BRIEF HISTORY:
Following Mr T.W. Edgeworth David's, (later Professor), report on his proving of the Greta Coal Seam at Abermain, and which was published on Tuesday 3rd August 1886, a new company chiefly composed of Melbourne capitalists was formed in 1888 to seek out this new promised fortunes in "coal". This company purchased a large area of undulating country of over 4,000 acres from Mr J. Scholey of Waratah. The company became known as the "Richmond Vale Estate Company".
In October 1888 this company commenced boring operations to prove the existence of coal on the property. The bore did prove the seam, and the Melbourne company during 1889 decided to sink a shaft. The Newcastle Morning Herald newspaper in its issue on Friday 10th January 1890, reports that this mining operation with Mr John R. Riggs as manager and Alexander McKinnon as the master shaft sinker in the sinking of the shaft had struck a 14 feet 6 inches thick coal seam at a depth of 689 feet. The same newspaper in the issue dated the 19th August 1890 described how on Sunday 16th August 1890 a further splendid coal seam was struck at a depth of 795 feet. The 1891 Mines Department Annual Report also advised of this progress, and informs that 2500 tons of coal was won by 54 men during that year. Jim Comerford, noted coal mining historian, in an anniversary booklet, "Kurri Kurri 1904-1979" noted at page 13 that a considerable amount of Richmond Vale coal was moved by carts and drays at this period. One view states that this coal was sold on the local Maitland market.
Right from the infancy of the Richmond Vale Estate Company, it took some steps to add to its finances by land sales. It requested Alfred F. Hall, Civil Engineer and Licensed Surveyor, then of Parnell Building, Watt Street, Newcastle, to prepare a subdivision of a small part of their Company's land. This was portion 960, Parish of Stockrington, County of Northumberland, and it was laid out as the township of Richmond Vale. The plan shows 33 sections, 930 allotments containing 20 perches each, 17 streets each 66 feet wide and 11 lanes each 20 feet wide. The company also engaged Walter Benns and Company of Newcastle to prepare a booklet entitled - "Richmond Vale, its surroundings and resources", which gave a fine, colourful description of the area. The booklet advised that Brunker and Wolfe, Auctioneers of Maitland would be conducting a sale at a date to be set. Further that the Company's solicitor was G. O'Hea of 105 Collins Street, West Maitland. Finally that the Company's manager was John R. Riggs, who was residing at East Maitland. A "lithograph" of the subdivision that I have sighted shows that the subdivision bordered the Wallis Creek and overlay the East Maitland to Mulbring Road. The section of this road that ran through this subdivision had been renamed Victoria Avenue. There is no record of any allotment having been sold at that time.
The difficulty of coal transport from this new Richmond Vale Estate mine presented a major puzzle. The Melbourne group examined the possibility of laying a railway to West Wallsend, or alternatively to join the Government Railway at either East Maitland or West Maitland. In both schemes there were great topographic problems. The Sugarloaf Mountain range in one direction, the Wallis Creek, flood plains and swamps in the other. The depth of coal and consequent added machinery and equipment needs increased the group's financial problems. On the 25th January 1892 Mr John R. Riggs notified the Mines Department that the mining operations at the Richmond Vale Estate property had been suspended.
The Richmond Vale Estate Company appears to have run into steep financial obstacles. It had expended quite a large amount of money to set up its mining project. Firstly it had financed the bore to a depth of 795 feet to prove the seams. Secondly it sunk a shaft, 12 feet in diameter, also to the same 795 feet depth. Thirdly, at each of the two seam levels, headings were commenced. These entries were arched with brickwork. Fourthly, a boiler house was erected to house the boilers. One boiler was 26 feet 9 inches long by 6 feet diameter. This was set in brickwork with an iron pipe stack. The second boiler was a vertical Tangye, which was to operate a powerful Tangye pump. This pump lifted the pit water up the 795 feet shaft in 5 inches diameter flange piping. Sixthly, a galvanised pipe line was laid to bring an ample supply of water from the creek for the boilers. Seventhly, it installed winding gear and wire haulage rope to raise some form of a cage. Eighthly, a blacksmith's workshop was erected, plus a stores shed and an explosives magazine. Yet its returns from coal sales could scarcely cover its daily costs, let alone meeting the company's mortgage and the interest.
