Killingworth, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Killingworth is a small town located south of West Wallsend, New South Wales
and west of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway
. It is part of the West Ward of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area
, and Ward 'D' of the City of Cessnock
.
, 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
.
A huge gas explosion occurred in the pit at 5.25 a.m. on December 7, 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.
West Wallsend, New South Wales
West Wallsend is a suburb and small town in the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia. It is located near the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, not far from the western suburbs of Newcastle.-Coal & railways:...
and west of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway
Sydney-Newcastle Freeway
The Sydney-Newcastle Freeway is a stretch of motorway linking Sydney to the Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter regions of New South Wales. It is part of the AusLink road corridor between Sydney and Brisbane, carrying the route designation....
. It is part of the West Ward of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area
Local Government Areas of New South Wales
The local government areas of New South Wales, Australia have been subject to periodic bouts of restructuring and rationalisation by the State Government, involving voluntary and involuntary amalgamation of areas...
, and Ward 'D' of the City of Cessnock
City of Cessnock
Cessnock City Council is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, located to the west of Newcastle. The largest population centre and council seat is the city of Cessnock, after which the LGA is named....
.
History
Killingworth owes its origins to coal mining, which took place there from 1888 until the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, 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
Seahampton, New South Wales
Seahampton is a hamlet situated north of West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia, located west of the city of Newcastle's central business district and west of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. It is regarded as a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area.Seahampton's origins are in...
and West Wallsend
West Wallsend, New South Wales
West Wallsend is a suburb and small town in the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia. It is located near the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, not far from the western suburbs of Newcastle.-Coal & railways:...
to the government's main line at Cockle Creek
Cockle Creek railway station, New South Wales
-Transport links:Newcastle Buses runs one route via Cockle Creek railway station:*Route 363 - Between Belmont and Newcastle Station.Toronto Bus Services runs two routes via Cockle Creek railway station:*Route 270 - Between Industries and Toronto West....
.
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
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
operated from 1891–1892 and 1902-1941.