper report informs that a new steam pump had been installed in the "dips" section to move underground water from the "dips" to the pit bottom.

The "Newcastle Morning Herald" newspaper in its issue dated Saturday 28th July 1877 printed a statement from Mr W. Farthing, Anvil Creek Colliery manager, advising that there was a heating or a minor fire behind a sand seal. Mr Farthing indicated that this could possibly be a continuance of the March 1871 fire. On Wednesday 26th September 1877 a large fire broke out in Anvil Creek Colliery. Despite the untiring efforts of the manager, Mr W. Farthing, and his miners to control the fire, on Friday 12th October 1877 the entrances to Anvil Creek Colliery had to be sealed with earth fill to prevent air flow to feed the fire. On Monday 22nd October 1877, the main winding shaft was re-opened to allow a steam pump to be installed. This pump was capable of throwing 100 gallons of water per minute for a distance of 40 yards. On Tuesday 30th October 1877, whilst fighting the fire in the main heading with the pump, two men were badly affected with "black damp" gas, and had to be taken from the mine. John Alnby, a mining contractor was engaged to try and extinguish the fire. On Thursday 22nd November 1877 an attempt was made to clear the main travelling road, which had been alight earlier. However the miners were driven back by large volumes of "black damp gas". At the end of 1877, the fire had again broken out, and all entrances were sealed with earth fill.

Anvil Creek Colliery did not work again until early 1880. Mines Department's 1880 Annual Report informs that 20 men were employed in the process of clearing debris, falls, etc., from the late 1877 fire, for the purpose of re-opening the mine. Anvil Creek Colliery resumed actual coal mining on a small scale in January 1881. The mine worked during February 1881, but again had to be re-sealed due to a heating. The mine was closed for the balance of 1881 and right through to mid 1886.

On Friday 18th June 1886, a new group with principals, Mr Perce Waddy and Robert M. Saunders, formed a new organisation, the New Anvil Creek Colliery Company to operate the Anvil Creek mine. Mr Charles Horsfield was appointed the colliery manager. Mr Horsfield notified the Mines Department, that 20 men were employed to sink a new shaft. During the balance of 1886, and in 1887 and 1888, all coal produced at Anvil Creek Colliery was handled by Greta Colliery. The records researched do not indicate, whether coal produced was taken to Greta Colliery for rail loading, or if it was lifted in coal hopper wagons direct from Anvil Creek Colliery by Greta Colliery trains as a "make-up" train load. Mines Department's 1890 Annual Report shows that at Anvil Creek Colliery 38 employees, 10 on the surface and 28 working underground, produced 2488 tons of coal valued at £1,295-0-0 ($2,590.00). During 1891 and 1892 the production was only small.

A photograph of Anvil Creek Colliery shown in the "Greta Town's 150 years" booklet is thought to be of the mid 1880's period. The pit-top then was a very primitive open structure. A "set" of five loaded skips can be seen rising up an earth gantry from the haulage heading to the work level of the pit-top.

On Thursday 15th December 1892 Mr A. Thomas and a group of other people notified the Mines Department that their group had taken over the Anvil Creek Colliery and intended to mine it. With the general down-turn of coal sales during the "depression" of 1893, little mining activity took place. On Wednesday 10th January 1894, Mr W. Hodges and a party of 12 miners began working the pit on a "tribute scheme", with W. Hodges acting as permit-manager and agent. When the colliery won the Government Railways contract to supply Murrurundi Locomotive Depot, the workforce was increased. With 6 men on the surface and 25 miners underground, the pit produced 10,680 tons of coal valued at £3,560-0-0 ($7,120.00). Mr Alfred Page was appointed under-manager on Monday 28th January 1895.

By early 1896 coal trade had dwindled away, and the workforce dropped to only 4 men. Only 182 tons of coal was produced during this year. This was the last production within the old workings, until the lease was taken over by Mr William Humphrey on Friday 24th April 1908, and a new entry and workings was renamed the Central Greta Colliery.

MINE HAULAGE:

First haulage power in the sinking of the 105 feet deep shaft, made by Mr William Farthing, was by a horse gin (whim). Shortly afterwards this power was replaced by a portable single cylinder steam engine. The cylinder was 8 inches in diameter and had a 15 inches stroke. The steam engine operated two cast iron drums, each 3 feet 6 inches in diameter and 16 inches wide.

