By all accounts, the Rathluba Coal Seam was operational until 1992. In the early days (1900s) the mine produced ten tons of coal a day in winter, but only six in summer.
Areas of Rathluba today are still subject to mine subsidence.
Pre mining, Rathluba was marked as a signification point of reference on the Anglican Parish Map.
The following notes were taking from “Dawn in the Valley”, written by Allan Wood, published in 1972.
Nathanial Goldingham came to the colony in 1822 and applied for a grant of land, taking this up in 1823 at Rathluba
Goldingham sells Rathluba to Allman. In 1824-25 Captain Allman was Commandant and in 1825-26 Police Magistrate at Newcastle. Retiring from government service, he purchased Rathluba, a farm of 500 acres on the bank of Wallis Creek and overlooking Wallis Plains
Captain Allman had hoped to establish a secure and permanent home at Rathluba, but returns from his farming ventures proved insufficient.
Rathluba is purchased by Houston Mitchell, who received deeds of grant from the Crown in 1837.
I'm sourcing information on the area from 1837 onwards, so please check back as I will contiune to update this page as I uncover more of the areas mining history.
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