The Lake Mac Heritage Series was placed to pay homage to the people, places and events that contributed to building and pioneering the Lake Macquarie region. The pick and shovel were chosen in this geoart series to symbolise the hard work the people of Lake Macquarie put forth into the region.
Sulphide Corporation
Sulphide Corporation was an important company in Lake Macquarie for over 100 years and was a major employer during that time. Although it ceased production in 2003, the ongoing industrial, economic, environmental and social significance of the Sulphide to Lake Macquarie is substantial. At the time of its closure, Lake Macquarie City Library was able to secure a large number of records relating to Sulphide employees and make them available to the public.
History
Much of northern NSW was underdeveloped when the management of a London-registered company known as the Sulphide Corporation (Ashcroft's Process) Limited set their sights on establishing an industry at Cockle Creek in 1895. They were confident they could make a commercial success of the electrolytic zinc process developed by Edgar Ashcroft. The reasons for choosing the Newcastle area were explained by the Corporation's first Chairman, the Earl of Kintore, a former Governor of South Australia: "The place selected for the erection of the company's works is Newcastle, New South Wales, which offers exceptional advantages for the purpose, being situated on the sea, with good port and harbour facilities, and having ample supplies of coal in the immediate vicinity. It has also the advantage of possessing good wharfage and railway accommodation and an abundant supply of salt and fresh water, all of them essential for our purpose. Newcastle is also a port of call and coaling station for steamers to and from all the leading Australian ports so that freights can be easily arranged for both in respect of plant and machinery and the company's ores and products."
Although the first industrial use of the Cockle Creek site failed after just two years, it left behind two important legacies. First, it advanced the electrolytic process significantly, paving the way for successful electrolytic zinc plants like the EZ Plant in Hobart. Secondly, it began a remarkable period of industrial activity at the Cockle Creek site, which spanned more than a century. The site has been through enormous change in its 106 year history - World Wars, the Great Depression, population growth, market fluctuations, changes in process, a myriad of different products, and more recently, community and environmental concerns. It grew to be one of the Hunter's largest employers - at one time employing more than 800 people - and an important economic contributor. In its last year of operation, it contributed more than $80 million to the local economy.
The puzzle
All historical and heritage information courtesy of Lake Mac Libraries
Any questions regarding this puzzle cache or the LMHS geoart series will be answered by clicking HERE
*** The LMHS geoart was placed in conjunction with the OzGeoMuster 2018 mega event. The Oz GeoMuster 2018 committee would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this series. ahomburg, day1976, sedgwickDave, The Morris, bobbiesgirl, and the_garbageman.***
Enjoy!
Marcus Vitruvius