When the shaft was completed, a poppet head frame was constructed. This was 40 feet high, and was built from squared heavy bush logs. It supported two poppet head pulley wheels, each 7 feet in diameter, and grooved to carry the 13/8 inches diameter wire haulage ropes to raise the two shaft cages. Each cage was 4 feet 6 inches long, 3 feet 2 inches wide and 4 feet 6 inches high, and had capacity to hold a single "10 hundred-weight" (half ton) skip. Haulage for the cages was provided by a single horizontal 8 horse power steam engine, manufactured by Messrs J. and A. Rodgers of Newcastle. This steam engine had a 9 inches diameter cylinder with a 2 feet 6 inches stroke. The engine had an 8 feet diameter fly wheel. The crankshaft driving the winding drum was 6 feet 3 inches long and 4 inches in diameter. The winding drum was 5 feet in diameter and 4 feet 10 inches wide.

The colliery had 32 skips for the mine use. The cages raised the skips to a 15 feet square platform on the pit-top, 14 feet above the ground surface. Coal in the skip was tipped onto a solid screen frame, which contained 100 bars ¾ inch diameter thick. The larger coal emptied direct into the colliery coal rail wagons. The small coal was wasted and stack piled on the pit-top.

Underground, whilst the workings were close to the shaft, it does appear that the skips were "shoulder-shunted" or pushed to and from the work place at the coal face. After 1872 and the construction of the tunnel entry, pit-horses were introduced to provide underground haulage.

An item in the "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue dated Tuesday 18th May 1875 reports that two 40 horse power haulage engines had been installed at Anvil Creek Colliery. Steam to power the early steam haulage engine and the two 40 H.P. engines was provided by two egg-end boilers. These boilers were 15 feet long and 3 feet in diameter. Each boiler had a cast iron dome, 1 foot 3 inches in diameter and 1 foot 9 inches high, in the centre on top of the boiler.

Coal rail wagons were despatched on trains hauled by the NSW Government Railways to meet the coal sales of the Anvil Creek Colliery.

During 1886 after the formation of the New Anvil Creek Colliery, a tunnel was driven into the lease and this was utilised to haul out the skips of coal. An early photograph of this New Anvil Creek Colliery pit-top is held by Mrs H. Peters of 17 High Street, Greta. This shows a "set" of 5 loaded skips rising up an earth gantry. My research failed to locate the actual motive power. The photograph reveals the engine house nearby at the eastern end of the pit-top. It is not clear from my research if the haulage was "direct", or by an endless rope. It certainly was steam powered.

PIT-HORSES:

Pit-horse haulage underground was introduced into the Anvil Creek Colliery after the driving of a tunnel into the workings during 1872. Several newspaper reports on the fires in Anvil Creek Colliery in the late 1870's, all mention that the pit-horses had been withdrawn during "fire" periods.

A reference to "pit-horses" as being part of the colliery assets was included in a profit and loss trading account dated Thursday 31st December 1874.

My research has failed to determine the numbers of pit-horses utilised, nor description and location of their stables, etc.

VENTILATION:

First colliery ventilation was by natural means. Early in the Anvil Creek Colliery life, Mr William Farthing had a second shaft sunk 170 yards in a south-east direction from the first shaft to provide a return airway.

Later when more fresh air was required below, an underground furnace was installed adjacent to this air shaft. In his prospectus to form a new company to find more capital for his mine, William Farthing showed two cast iron furnace frames on his list of plant and equipment. Each iron frame is shown as being 2 feet long, 1 foot 6 inches wide and 2 feet 6 inches high.

There does not appear to have been any other type of ventilation provided in the Anvil Creek Colliery at this date.

Mines Department 1887 Annual Report informs that air stoppings were constructed on a wooden frame with canvas stretched over it. In the 1901 Annual Report, Inspector Thomas Bates reported that "Ventilation" in Anvil Creek Colliery was assisted by steam jets in the haulage tunnel.

ELECTRICITY GENERATION:

No plant for electricity generation was ever utilised at Anvil Creek Colliery. It does seem that no electricity was brought to this mine.

