Killingworth, New South Wales

Killingworth owes its origins to coal mining, which took place there from 1888 until the Great Depression, when it ceased for a time, and thereafter until the great slump in the industry in the 1960s. Caledonian Collieries Limited purchased the original unworked shafts at Killingworth in 1895 and continued its sinking to a depth of 880 feet. Two seams were subsequently mined, production commencing at Killingworth Colliery in October 1897. It was renamed West Wallsend Extended Colliery about 1915, although large K C letters continued to adorn the engine rooms. Their coal was shipped via its own branch which connected with the main private railway from Seahampton and West Wallsend to the government's main line at Cockle Creek.

Weekend photo of West Wallsend Extended Colliery with loaded wagons evident.

A huge gas explosion occurred in the pit at 5.25 a.m. on 7 December 1910. No human life was lost but a horse named 'Splash' was killed. The shaft's cages were blown right up the shaft to lodge in a massive tangled mess in the metal headframe. Production did not resume until August 1911.

A brick kiln was established at the colliery, as was a sawmill connected to the mine's railway by a spur. The timber used to construct many houses in Killingworth was produced here. In addition, a large wagon repair shop was opened in 1924 and not closed until April 1961, eighteen months prior to the colliery's final closure.

A public school operated from 1891–1892 and 1902-1941.^[2]

References

↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "State Suburbs: Killingworth". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
↑ http://history.lakemac.com.au/page-local-history.aspx?pid=1085&vid=20&tmpt=narrative&narid=52

External links

History of Killingworth (Lake Macquarie City Library)

Coordinates: 32°55′55″S 151°33′04″E / 32.932°S 151.551°E / -32.932; 151.551

Towns, suburbs and localities of the City of Lake Macquarie, Hunter Region, New South Wales

Towns, suburbs and localities	Adamstown Heights Arcadia Vale Argenton Awaba Balcolyn Balmoral Barnsley Belmont Belmont North Belmont South Bennetts Green Blackalls Park Blacksmiths Bolton Point Bonnells Bay Boolaroo Booragul Brightwaters Buttaba Cameron Park Cams Wharf Cardiff Cardiff Heights Cardiff South Carey Bay Catherine Hill Bay Caves Beach Charlestown Coal Point Cooranbong Croudace Bay Dora Creek Dudley Edgeworth Eleebana Eraring Fassifern Fennell Bay Fishing Point Floraville Freemans Waterhole Garden Suburb Gateshead Glendale Highfields Hillsborough Holmesville Jewells Kahibah Kilaben Bay Killingworth Kotara South Lakelands Little Pelican Macquarie Hills Mandalong Marks Point Marmong Point Martinsville Mirrabooka Morisset Morisset Park Mount Hutton Myuna Bay New Lambton Heights Nords Wharf Pelican Pinny Beach Rankin Park Rathmines Redhead Ryhope Seahampton Silverwater Speers Point Sunshine Swansea Swansea Heads Teralba Tingira Heights Toronto Valentine Wakefield Wangi Wangi Warners Bay West Wallsend Whitebridge Windale Windermere Park Woodrising Wyee Wyee Point Yarrawonga Park

Other places and points of interest	Avondale College Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch Blackalls Park railway station Charlestown Square Cockle Creek Smelter Eraring Power Station Fernleigh Track Glenrock Lagoon Lake Macquarie Lake Macquarie Petrified Forest Mount Sugarloaf RAAF Base Rathmines South Waratah Colliery Teralba Colliery Toronto railway line Toronto railway station Wangi Power Station Watagans National Park

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