After a number of years the Melbourne Branch of the Standard Bank of Australia took action to recover its mortgage. It requested Lane, Wood and Company, a firm of Newcastle auctioneers, to conduct a "forced sale" of the assets of the Richmond Vale Estate. At the sale held at 3 pm on Thursday 15th July 1897 at the Commercial Sale-rooms, Newcastle, John Brown on behalf of the J. & A. Brown Company was the successful purchaser with a bid of £39,500-0-0 ($79,000.00). One member of the Melbourne syndicate, Mr John Lamont Dow, at his court case for insolvency and bankruptcy held shortly before the "forced sale", had stated that he held an eighth (1/8 interest in the Richmond Vale Colliery Estate, and which he valued at £250,000-0-0 ($500,000.00). Perhaps John Brown saw the same kind of future value. Later history of the Richmond Vale Estate showed a much more appreciable value than the purchase price paid.
Much of the early J. & A. Brown partnership and company story has been given as an abbreviated précis in the Pelaw Main Colliery "Brief History" section at pages 171, 172 and 173. To avoid repetition that history has been omitted in this portion.
Perhaps this is an appropriate place to look at the history of a man, who looked on himself as being the "royalty" of Australia. John Brown certainly was one of the greatest figures ever in Australia in its coal mining history. At Richmond Main Colliery John Brown built an exhibit that demonstrated not only the greatness and power of his J. & A. Brown Company, but also the personification of his own dreams and ambitions. John Brown was an aloof, lonely and perhaps an unhappy character. Wealthy beyond belief, he had worked through all the phases of coal production, transport and sales.
John Brown was born at Four Mile Creek near Morpeth on the 21st December 1851. His parents were James Brown (born 3rd August 1816 - died 27th September 1894) and Elizabeth Foyle (died January 1915). John's grandparents, Alexander Brown and his wife, Mary (nee Hart) had come to Australia with their family in 1842. James, like his father Alexander, had been a hand-loom weaver. James, his father and his brother had commenced work in Messrs Donaldson tweed factory at Stockton.
After a short period James and his brother Alexander Brown moved into the coal trade, particularly in small "rat-hole" mines near Four Mile Creek close to East Maitland. The Brown brothers partnership in these early days only produced small quantities of coal, (now estimated at some 40 tons a day maximum). They supplied the new steamer boats plying between Sydney and Morpeth. Finally the NSW Government prosecuted the Brown brothers to protect the coal monopoly that had been granted to the Australian Agricultural Company. Found guilty, the brothers were restricted in their mining activities for a 3 years period. Eventually the Australian Agricultural Company relinquished its monopoly. In the mid 1850's the Brown brothers had again returned to the Minmi area and were working coal in conjunction with John Eales.
By 1859 the J. & A. Brown brothers partnership had purchased John Eales' interests, - his Minmi mine, his railway and his coal lands. In due course, John Brown, aged 14 years, had entered the firm in 1865 at its office in Newcastle. From there John had moved to become a deck-hand on one of the firm's tugs. After these positions, he then had spent some time in the actual mining operations in the Minmi Pit.
With this rigorous training, there was little John Brown did not know about "coal" or its mining. John was then directed to the coal selling side of the firm's operations. In the early 1870's, he went overseas on a drive to promote coal sales, and he was successful in landing a large contract to supply coal to China. With these markets assured, John Brown toured Britain and America studying those countries' mining methods.
When his uncle Alexander died unmarried in 1877 John and his brothers, William and Stephen, shared Alexander's money, mining interests and sharescript.
On 25th January 1881 at Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland, John Brown married Agnes Bickers Wylie. Agnes died in Sydney on the 17th August 1881, with the honeymoon barely over.
In mid 1882, James Brown appointed John as the General Manager of the Company. When James Brown retired from this mining interest in 1886, he handed over this asset to his sons, with the proviso that John Brown remain as General Manager, and that John was to have the control and the formation of the Company policy. John's experience in all the fields of the Company, allowed him the opportunity for further expansion. The already big company empire was not to John's grandiose plans. In addition to the company's overseas offices in London and Kobe, John had by 1887 opened further offices in San Francisco and Val Paraiso.