MINE PUMPS:

My research has failed to find any description of early pumps utilised in Anvil Creek Colliery. The "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue dated Saturday 4th March 1871 in reporting a serious fire underground tells of the efforts of the Maitland Fire Brigade. When the first endeavours to quell the inferno were unsuccessful, decisions were made by Mr William Farthing, the owner and mine manager together with Mr Charles Cridland, the fire brigade chief, that the main shaft should be used to run down several lengths of fire hose to reach the seat of the fire. The newspaper stated that near the surface of the shaft, a large brick tank, (or reservoir) had been constructed, into which water had been pumped out of the mine. One can assume from this quotation that the mine did have a capable pump to move such water. Further that this water, either presented a problem underground, or that alternatively the mine management had required a supply of water, perhaps for use in the boilers. Unfortunately for my history, no description of the pump was given.

On Wednesday 26th September 1877, another large fire broke out underground in Anvil Creek Colliery. On Friday 12th October 1877 Anvil Creek Colliery was sealed with earth fill in an effort to beat this almost uncontrollable fire. On Monday 22nd October 1877 the main winding shaft was re-opened to allow a steam pump to be installed. The Mines Department report did not give details of the size and brand of the pump. Its information was that the pump was capable of throwing 100 gallons of water per minute for a distance of 40 yards. Water on this occasion was obtained from a small colliery pit dam built and completed in November 1874. Professor T.W. Edgeworth David in a paper written in 1907 described this particular fire. He added that this mine was flooded to extinguish the conflagration.

Mine Department Inspector Thomas Bates in his 1898 Annual Report to his superiors informs that very little activity had taken place at Anvil Creek Colliery. Only one man was employed attending to a steam pump to keep the mine free of water. Again this record did not give details, description or the actual location of this steam pump.

RAIL CONNECTION:

Some suggestion has been made to me that the Anvil Creek Colliery yard consisted of two rail tracks only. Little Greta Colliery's record tracing Plan No. 543 supports this suggestion. On this plan (No. 543) the Central Greta Colliery sidings yard is shown. This consisted of two sidings. Central Greta Colliery had taken over the Anvil Creek Colliery lease, and on Tuesday 14th July 1908, the earlier Anvil Creek Colliery branch rail track was re-opened. It does seem reasonable to assume that the later larger colliery, Central Greta Colliery, followed the same set-up of the Anvil Creek Colliery. One of the Anvil Creek Colliery track was the Branch Line or running road. The second track was the loading siding, (or loop). Inwards NSW Government trains ran from the Branch track into the loading loop. In this movement it propelled the loaded vehicles, its outwards train into a "dead-end" shunting neck, which was part of the Branch Line, and detached the inwards load, empty wagons, in the loading loop.

Anvil Creek Colliery Branch Line diverted from the single track main Great Northern Railway at a point about 440 yards south from the present Greta Railway Station.

Entry was made by a "right-running" set of points. Again my research at the State Rail Archives failed to locate the Anvil Creek Colliery lay-out plan, nor the safe-working method or authority on which the train operated on the Branch Line.

Today there is only partial remains of the ash and earth embankment that carried this Branch Line onto the colliery land. An old style stone culvert "remains" were situated some 90 yards from the Main Railway line. Today there is also some embankment "remains" about a half mile from Greta Railway Station adjacent to the Anvil Creek Colliery pit-top area.

James B. Winship of Newcastle on Monday 22nd April 1872 prepared a valuation of Anvil Creek Colliery assets for Mr William Farthing, to assist Farthing in the formation of a company and help obtain financial assistance. This valuation recorded that 1164 yards of cuttings and embankments had been made for the colliery Branch railway and siding at a cost of ten shillings ($1.00) per running yard, totalling £582-0-0 ($1,164.00). 996 yards of heavy double-faced "Barlow" rails had been laid in the tracks on the property. These rails together with the points, crossings, fish-plates, bolts, chairs, sleepers, spikes ("dogs") were valued at £647-10-0 ($1,295.00).

