The Foundation of Our State

Many regional centres were established through mining and continue to thrive as a result of mining operations. Newcastle, Broken Hill, Wollongong, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Lithgow, Orange, Gunnedah and Cobar are robust mining centres. Interestingly, it is not only regional centres that grew and prospered through mining: the historic inner-Sydney suburbs of Balmain and Glebe are the sites of early coal mines, otherwise called collieries.

Coal mining in Australia began near Nobbys in Newcastle in the 1790s and the first shipment of coal left Newcastle in 1799. Newcastle and Wollongong and their bustling ports, as well as towns like Broken Hill, drove the NSW economy from the late 1800s onwards. Newcastle is now the second largest city in NSW and the world’s largest coal export port. Expansion of Newcastle port is planned.  The flow-on effect will be an increase in government revenue in the form of taxes and royalties paid by mining companies that will, in turn, benefit all residents of NSW.
 
South of Sydney, the Illawarra region flourishes on the back of the high grade coking coal found in the region, supporting major industries including steel production, manufacturing and mining. The region is the leading producer of steel and steel products in the South East Asian region.

Nearby, Port Kembla exports both coal and steel. Many other local industries have emerged creating a service sector that supports mining and the steel industry. The Illawarra mining industry has been creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 160 years with the first mining operation commencing at Mount Keira in 1848. 

The discovery of gold near Orange in 1851 sparked a gold rush in the region. Gold and copper mining operations commenced at Cadia Hill in 1870, which today is the site of the largest gold mine in NSW. Gold is not just used for jewellery; it is also used in the manufacture of vital lifesaving medical equipment, as well as for components in TVs, computers, DVDs and space satellites.

The regional centres that grew up supporting mining led to expanded road and rail infrastructure, as well as schools, hospitals, and other community services. Singleton for example, was first settled in the 1820s, but took off when the first mine opened in 1860, ultimately becoming the biggest service town for the Hunter Valley.

Internal Link

History of Mining in NSW