Not until John Brown counted his fortune in millions, did he relax with hobbies. His first was poultry. As a fowl fancier, he was outstanding in this activity and was of world class. His chicken runs had no equal. He imported birds from all over the world. It is said that once when beaten in his exhibit at the Newcastle Show, he sent an agent to purchase the prize-winning fowl.
Horse racing and horse breeding became a major part of his hobby activities. In 1897 John Brown won the Doncaster Handicap with his horse, "Superb". John Brown raced his horses under the pseudonym of "J. Baron". Perhaps again the "royalty streak" that seemed to invade the man's ideas. John Brown was also known in the mining circles as the "Coal Baron" or just "Baron John". He certainly won most of Australia's great classic horse races many times over. His "Prince Foote" won the Melbourne Cup in 1909. "Duke Foote", "Prince Charles", "Prince Sandy", "Elizabeth's March" and "Sir Alick", are just a few of his great champions, who all were labelled with royal title names. One that greatly appeals to me is "Richmond Main". This stallion, a son of "Prince Foote", dead-heated with Artilleryman to win the A.J.C. Derby. It went on to win the Victorian Derby and ran a classy second in the Melbourne Cup. A very sound performer, and most appropriately named for John Brown.
John Brown had some 500 thoroughbred horses at the time of his death. He had several large studs including "Darbalara" at Gundagai, one at Scone and one at "Will's Gully" adjoining Minimbah Park near Singleton. John Brown had also added another hobby, "stud cattle".
As well as his racing achievements, 1897 was a very good year for John Brown. When the Melbourne Branch of the Standard Bank of Australia foreclosed on their mortgage of the Richmond Vale Colliery Estate, John Brown was the successful purchaser at the "forced auction sale" on Thursday 15th July 1897 with his bid of £39,500-0-0 ($79,000.00). With its already proved coal mine, plus its rich agricultural potential area, bordering the Wallis Creek and suitable for cultivation, its sound grazing lands, fine stands of timber including iron bark trees, valuable deposits of brick clay, and excellent building stone, John Brown had acquired a setting for his extravagant dreams, - "to the manor (or castle) born". The property had a fine 10 roomed brick homestead roofed with iron, and which was first used by John Brown's early mine managers at Pelaw Main and Richmond Main Collieries.
Yet another prize. On Wednesday 1st August 1900, after some lengthy negotiations, John Brown jointly with the East Greta Coal Mining Company purchased the Stanford Greta Coal Tunnels and its lease. In this arrangement J. & A. Brown Company purchased for £15,300-0-0 ($30,600.00), the Stanford Greta No.2 Tunnel and the western part of the lease, an area of some 3195 acres. Shortly after mining operations commenced at this new purchase, and which the Company renamed Pelaw Main Colliery.
Meanwhile John, William and Stephen Brown had sought the NSW Parliament's permission to construct a railway to link Richmond Vale Colliery to the Hexham - Minmi Railway. Authority was granted by the Richmond Vale Railway Act dated 21st October 1900. Construction was commenced during February 1901.
During the latter part of 1901, for all of 1902, 1903 and most of 1904, John Brown returned overseas seeking more markets for the company's new mines. John's brother William was appointed the Company's acting General Manager during this period. It would seem that John's absence was the main reason for the Richmond Vale Estate property to have stood in "moth-balls".
John Brown's return saw the quick and dramatic decision to construct the spur branch to link Pelaw Main Colliery with the company's own new Richmond Vale Railway. The spur was completed and open for traffic on Monday 26th June 1905. Also soon after John's return, the company acquired some tugs. The fleet had grown to 16 tugs and colliers by the time of John Brown's death in March 1930.
From 1908 onwards, John Brown set out to build the finest coal mine in Australia at Richmond Vale Colliery. In keeping with his Scottish background, it had been renamed Richmond Main colliery. It was planned to be a showpiece with the latest mining and electricity generation equipment. Every building was constructed on a "grand" scale, capped overall by the two-storey administration building. The top floor of which was John Brown's residence when he visited the area. The whole layout of this building, with the gabled walls, slate roof, window arches, iron-lace decoration, all in keeping with a nobleman's country castle or domain.