RAIL WAGONS:

William Farthing, when he commenced his Anvil Creek Colliery in January 1865, owned ten railway coal wagons made by Messrs J. and A. Rodgers of Newcastle. By April 1872, when William Farthing was endeavouring to form a company to finance his operations following a disastrous fire, his mining assets were valued by James B. Winship on Monday 22nd April 1872. Winship's valuation listing indicated that:

"All wagons were the old flat-top style vehicle to convey "boxes" to carry coal for transport, as opposed to the newly described "coal-hopper" of that era."

There were:

14 eight tons box spring wagons, each £90-0-0 = £1,260-0-0
28 seven tons box spring wagons, each £70-0-0 = £1,960-0-0
5 six tons flat spring wagons, each £65-0-0 = £ 325-0-0
Total 47 vehicles with a value of £3,545-0-0 ($7,090.00).

Following the take-over of the Anvil Creek Colliery on Thursday 7th August 1873 by the company trustees, Messrs George Alfred Lloyd and James Henry Neale, following William Farthing's failure to meet his mortgage, the new administered company planned to improve some of the mine's deficiencies. Part of these problems had been a shortage of rolling stock. The first half-yearly directors' report to the shareholders on Thursday 26th February 1874 informed that the mine had acquired 30 new wagons from P.N. Russell and Company. Also 20 more wagons were being imported from England and were on board a ship.

SPECIAL PLANT, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT:

(A) PIT-TOP:

My research has found little documented description of the Anvil Creek Colliery in Mines Department reports, or in newspaper issues.

An early photograph held by Mrs H. Peters of 17 High Street, Greta shows a ramshackle untidy structure, partly roofed, positioned over a single track railway. The photograph indicated a "set" of five loaded skips rising up an earth gantry to the pit-top. Because of this detail, it does seem reasonable to assume that the photograph was taken after June 1886 following the formation of the New Anvil Creek Colliery Company. This company had used a tunnel for the haulage of its coal production.

The pit-top was constructed from round bush poles, all cross-stayed lengthways and sideways by similar timbers. On the southern side near the eastern end, a screen frame made from bars, ¾ inches in diameter, removed the small coal allowing the large coal to run over the screen direct into the rail coal wagon. The screening area was roofed with galvanised corrugated iron sheets, and which doubled as the roof for the loading area of the wagons.

(B) COLLIERY ENGINE HOUSE:

The photograph mentioned in the above "Pit-Top" description section also reveals a shed just past the eastern end of the pit-top. This appears to be a timber-framed room clad and roofed with galvanised corrugated iron. This structure appears to be some 20 feet square with a 20 feet high hip-roof.

At this pit-top, the steam engines performing the tunnel heading haulage are said to have been the two 40 horse powered steam engines installed in May 1875 (see page 1608).

(C) COLLIERY DAM:

The "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue dated Wednesday 4th November 1874 reported that a new dam had just been completed at Anvil Creek Colliery. On Thursday 11th November 1993 whilst making a "walking inspection" on the property, where Anvil Creek Colliery had been positioned, I found an old narrow dam excavation about 250 yards from the Cessnock-Greta Road and on the southern side of the remains of a rail track embankment. Over many years some mutilation of the main bank has robbed the dam of its holding ability.

(D) SKIP WEIGHBRIDGE:

The "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue dated Monday 17th August 1874 informs that following overtures by the Local Miners Lodge, a weighbridge had been installed on the Anvil Creek Colliery pit-top.

(E) COLLIERY WORKSHOP:

In the Directors' Report to the first shareholders half-yearly meeting of the new Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company held in the Chamber of Commerce Hall, Exchange Building, Sydney, the shareholders were informed that a new workshop building had just been erected at the mine. No other details were given.

(F) ILLAWONG TOWNSHIP:

William Farthing at the time of his formation of a new company, "Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company", also engaged John Usher, a surveyor, to plan and lay out a small township, "Illawong". William Farthing proposed to sell off allotments to interested parties.

It is of interest that in this subdivision, William Farthing named the streets after his three daughters and the surnames of the directors of his company, thus:

Mary,
Jane,
Lillias,
Mansfield,
Lloyd,
Cuthbert,
Bell,
Usher (his surveyor).

