Miners Safety Lamp

DESCRIPTION

TitleMiners Safety LampObject TypeObjectDatec.1940DescriptionMiner's Safety Lamp.

Type GR 6S M & Q

Approval No. B2/233.

Inscription on lamp base - Raftery.

This lamp owned and used by Colin Raftery at Tongarra Mine, Tongarra.
Makers MarkEccles - The Protector Lamp and Lighting Company LtdPlace of ProductionEnglandProvenance and SignifcanceIn 1893 William Brownlee of Tongarra started mining a coal seam on his property. The Albion Park Butter Factory had opened in Calderwood Road and in 1894, William sold his coal to the factory for their machinery operations.

William Brownlee came from Ireland as a settler and farmer. In the late 1850s William purchased 236 acres in the foothills of the escarpment and base of Macquarie Pass .

William married Elizabeth Collins in the early 1860s and they had five children, John, Mary, James, Peter and Jane. William built a cottage of local sandstone for the family which still stands today.

After discovery of coal on his property in 1880, William began to excavate. By 1893 William excavated a horizontal tunnel 800 feet above sea level. By August 1893 the tunnel had cut into a seam of the purest and best gas coal which was 22 feet thick. There were another two seams above this one at 14.5 feet and 4.5 feet respectively.

The coal at Tongarra was regarded as being of the best quality and was put on par with Newcastle. William Brownlee was able to sell the coal to operate the machinery at the creamery.

In 1893 when Brownlee opened the mine there was every prospect that Lake Illawarra would be developed into a major port to export coal from a mine at Dapto.

Further development was made to the mine in the early years by Percy Owen, and later Dawson, Gilchrist and De Latorre.

Excellsior Colleries of Thirroul took over mine operations in 1943 and in the 1940s Yuill and Company, under the management of Murray Brownlee. In 1950 William Brownlee’s son, Francis became the manager of the mine on his fathers old property and at this time the entire mine was operated by Excellsior.

Tongarra Mine was closed in January 1965. Over the years the mine provided steady employment for the men of Albion Park and the surrounding districts.DonorRaftery, Joyce

CHARACTERISTICS

MaterialCopper or brass base.

Circular glass enclosure for wick flame.Dimensions34.5 cm x 8 cm wide with extended attached handle

CLASSIFICATION

PrimaryMiningSecondaryUnderground equipment

CONNECTIONS

CollectionObjectsFamilyRafteryLocalityTongarraPlaceTongarra Mine

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Miners Safety Lamp