John Brown always was an imposing figure. His "hard line" with mining union officials saw many severe industrial conflicts. Some of which, John Brown closed his mines and let the pits lay idle until he achieved his aims. It is said that he frequently admired the union man, who had "strong fighting qualities". Some mine managers have said that John Brown was just as dictatorial in his attitude to the Mining Industrial Authority or Mines Department Inspectors if their rulings or instructions thwarted the "John Brown" plan. John Brown was a man who had few intimate friends. Yet a man, who was respected by many of his collieries' office staffs, who say they knew of anonymous gifts of food and money to some of his miners, who had found hard times in strike periods.
After his wife's death, John Brown is said to have stood aloof from all women friends. It is rumoured he considered women to be "fortune hunters". A Sydney newspaper in its issue on 25th October 1955 in a feature article on John Brown, records that during the early World War I years, John paid a young lady, Lucy McGregor, £3-0-0 ($6.00) a week to be a gay young companion at his unpretentious home in Wolfe Street, Newcastle. Lucy also had been promised £10,000-0-0 ($20,000.00) at some later date. Eventually when "gossippers" caused malicious talk, Lucy returned home to Scotland, and claimed her £10,000-0-0 ($20,000.00). John Brown offered to give her £500-0-0 ($1,000.00). Lucy threatened legal action, and in an out-of-court settlement, Lucy received £1,000-0-0 ($2,000.00) a year for the rest of her life.
On the 6th March 1930, John Brown died after a short illness of some weeks. The announcement of his passing n the Newcastle Morning Herald newspaper the next day was almost in keeping with the royal profile John Brown had created. It read:
"Mr John Brown, senior and managing partner of the firm of J. & A. Brown died at his home in Wolfe Street, Newcastle at 10 minutes past 6 o'clock last evening".
Almost like a bulletin, that would have been posted outside Buckingham Palace, showing the exact precise minute and hour of John Brown's death. The following day thousands lined the streets, standing bare-headed in hushed silence to watch the funeral of John Brown pass. Four wreath cars led the hearse after the Presbyterian Church service in John Brown's home in Wolfe Street, Newcastle. A nine carriage funeral train carried some 900 people to East Maitland to accompany John Brown to the family vault.
Maybe this profile on John Brown should be closed with this short poem.
Coal miners have always been renowned for the "doggerel" or "terse verse" chalked on the sides of skips travelling the rounds of a pit. The following example is said to have been found written on a skip in Richmond Main Colliery in the late 1920's. It expressed the miner's thoughts of John Brown:
"The Workers' Prayer"
"Our father which art in Newcastle,
John Brown is thy name
Give us this day our daily 18/- bob
And forgive us for taking it
As we forgive them that take it from us
Thy will be done in Pelaw Main as it is in Richmond Main
And lead us not in the paths of intelligence or action
But deliver us from Starvation
For thine is the power of production
AMEN.
Possibly like the Lord of the manor, John Brown had plans prepared for a feudal village for his "serfs". A deposited plan (D.P.4560 - Lands Board Reference N418-211) was submitted to the NSW Lands Board Office during August 1905. This shows that portions 3-4-5-6, Parish of Stanford were subdivided to form a private town named Stanford; (Note: Not to be confused with the village of Stanford Merthyr). This private town was some 3 kms north-west of Richmond Main Colliery pit-top and 2 kms south of Hebburn No. 2 Colliery pit-top. Most streets were given royal names like Victoria, Regent, and King. One street was named after John Brown's wife Agnes. Similar to the Richmond Vale Estate subdivision of 1889 there does not appear that any allotments were ever sold. This particular subdivided area, portions 3-4-5-6, Parish of Stanford is today owned by the partners of Elrington Engineering Works, Kearsley, namely Harry Wells and Geoff Patrick.