(G) COLLIERY MANAGER'S HOUSE:

Records researched do not reveal if this house was erected by William Farthing himself, or by the new company, Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company. The building had been constructed close to the early mine and was situated on the later Illawong subdivision. It was located between Bell and Cuthbert Streets, Illawong, on Lots 2 and 3, Section 116 of the subdivision. It is possible that the house had been built prior to 1873, and had been incorporated in the Illawong subdivision plan.

Mr Ken Hartcher of 35 Bowen Street, Branxton told me that as a boy in the 1920's, he lived in this house with his father, Mr Bill Hartcher, then the engineer for Central Greta Colliery. Ken Hartcher said it was a large four bedrooms house, that had a large verandah running around its south, east and north sides. Sometime over the house's history, an area on the northern side verandah, 12 feet by 10 feet, had been converted to a room used as a colliery office. This was possibly altered and constructed after 1908 by the Central Greta Colliery.

FIRST COLLIERY MANAGER:

William Farthing.

FIRST SHIPPING AND COAL-HANDLING AGENT:

Mr George Tully
Auctioneer of Newcastle.

BRIEF HISTORY:

William Farthing was the pioneer of the coal industry in the Greta area. W. Farthing had married James and Alexander Brown's sister, Lilias. The "Brown Brothers" were coal trade entrepreneurs who built a great reputation in this facet of Australia's history. During the 1850's decade, William Farthing had worked in the "Brown" coal mines at Shamrock Hill, East Maitland, and added to his own experience in mining. After J. and A. Brown had purchased John Eales' "Minmi" mine, William Farthing commenced a search in other areas, including Four Mile Creek, East Maitland, for a suitable region, in which he could operate a coal mine. His prospecting travels brought him to Anvil Creek, Greta. In late 1861, William Farthing proved a seam of coal there; he immediately obtained a lease from Samuel Clift for an area of 10 acres on Portion 197 Parish of Branxton. This lease is dated Friday 20th December 1861.

The mine working in this small area (10 acres), by the end of 1864, had nearly reached the limit of possible production. William Farthing with his team of miners had recovered most of the available coal.

William Farthing and Rev. William Purves had been friends and associates during the period William Farthing worked for his brothers-in-law, James and Alexander Brown. Rev. Purves was appointed to the Presbyterian Church at East Maitland in 1846, when that church was having difficulties. Over the years, William Farthing had been a keen and devout church-goer, and was involved in a number of land transactions and purchases by the Presbyterian Church. (See Registrar-General's records Book 51 No. 160; Book 58 No. 612; and others). On Monday 2nd April 1855 William Farthing and Rev. William Purves purchased adjoining allotments of 48 acres each, (Lots 12 and 13 Parish of Stockrington).

On Monday 10th October 1864, an agreement was made between William Farthing and Rev. W. Purves that William Farthing should take over some of Rev. W. Purves' land, being Portion 61 and Portion 192 Parish of Branxton, for the purpose of sinking a new coal mine. (See Registrar-General's Book 90 No. 845). This purchase was covered by a mortgage for £3,650-0-0 ($7,300.00) at the interest rate of 8 per centum per annum. Further protection was provided by a lien on William Farthing's ten rail coal wagons, a horse-gin, and a railway track.

William Farthing's new mine appears to have prospered, as development was made. As with all this type of industry of this period, the mine appears to have been under capitalised. Farthing's Anvil Creek Colliery was no exception. When additional operational finance was needed, on Tuesday 1st September 1868, Rev. W. Purves guaranteed William Farthing with the Commercial Bank of Sydney for Farthing's overdraft to be increased to £1,500-0-0 ($3,000.00). On Monday 24th January 1870, Rev. W. Purves loaned William Farthing £8,000-0-0 ($16,000.00). This amount was to be repaid by Wednesday 1st January 1873. This mortgage appears in the Registrar-General's records in Book 117 No. 922. In his collateral for this loan, William Farthing, in addition to some 985 acres of land, nominated 30 coal rail wagons supplied by Goddard Limited, one 8 H.P. steam winding engine, plus machinery and pumps.

