Mineral Wealth and
Industrialisation

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1. Coal :
• General Information :
• Australian Coal Association
  ‘This site provides information on coal, the Australian coal industry and issues concerned with the mining and use of coal.’
• Australian Coal [CSIRO]
  ‘Welcome to the Australian Coal archive website. This site is the online repository for the complete suite of articles published in the journal, The Australian Coal Review, between 1996 and 2000.’ Multiple search options, all downloadable as .pdf documents.
• Coal Mining in Australia [wikipedia]
  Covers forms of coal, fast facts, major mines, proposed mines, export markets, overseas end users, export ports, major companies, environmental impacts, references and further links.
• Lockout
  [The Great Australian Lockout Of 1929-30]
  ‘In 1929 one of the darkest chapters in Australian industrial history was written in blood and bitterness on the Northern Coalfields of NSW - it took 15 months for the enemies to fight themselves to a standstill.’
• Research & Other Documentation :
• Coal in a Sustainable Future
  Downloadable .pdf document [2.2mb] which looks not only at the title topic, but also types of coal, history and much more.
• Coal Fact Sheet
  Covers occurrence, black and brown coal, mining, uses and suggestions for further information. From the National Mining Atlas. A similar Fact Sheet can be found here.
• The Australian Black Coal Industry
  [Productivity Commission Working Paper No. 1568]
  ‘On 9 July 1997 the Treasurer referred the international competitiveness of the Australian black coal industry to the Commission for inquiry and report within 12 months.’ Abstract provided and access to a .pdf download is given.
• State Information :
• Hunter Coal
  [Nobody Knows What We Are Going Through So This State Can Be Rich]
  Article from the Minerals Policy Institute which looks at the impact of the coal, and related, industries on the Hunter Valley.
• Illawarra Coal
  [An Unofficial History of Coal Mining in the Illawarra]
  ‘An historical research project covering over 200 years, when coal was first discovered in the Illawarra district of New South Wales, Australia.’
• The NSW Coal Industry
  An introduction to the topic with links to information on a 2006 profile, coalfields, coal specifications, new mines & projects, coal statistics and the NSW Clean Coal Summit.
• Bowen Basin Area
  Towns in the Bowen Basin, the main centre of coal mining in Queensland. There are also sections on coal mines, coal terminals and gas resources. The Mines pages provides details of all mines, giving mine name, owner, operator, location, type, coal type and production as well as a general statement about the mine.
• Coal [Queensland]
  ‘Find out more about Queensland coal production. Check quarterly and yearly coal statistics. Find out more about transporting coal.’
• Coal [South Australia]
  Information from Primary Industries and Resources. Text plus downloadable document, Coal Deposits in South Australia in .pdf format.
• South Australia’s Coal Mining Industry
  Text article with general information about dates, sites, people.
• Beneath our Feet
  [Coal - Powering Victoria]
  Looks at both black and brown coal, famous people linked to the industry, images and more.
• Coal Mining History, Victoria
  ‘Coal, the ‘Black Gold’ of the region underpinned Gippsland’s wealth from the 1920s, with the discovery of one of the world’s largest coal deposits in the Latrobe Valley. Today, you can visit the decommissioned State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi and hear stories of the humour and hardships of life underground. Also in the area is the Coal Creek Heritage Village in Korumburra which authentically depicts life in a coal mining town between the 1870s-1920s.’
• Fact Sheet 12 - Coal [WA]
  Download this .pdf pamphlet which gives on overall view of coal usage, brief information about coal in Australia, then more detailed information about coal in Western Australia.
• General Information :
• A Century Of Mining In Australia
  A paper presented by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• Australian Atlas of Minerals, …
  [Resources & Processing Centres]
  ‘The Atlas will deliver authoritative minerals and mining information [historical, scientific, economic, societal and environmental] to individual Australians and provide a virtual-showcase of the industry for global audiences.’ Covers a search option, Mapping, History, identified mineral resources, education, jobs and links to further information.
  Highly Recommended !
• Australian Mining
  [Australia’s Premier Mining News Website]
  News, feature articles, topic pages, podcast, links and more.
• Australian Mining History
  A general introduction with a Chronology from 1848 through to 1990. It covers all mineral groups and all areas of Australia.
• Australian Mining History Bibliography
  Listed for Australia, then under each state/territory. Within each, it is broken down into specific mineral areas.
• Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources 2007
  Summary of the document is provided, then link to download in .pdf format.