John Brown, with his canny Scotch nature and influenced by his family training, had decided to work the lease-held mining proposition, Pelaw Main Colliery, first. Richmond Vale Colliery, a free-hold venture, was placed temporarily in "moth-balls". Although some efforts were made that seemed to indicate that the Richmond Vale Colliery was shortly likely to become operative. For instance, the Newcastle Morning Herald newspaper in its issue dated Friday 3rd October 1902, reported that Mr R. Thomas had been appointed manager of both Pelaw Main Colliery and Richmond Vale Colliery, and that he was to reside in the brick Homestead at Richmond Vale Colliery. In the light of future events, it would seem that this item was part of a carefully planned "smoke-screen" by John Brown to cover his later disclosed intention for the Richmond Vale Railway.
At the time the Richmond Vale Railway was being laid, and when its construction reached a point 13 miles 51 chains (21.82 kms) from the junction with the NSW Government Railways at Hexham, work towards the Richmond Vale Colliery Estate lease was suspended, and instead a branch spur line was constructed to Pelaw Main Colliery. This was a rail track 2 miles 25 chains (3.7 kms) in length across J. & A. Brown Company owned land. It was completed and opened for use (without a ceremony) on Monday 26th June 1905. Whilst this was a bitter pill to his mining competitors, and a great loss in haulage freights to both the East Greta Coal Mining Company and the NSW Government Railways, it strictly did not conflict with the Richmond Vale Railway Act.
There had been a good deal of controversy in and out of the NSW Parliament, and some bitter debate whilst the Richmond Vale Railway Act was being discussed. No mention had been made of the Pelaw Main Colliery spur link, when the proposed Richmond Vale Railway was envisaged. It is quite doubtful if the Act would have been passed, if John Brown had placed all his "cards and ideas" on the table at the time of the Parliament's review. Still it achieved the economies John Brown had planned and greatly enriched the J. & A. Brown Company.
With the Pelaw Main Colliery link completed, work was then resumed on the final section of the Richmond Vale Railway towards Richmond Vale Colliery. This was finished on Thursday 29th March 1906. On this same date (29-3-1906) J. & A. Brown Company notified the Mines Department that mining operations had re-commenced at Richmond Vale Colliery with Mr Joseph Hindmarsh as manager. The 1906 Mines Department Annual Report shows that during that year 12 men were working at the Richmond Vale Colliery. The following year (1907) Annual Report shows only 4 men engaged at work at Richmond Vale Colliery. With Pelaw Main Colliery working and producing so well, it would seem that John Brown had again slowed down the drive to have Richmond Vale Colliery operating.
Real effort to re-develop the Richmond Vale Colliery Estate lease commenced during 1908. Over the next few years the construction of the weir dam at the lagoon, the erection of the "Markham" poppet head frame, etc., were all preliminaries for the future program. On Monday 20th March 1911, Mr Ethelbert J. Jackson was appointed a separate manager of Richmond Vale Colliery. Up to that date the manager at Pelaw Main Colliery had also been the manager of Richmond Vale Colliery. Mr E.J. Jackson on Thursday 17th August 1911 advised the Mines Department that a second shaft was about to be sunk. At the same time he informed that the Richmond Vale Colliery had been renamed "Richmond Main Colliery". By the end of that year the work force had grown to 158 men.
The new 22 feet diameter shaft was completed and brick-lined during 1912. In the same year the electricity generation plant and powerhouse was completed, together with all other necessary pit-top buildings and rail wagon sidings. John Brown had seen and recognised the need for electric power at all his collieries and operations. This central generating plant at Richmond Main Colliery answered all these needs. Coal appears to have been produced in saleable quantities by early 1916. Brief descriptions of the various colliery buildings erected up to this period appear mainly in the section "Special Equipment and Plant" commencing at page 205.
Coal mining is one of the most hazardous occupations followed by the working class. The miners, as a group, have always sought to improve their lot, and try to obtain a larger share of the riches of the coal industry. This was particularly so on the new South Maitland coalfields. Many disputes and strikes (especially with John Brown) arose over a wide spectrum of issues - "naked lights", "tonnage rates", "hours and shifts worked", the "size of skips", etc., etc. The list seems endless.
In addition as unionists the miners supported their fellow workers in their causes even to the extent of calling a general strike in the coal industry. Again so it was in the damaging "1917 Railways Strike", in which the mining unions supported their railway comrades by closing all mines in a strike. During this strike, an agreement was reached between the NSW Government and Victorian Government that both the Richmond Main and Pelaw Main Collieries should be "commandeered" by the
NSW Government, and worked by "loyalists" (scabs) recruited in Victoria by the Victorian State Government. The purpose of such action was propounded by the two State Governments as their endeavour to get the necessary coal to keep Victorian industry working.