Rev. W. Purves resigned his charge as minister of the Presbyterian Church at East Maitland on Tuesday 15th March 1870. He and his daughter, Alice Mary Purves, sailed to England for a holiday on Thursday 14th April 1870. Rev. W. Purves died on Tuesday 26th April 1870 and was buried at sea. Rev. W. Purves' will and other papers are currently held in "Box A 5346" rare papers section at the Mitchell Library, Sydney. His executors were his two sons, William Adams Purves, John Mitchell Purves and John M. Saunders. Rev. W. Purves was an intelligent, talented man, who had acquired a fair amount of wealth and property. As a scholar he was a member of the first Senate of the Sydney University, and played an important role in the establishment of St. Andrew's College.

John M. Saunders on Monday 1st August 1870, as executor for Rev. W. Purves, had a fresh mortgage for £5,000-0-0 ($10,000.00) made out to William Farthing. This action appears in the Registrar-General's records in Book 137 No. 623.

The loss of his friend and supporter, Rev. W. Purves, was the start of further bad luck for William Farthing. At 9 a.m. on Monday 27th February 1871, an underground fire broke out adjacent to the furnace at the bottom of the air shaft. Despite the efforts of the mine employees and the manager, William Farthing, the fire escalated. Eventually the Maitland Fire Brigade was alerted by telegram at 7 p.m. The horse-drawn brigade, under Fire Captain Charles Cridland and 10 volunteers made the long weary journey to Anvil Creek Colliery at Greta. Unfortunately their efforts were in vain. Finally both shafts had to be sealed with earth fill.

His losses had not dimmed William Farthing's enthusiasm. Shortly after the Anvil Creek Colliery had been sealed, William Farthing had his employees sink a shaft some 110 yards west of his original main shaft to enable coal to be produced to meet his coal sales contract.

On Tuesday 2nd April 1872, just over 12 months from the fire, William Farthing re-opened the main shaft. Damage was considerable. Mr W. Farthing estimated that over 1,000 tons of coal had been burnt, and much destruction occasioned. Restoration was very costly. In late April 1872 William Farthing was forced to form a new company, "Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company", to provide capital for restoration and development. Mr James B. Winship of Newcastle prepared a valuation of William Farthing's mining equipment at the Anvil Creek pit, which totalled an amount of £15,742-14-6 ($31,485.46).

William Farthing's company was still seeking additional shareholders in August 1872. A news item in the "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper, in its issue dated Tuesday 1st October 1872 informs that Mr George A. Mansfield had been appointed chairman and his Board of Directors were:

John Cuthbert,
J.H. Neale, M.P.,
The Honorable George A. Lloyd, M.P.,
Henry Bell,

the new Company Secretary was W.H. Baraclough. The Company's registered office was at 362 George Street, Sydney. Its solicitors were Messrs Allen, Bowden and Allen, and its bankers the Commercial Banking Company. The Company had a capital of £30,000-0-0 ($60,000.00), in shares of £1-0-0 ($2.00) each.

The mining property consisted of 605 acres of land at Greta, adjacent and south of the Great Northern Railway about 12 miles (19.2 km) from Maitland. The "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue on Tuesday 1st October 1872 advised at this period, the mine, even with its very imperfect appliances and a shortage of rail coal wagons, was currently producing about 600 tons of coal per week.

On Thursday 7th August 1873, when William Farthing could not meet his commitments of his mortgage with the late Rev. William Purves' estate, the trustees of the Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company, the Honorable George Alfred Lloyd and James Henry Neale by a token payment of ten shillings ($1.00) to William Farthing took over his assets and liabilities. This conveyance appears in the Registrar-General's Book 137 No. 851. It does seem that the new company appointed James B. Winship as the temporary mine manager. Mr Charles Francis was appointed colliery manager as from Thursday 1st January 1874.

William Farthing appears to have been made redundant and unemployed by the Anvil Creek Colliery Company's appointment of a new manager. The "Newcastle Chronicle" newspaper in its issue dated Thursday 25th February 1874 carries the following item:

"It is the intention of William Farthing to open another coal mine on adjoining land on the Maitland side to that being operated by Anvil Creek Colliery."

No further action appears to have been made by William Farthing other than this indication of a possible mine.

The Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company on Thursday 23rd December 1875 received a mortgage for £15,800-0-0 ($31,600.00) from the Mercantile Bank. This transaction is recorded in the Registrar-General's Book 156 No. 82. The Company showed its capital and assets, at this date, to be valued at £26,097-10-0 ($52,195.00). The collateral offered was 525 acres plus plant.

