Tongarra Mine Cottage

DESCRIPTION

NameTongarra Mine CottageTypeBuildingResidenceGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

DescriptionIn 1884, William Brownlee purchased the property, then consisting of 236 acres. He built a sandstone cottage for his family c.1893, which stands today in the foothills of the escarpment.

Coal was found in 1880 and excavation began in 1886. In 1893, William Brownlee drove a tunnel 800 feet above sea level; it was said to have been driven 40 feet into a seam of the purest and best gas coal, 22 feet thick.

The coal was used to operate the Tongarra Creamery, which opened in the same year and was located on the main road on William Moles’ property.

'Tongarra Mine Cottage' is one of the few examples of a sandstone cottage dating from the Victorian period in the Shellharbour area.

External LinkAuction Sale Brownlee's Farm Tongarra 1937Illawarra District Fertile Freehold Farms 1893

Photograph