These "loyalists" and their families were encamped on the collieries' properties working the pits under police protection and receiving the constant "attention" of the mining unionists. The Governments' actions were not popular with the Coalfields tradespeople, who regarded the presence of the loyalists as a menace to business and a constant irritation to local unionists and to industrial peace and civic harmony.
"Scab labour" at any mine or mining township is a most unpleasant situation. Such persons are treated in a vile and harsh manner by all and sundry. They are ostracised and boycotted. In this particular case, the women and children of the non-union miners received not only verbal abuse, but also frequent jostling, etc., at the shops and in the streets, which was most unsettling. Local Kurri area schools would not accept pupils from Richmond Main Colliery non-union camp. Finally a school-tent, desks and school materials were set up on Richmond Main Colliery property. Difficulty was experienced in obtaining a teacher from the ranks of the NSW school teachers. Eventually George Reid, a Victorian teacher opened the school on the 13th June 1918. When this school closed at the end of January 1919, teacher George Reid sought sanctuary in Vernon Barwick's home. Vernon Barwick was the teacher at the nearby Richmond Vale State Public School. Mr Barwick smuggled Reid in a horse sulky to catch a passenger train from West Maitland to make his return journey to Victoria.
In January 1919 some 40 loyalists and their families still remained, and almost had been reduced to near starvation. The NSW Government stepped in and fed the contingent, and arranged free passage for them and their belongings back to Victoria. On the 31st January 1919 normal working resumed at Richmond Main Colliery with the correct union labour. At this date 475 men were employed.
Following the death of John Brown on the 6th March 1930, a merger between J. & A. Brown Company with the Abermain - Seaham Company took place in mid January 1931, to form the J.A.B.A.S. Group. The history of this merger has been outlined on page 177 of the Pelaw Main Colliery "Brief History". The main effect at Richmond Main Colliery as a result of this merger was the greater use of the Richmond Main Colliery electricity generation powerhouse. In the mid 1903's an electricity power transmission line was erected across country to connect Richmond Main powerhouse with Abermain No. 1 Colliery. This transmission line was continued on to Abermain No. 2 Colliery to provide electric power to that colliery, and in passing also to Abermain No. 3 Colliery. Later this powerline was continued across country to near Cessnock Racecourse and then alongside the Kalingo Railway to Stanford Main No. 2 (Paxton) Colliery.
Stanford Merthyr Colliery had originally supplied Kurri township with domestic power and street lighting. In the later part of the 1930's, whilst the base power for Kurri was transmitted from Stanford Main No. 1 (Stanford Merthyr) Colliery, the electricity power was generated at Richmond Main Colliery powerhouse and transmitted to the Stanford Main No. 1 transformers. The earlier "Stanford Merthyr" steam electricity generation unit was discontinued. Later it was sold to the Manning district Dairy Co-operative Society at Taree.
Richmond Main Colliery participated in the "Stowage" materials and equipment trials and tests conducted there by the Coal Conservation Committee in June and July 1953, outlined on pages 200 and 201. The reason for the choice of Richmond Main Colliery location for these tests was because of its excellent compressed air equipment.
Right from its early days Richmond Main Colliery had always had some form of "mechanisation". In those days it had utilised compressed air driven coal cutters. Following the merger, like all the J.A.B.A.S. Group, Richmond Main Colliery had participated in the company's trends in mechanisation. "Sullivan short-wall" air driven coal cutters were installed on the 24th July 1933. Shaker Loaders were given a trial in February 1938. Followed in 1941 by "44DD" and "L400" loaders. However some four rubber-tyred "Jeffrey 61" units purchased for Richmond Main Colliery by Mr E. Warren, the Group's managing director, whilst he was overseas, were considered to be impractical machines for this mine and were never un-crated.