Evidently the Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company had a high appreciation of William Farthing's mining abilities. On Friday 7th January 1876, William Farthing replaced James Swinburn as colliery manager.

The serious underground fire at Anvil Creek Colliery in February 1871 does not appear to have been completely extinguished. Quite a large area had been sealed off. In the mid to late 1876, a number of heatings and small fires started behind the seals in the previous problem area. In the "Newcastle Morning Herald" newspaper in its issue dated Saturday 29th July 1876, the manager, William Farthing, stated an underground fire was persisting in an area sealed off with sand.

On Wednesday 26th September 1877, a large underground fire broke out in Anvil Creek Colliery. Despite the untiring efforts by the manager, William Farthing and his team of coal miners, the fire could not be controlled. On Friday 12th October 1877, the pit's shafts were sealed to stop the mine's ventilation. On Monday 22nd October 1877 the winding shaft was re-opened to allow a steam pump to be installed close to the seat of the fire. This pump was capable of throwing 100 gallons of water per minute for a distance of 40 yards. John Allby was given a contract to extinguish the fire. On Tuesday 30th October 1877, two men in the team hosing the fire were badly affected by black damp. On Friday 16th November 1877, when it was found that there had been little success in controlling the fire, all entrances were again sealed. Professor T.W. Edgeworth David in a paper published in 1907, in describing this particular fire, informs that Anvil Creek Colliery was flooded to extinguish the "1877" underground fire.

Anvil Creek Colliery was closed from 1877 to 1886. Mines Department annual reports make no mention of any activity at this mine, during this period of years.

On Friday 18th June 1886, a group under the leadership of Mr Perce Waddy and Mr Robert M. Saunders, notified the Mines Department, that their organisation intended to re-open Anvil Creek Colliery with Mr Charles Horsefield as colliery manager. This "New Anvil Creek Colliery" drove a new tunnel into the lease and constructed a primitive pit-top and gantry. The Mines Department's "1886" Annual Report informs that 20 men were employed. In the last months of 1886 a heating was found underground, and no coal production was recorded for that year. The "1887" Annual Report indicates that problems still existed with this heating. Air seals and stoppings were constructed utilising a wooden framework stretched over it. The "1888" Annual Report shows only 9 miners employed in the New Anvil Creek Colliery and these produced 9,228 tons of coal.

The prospectus for the new Greta Coal Company Ltd. published in the "Sydney Morning Herald" newspaper in its issue dated Wednesday 8th May 1888 show that this mine was purchasing the New Anvil Creek Colliery's coal output at a profitable rate for re-sale amongst its own production. My research has not determined if the New Anvil Creek Colliery coal was taken to Greta Colliery, or if it was lifted in rail coal wagons on outward Greta Colliery rail trains.

The "1889 Newcastle Almanac" amongst its various items, gives this information:

"New Anvil Creek Colliery at Greta, is located a quarter of a mile south-east of Greta Railway Station. It is producing 100 tons of coal a day. The colliery has two shafts and a tunnel."

The Mines Department "1891" Annual Report advises that all underground work in the New Anvil Creek Colliery had been temporarily suspended. The following year, 1892, production was only small. During this period and also in 1893, there was a down-turn of the coal trade due to a "depression" and economic instability of the country generally. From 1892 a small group led by A. Thomas had held a lease of Anvil Creek Colliery. On Wednesday 10th January 1894, Mr W. Hodges notified the Mines Department, that he as a colliery permit manager and a party of 12 miners had commenced to work Anvil Creek Colliery on a "tribute system". This group won a contract to supply coal to the Murrurundi Locomotive Depot of the NSW Government Railways. It does seem the efforts of these "tribute" miners revived the interest of Percival Moore Waddy, bank manager of West Maitland and Robert Morison Saunders, engineer of Carrington. These two gentlemen had been in a group in 1886 which leased the Anvil Creek Colliery. On Monday 29th April 1895, these partners officially purchased the Anvil Creek Colliery. The transaction is recorded in the Registrar-General's Books, Volume 1160 Folio 49.

