Deadly July marks a month of unbearable loss in Australia’s mining history, a time when explosions, outbursts and underground disasters claimed the lives of dozens of mineworkers and shattered entire communities.
These incidents are more than statistics. They are stories of fathers, sons, mates and rescue teams who never came home.
Each tragedy brought grief, outrage and eventually, change, forcing an industry to confront its failures and rethink safety underground. This page stands in solemn tribute to those we lost, and as a call to remember the hard lessons learned in blood.
Box Flat Mine Disaster – 31 July 1972
In the early hours of 31 July 1972 a catastrophic explosion tore through Box Flat Mine near Ipswich, Queensland killing 17 mineworkers and severely injuring three others. One of the injured, Clarence Edwin Wolski, later died in 1974 from injuries sustained in the blast, bringing the total death toll to 18.
On Sunday evening, 30 July, signs of a fire were detected underground and a team was sent in to investigate. Later, a second crew returned to build temporary seals to contain the fire. At 2:47am, a massive explosion erupted, caused by a build-up of gases and coal dust ignited by the ongoing fire. The blast was so intense it shook homes across Ipswich.
Among those killed were eight members of the Mines Rescue Service. In the hours following authorities determined it was too dangerous to continue rescue operations due to the risk of further explosions. The mine was sealed, entombing 14 of the men. A funeral service was held at the mine entrance.
The disaster led to major safety reforms across the industry, including the introduction of personal filter self-rescuers, gas chromatographs for surface analysis and improved firefighting equipment for underground operations.
Sources: Ipswich First, Mining and Energy Union.
MOUNT KEMBLA – 31/7/1902 – 96 killed
Australia’s worst industrial disaster occurred on 31 July 1902 when 96 men and boys were killed in a methane gas and coal dust explosion at Mount Kembla Colliery in NSW. There were 261 workers underground at the time, including boys as young as 14. The explosion was so powerful it was heard more than 11 kilometres away in Wollongong.
Recovery efforts spanned several days and were fraught with danger. Two rescuers lost their lives due to exposure to toxic gases. All but one of the victims were recovered. The scale of the tragedy deeply affected the community, leaving 33 widows and 120 children fatherless. In response, the NSW Parliament suspended its sittings, reflecting the widespread grief.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry followed. The mine owners initially blamed the incident on a fall of ground, but the Commission found that dangerous gas levels were present and known. The disaster was attributed to a methane and coal dust ignition, worsened by poor ventilation and the use of open flame lamps.
Recommendations included better ventilation, gas monitoring, improved shot firing, and the phasing out of naked flames. Substantial ventilation upgrades were not completed until 1925 and open flame lamps were not fully banned until the 1940s.
Sources: NSW Resources Regulator, Mine Accidents Database, Monument Australia, Mining and Energy Union.
APPIN – 24/7/1979 – 14 killed
On 24 July 1979, an underground explosion at Appin Colliery on the NSW south coast claimed the lives of 14 mineworkers. The blast occurred in the K Panel, around three kilometres from the pithead and 600 metres underground.
At the time, 46 workers were underground. Ten of the victims were taking their mid-shift meal in the crib room, while four others were working in nearby areas. Some survivors managed to reach the surface but sustained serious burns.
The union’s Lodge President, Dave Kemp, was among those underground and later was part of the grim task recovering the bodies. Rescue teams from the Southern District Rescue Station and other collieries assisted in the operation.
A judicial inquiry led by Judge A.J. Goran found the explosion was caused by a methane gas build-up, likely ignited by a fault in the starter box of an auxiliary fan. The ignition triggered a secondary coal dust explosion that was fortunately limited by stone dust and water barriers.
The inquiry also revealed serious communication failures and ongoing breaches of statutory gas safety regulations. Judge Goran criticised the Mines Department for allowing a tolerance of unsafe practices in known gassy mines.
Recommendations included the introduction of continuous gas monitoring, improved ventilation, alarm systems and the appointment of additional safety inspectors.
Sources: NSW Resources Regulator, Judicial Inquiry Report, Mining and Energy Union, The Bulli Times.
MOURA NO. 4 – 16/7/1986 – 12 killed
On 16 July 1986, an underground explosion at Moura No. 4 mine in Central Queensland claimed the lives of 12 mineworkers. The explosion occurred at approximately 11:05 am in the Main Dips Section, where the miners were extracting pillars.
At the time, 19 men were working underground. The seven survivors managed to help each other to the surface through clouds of dust and gas.
Recovery efforts were initially postponed due to dangerous conditions, including high gas levels and near-zero visibility. The bodies of the deceased miners were recovered on 23 July after an extensive operation.
A Warden’s Inquiry found that a large roof fall had displaced methane gas, which had accumulated in the roof cavity. The most likely source of ignition was identified as a flame safety lamp, traditionally used to detect methane in underground coal mines.
Following the inquiry, flame safety lamps were withdrawn from use in Queensland mines and later phased out in NSW. Other recommendations included the implementation of continuous gas monitoring, compulsory safety induction training for all mineworkers, and the requirement for secondary extraction plans to be developed and approved by the Mines Inspectorate.
Sources: Queensland Government Warden’s Inquiry Report, Mining Accident Database, Monument Australia, Mining and Energy Union.
SOUTH BULLI – 24/7/1991 – 3 killed
In the early hours of 24 July 1991, a sudden outburst at South Bulli Colliery near Wollongong, NSW, claimed the lives of three mineworkers. The incident occurred at approximately 3:10 am in the W12 Panel, shortly after the resumption of coal cutting following routine roof support installation.
The outburst, triggered by a previously undetected reverse thrust fault, released an estimated 6,000 cubic metres of gas – primarily carbon dioxide with some methane – and approximately 130 tonnes of coal and rock. The sudden release of gas and material asphyxiated the three workers. Deputy Bruce Corbett, who had just moved away from the face to investigate a diesel man car, survived the incident.
Although Illawarra Bottom Gas had been detected in the area during previous mining operations, no gas had been detected during the shift of the incident or the preceding six shifts. The mine was not classified as outburst-prone, and outburst management procedures were only implemented when potential was detected.
A coronial inquest in July 1992 found deficiencies in the mine’s outburst management plan and training programs. Recommendations included the development of comprehensive outburst management systems, improved training for workers and enhancements to panel ventilation systems.
The tragedy led to significant changes in industry practices, including the implementation of mandatory outburst management plans in outburst-prone underground coal mines.
Sources: NSW Resources Regulator, Mining Accident Database, Mining and Energy Union.
| All photos of the mining disasters were sourced from Mining Accident Database. To learn more or to see the full selection of images go to: www.miningaccidents.com.au |