The trends towards a States Electricity Commission had commenced in the mid 1940's. However the supply by local coal companies to the Coalfields' towns continued and even extended. Caledonian Collieries from its Cockle Creek powerhouse supplied Cessnock and its neighbouring villages from Abermain to Wollombi. Hebburn Collieries Limited from the Hebburn No. 2 Colliery powerhouse met the domestic demands of Weston and the agricultural areas of Sawyers Gully and Bishop's Bridge. Richmond Main Colliery powerhouse, on behalf of the J.A.B.A.S. Group through the original Stanford Main No. 1 Colliery depot and transformers fed the homes electric power and street lighting for Kurri Kurri, its suburbs Pelaw Main and Stanford Merthyr plus the farming sections of Mulbring and Buchanan.
The NSW Government, in early 1957, created a number of local Government authorities to control the distribution of electricity from the various State's powerhouses. One of these authorities was the Hunter Valley County Council (H.V.C.C.), which was formed on 13th July 1957. In the first instance this body operated from the early collieries' "electrical-control offices", i.e. Kurri area - from the Stanford Merthyr Colliery building, Weston area - from the Hebburn general colliery office near Weston railway station, and Cessnock area - from the company's electricity accounts office adjacent to Aberdare Extended Colliery office.
Soon the Hunter Valley County Council set up its own administrative offices throughout the Hunter region. Whilst its power eventually came from the State Grid, this statutory body continued to take surplus electricity from the colliery powerhouses. The various colliery generating unit plants had retained the "rights" to supply their own collieries still operating.
Even when Richmond Main Colliery ceased its mining operations on the 7th July 1967, the Richmond Main powerhouse continued producing and generating electricity. When the powerhouse was closed in March 1976, power from the State Grid was supplied to the "Round House", and the switchboard and sub-station there. (Note: The "Round House" was a two-storey brick structure adjacent to the powerhouse. The Round House had been erected many years earlier to house a transformer). From this Round House location, electricity was fed through the company's transmission lines to a number of mining, engineering and associated activities. Its walls were 31 feet high, of 25 feet diameter and bricks 18 inches in thickness.
Loss of coal markets generally in the late 1950's due to changes in coal uses following dieselisation in the railways and the alteration to residual oils for gas-making affected the number of miners employed at Richmond Main Colliery. From a mine that had employed some 1200 persons at its peak, the decline and drop was most dramatic. The Joint Coal Board in a paper shows a comparison of the total number of men working at the J. & A. Brown Company's collieries, Richmond Main and Pelaw Main, thus:
At June 1958, a total of 654 men employed
At June 1959, a total of 280 men employed.
Richmond Main Colliery, its railway and its powerhouse became part of the assets of Coal and Allied Limited on its formation on 2nd May 1960. Coal and Allied Limited had been formed by the merger of J. & A. Brown Abermain - Seaham Limited and Caledonian Collieries Limited. (Note: See Pelaw Main Colliery - "Brief History" at page 181 for further details).
Richmond Main Colliery continued its mining operations until the 7th July 1967, when the mine was closed. The powerhouse continued to operate.
After the closure of Richmond Main powerhouse in March 1976, quite a lot of public support was engendered towards the preservation of the Richmond Main Colliery pit-top and powerhouse as a permanent history of the coal mining history, particularly because of the grandeur and magnificence of the colliery structures. However Coal and Allied demolished and scrapped quite a lot of machinery and plant. A number of buildings were damaged or destroyed in this activity. Finally the public committee of "well-wishers" formed to preserve the Richmond Main Colliery won the support of the City of Cessnock Council and the State Government. Some form of "heritage order" was placed on Richmond Main Colliery area.
Steps were taken to evaluate its "tourist" potential. A group of eminent people and interested bodies including Professor John Turner, Damaris Bairstow, Civil and Civic Pty. Limited, Sinclair Knight and Partners Pty. Ltd. and Wills Denoon Travis Pty. Ltd. in May 1983 prepared a feasibility study to investigate the intrinsic value, the heritage analysis and conservation policy. As a result the State Government have provided funds up to about $1,000,000.00 to retain these buildings etc. Further to add other mining and coal railways equipment from other coal mines if worthy of retention.
Hopefully it will make a memorial worthy of the coal miners, including John Brown.
CLOSURE:
Richmond Main Colliery closed 7th July 1967 and the powerhouse in March 1976.