By early 1896 with the coal trade lost, the workforce dwindled away. During this year (1896) the four men employed produced only 182 tons of coal, at the Anvil Creek Colliery. On Wednesday 11th November 1896 "Waddy and Saunders" leased their mine to Benjamin Yates. On this same date, Benjamin Yates notified the Mines Department, that he intended to mine the Anvil Creek Colliery. The Mines Department "1896" Annual Report shows that no production was made at Anvil Creek Colliery. The Annual Reports for the years 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899 carry a similar report made by Departmental Inspector Thomas Bates, simply thus:

"Only one man employed attending to the steam pump to keep the mine free of water."

From my research, it does appear to me that whilst some moves were made in the ownership and leaseholds, these were transactions similar to today's "futures" or "commodity" trading. On Friday 28th December 1900, by transfer No. 33196, (shown in Registrar-General's Volume 1160 Folio 60), ownership of the Anvil Creek Coal Mining Company and assets changed from Messrs P. Waddy and R.M. Saunders to Mr James Burns, merchant of Sydney. On Tuesday 1st January 1901 Mr Benjamin Yates, the colliery manager at Anvil Creek Colliery notified the Mines Department, that his connections with the colliery had ceased, and that the new owner was Mr James Burns. The correspondence shows that Mr J. Burns' solicitor was Mr J.R. Baxter-Bruce of 9 Bridge Street, Sydney.

On Monday 25th February 1901 through his solicitor, J.R. Baxter-Bruce, James Burns leased Anvil Creek Colliery to Henry S. Forsyth. Mines Department "1901" Annual Report advises that during that year with 11 men on the surface and 47 miners underground, 12,135 tons of coal was produced at a value of £4,340-0-0 ($8,680.00). Mr H.S. Forsyth had appointed Mr James Henwood, colliery manager and Mr Alfred Mason as the under-manager. On Monday 4th November 1901, Mr Andrew Sneddon replaced Mr H.S. Forsyth as the lessee. On Friday 14th September 1902, Mr J.R. Baxter-Bruce, solicitor, on behalf of his client, Mr James Burns, notified the Mines Department that the lease of Anvil Creek Colliery between James Burns and Andrew Sneddon had been terminated.

NSW Companies Corporation Department in their file No. 2147 shows that a new company was formed and it was registered on Friday 24th October 1902 to take-over the assets of Anvil Creek Colliery, presumably from Mr James Burns. The shareholders listed were:

Arthur Webber merchant of Sydney
Adam Forsyth merchant of Sydney
Edward Owen Cox merchant of Sydney
Alfred J. Roberts merchant of Adelaide
James Burns merchant of Sydney
J.R. Baxter-Bruce solicitor, 9 Bridge St., Sydney.

A further transfer of land title, dated Friday 24th October 1902, appears on the Registrar-General's Volume 1160 Folio 49. The purchase price of the assets was shown as £7,500-0-0 ($15,000.00).

J.R. Baxter-Bruce, solicitor for the new company informed the Mines Department that Anvil Creek Colliery as a mining operation had been abandoned as from Wednesday 31st December 1902. James Burns and this new group appear to have retained actual ownership of the mine property.

On Friday 17th May 1907, Mr J.H. Batey, a new solicitor for the "1902" group of owners, James Burns and others, notified the Mines Department that the Anvil Creek Colliery was again about to re-open. Mines Department "1907" Annual Report advises that during this year development work had taken place, and that ventilation had been provided by natural means.

Mr William Humphrey gave notice to the Mines Department, that as from Monday 27th April 1908 he had leased the old Anvil Creek Colliery p property, and which he had renamed "Central Greta Colliery". (See the section for that mine commencing on page 1656).

PRESENT POSITION:

Today there is little evidence of the early Anvil Creek Colliery remaining now, apart from small coal and chitter spill scattered over various parts of the property. Even the old dam appears more like a scar, than a water-holding barrier.

Back to top of page

Home | The Mines | The Maps | Search | Sponsors | Oral History

Newcastle Regional Museum
787 Hunter Street,
Newcastle West NSW 2302

Phone: 61 2 4974 1415
       61 2 4974 1400

Fax:   61 2 4974 1405

Email: nrmuseum@ncc.nsw.gov.au

This web site is designed,
built and maintained by Rae Bailey