This month we showcase a fascinating piece of mining equipment housed at the Clermont Historical Centre: a diesel-powered shovel. We also delve into the history of the mine where it operated.

Constructed by the Australian company Jaques Brothers, this robust machine was integral to the operations at Blair Athol Mine from the mid-1900s until 1975. After its retirement, Bob Lace restored the shovel, and it was donated to the Clermont Historical Centre by Blair Athol Coal in 1989.

The Jaques shovel is emblematic of a transitional period in mining technology, bridging the gap between steam-powered machinery and the more modern large-scale diesel or electric equipment. A steam-powered shovel and the bucket from an electric-powered dragline also stand as sentinels near the Centre’s car park, further illustrating the evolution of mining technology.

Visitors to the Centre can also learn about the history of Blair Athol, Australia’s first open-cut coal mine.

Coal was discovered at Blair Athol Station in 1864 during the sinking of a well. By 1873, the presence of rich coal seams was confirmed.

In 1869, the Peak Downs Copper Mining Company acquired land around Blair Athol to supply coal for the copper smelters at Copperfield. However, by 1890, Queensland Central Railways was the sole consumer of Blair Athol coal, using it to fuel their trains. The Clermont railway station was initially the nearest point of access as a direct railway line to Blair Athol was delayed for a decade, finally opening in 1910.

In 1909, The Blair Athol Coal and Timber Company became the first large enterprise to undertake coal mining operations at Blair Athol, absorbing smaller collieries and paving the way for the transition from shaft mining to open-cut mining. By 1922, Blair Athol had the distinction of becoming Australia’s first open-cut mine.

Mining, particularly coal mining, has always been fraught with dangers such as cave-ins, flooding, asphyxiation, and equipment failures. Additionally, coal seams produce highly flammable gases, and coal dust is a significant explosion risk. Working conditions were hazardous for miners and the pit ponies that were introduced in 1919 to haul coal skips. At Blair Athol, grey draught horses were used because their light colour was easier to see underground and their acute hearing often alerted miners to imminent cave-ins. By 1946, the use of pit ponies at Blair Athol had ceased.

At its height, Blair Athol was a bustling township featuring a hospital, picture show, two hotels, several stores, and tradespeople. However, the discovery of significant coal seams beneath the town in the 1970s led to the relocation of residents and viable buildings to Clermont and the town ceased to exist.

The Blair Athol Mine, operated by Rio Tinto and Japan Coal Development, boasted a very profitable seam width of 29 metres, about four times the normal width. Peak production was reached in 2009 with 11.3 million tonnes of coal exported. Although Rio Tinto closed the mine in August 2012, it was subsequently acquired by New Emerald Coal in 2013 and later by TerraCom in 2017, with mining resuming in 2018. A 2021 reserve update has extended the life of the mine until 2035.