• CSIRO Mining & Minerals
  Covers exploration, mining systems, tools, technologies, processing, research and more.
• Glossary of [Mining] Terms
  From The Northern Miner, the Global Mining Newspaper.
• Mineral Exploration in Australia
  [Trends, Economic Impacts and Policy Issues]
  Document in .pdf format which looks at a downturn in exploration [around 2000] and its possible future impacts.
• Mineralogy Database
  ‘This mineral database contains 4 442 individual mineral species descriptions with links and a comprehensive image library.’
• Minerals Downunder
  Information from Geosciences Australia covering gold, copper, silver, mineral sands and iron as well as exploration techniques.
• National Education Program
  [Minerals Council of Australia]
  Done covering the three educational levels and with links to state groups for further material.
• Resources Sector
  Information from DFAT about resources in Australia.
• The Australian Mining Industry : From Settlement to 2000
  A paper presented by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• Treasures from the Earth
  ‘The aim of this unit is for students to explore the “Treasures from the Earth” - to discover where they are, what they are, how much there is, how valuable they are, how we get them, who gets them and what happens when we do !’ All sections, activities, etc., downloadable in .pdf format.
• Virtual Mine Tours
  ‘Travel to a modern gold or coal mine by exploring the virtual mine tours [below]. Includes curriculum-linked activities to download.’ From the NSW Minerals Council Ltd..
• Gold :
• Goldrushes, The
  Includes early discoveries, the major gold discoveries, the major goldrushes and more.
• Ophir
  [The First Payable Goldfield Found In Australia]
  A brief, textual presentation giving details of the discovery and workings near Bathurst.
• Rumours of Gold
  Part of a larger section of information on gold from the State Library of NSW.
• The Discovery of Payable Gold in NSW
  Information, and photographs trace the discoveries made in NSW. Note the acknowledgement at the top of the site.
• The Goldfields of NSW
  Extract from a book called ‘Gold Colonies of Australia’. Print is fairly small but you can read it clearly [you can increase the size] and you can print or email the information.
• Gold [NT]
  Very brief historical data, major gold miners and explorers, current activity, map of major gold producing areas/mines. Downloadable .pdf document.
• The Goldfields of Queensland
  ‘Queensland goldfields cover a vast area.’ Highlight individual fields to get further information.
• Time Chart Of The Queensland Gold Rushes
  A simple text listing of dates and events related to the Queensland gold rushes.
• Gold in South Australia
  Information from Primary Industries & Resources SA. Covers specific areas as well as general information and also provides a number of references.
• South Australian Gold Mining
  A text-based background article on gold discoveries in South Australia.
• Tasmanian Goldfields
  ‘Tasmania is not as well known for its gold production as some of the larger Australian States. None the less, for its area Tasmania has made a sizeable contribution to the country’s gold production.’ Highlight individual fields to get further information.
• Victorian Gold Rush
  Covers the background, major and long-lasting impacts, references, further reading and several further links. From wikipedia.
• Gold - Fact Sheet 8 [WA]
  Downloadable .pdf document from the Department of Industry and Resources WA. Covers gold properties, uses and production and an extensive historical background. Graphics and images as well as text.
• Gold in Western Australia
  Downloadable .pdf document from the Department of Industry and Resources WA. Covers historical background, production past & present, occurrence in WA, prospecting, treatment of gold ore and references [bibliography].
• The Discovery Of Gold In Various States
  From the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Information about the discoveries, data on the quantities of gold produced [pre 1910], different methods of mining that were adopted, plus additional information on other aspects.
• Famous People and Discoveries
  Includes discoverers, people involved in the goldrushes and their aftermath, special nuggets and more.
• Daintree, Richard
  Geologist, photographer and discoverer of north Queensland goldfields. Information and further links. From wikipedia.
• Famous Australian Nuggets
  Information and images of a number of famous nuggets discovered in Australia.
• Gold Nugget List of Victoria
  ‘Victoria, Australia is the home of the largest Gold Nugget bearing area in the World.’ This lists the top 10 nuggets by weight and gives all related details.
• Hannan, Patrick [Paddy]
  Gold miner and discoverer [Kalgoorlie]. Biographical information from the Australian Dictionary of Biography Online.
• Hargraves, Edward
  Discoverer of Gold in NSW, leading to the first major goldrush.
• Welcome Stranger, The
  Covers discovery, nugget information, finders and references. From wikipedia.
• General Information :
• Australian Gold Rushes
  Early discoveries, licenses, references, further reading, other links from Wikipedia.
• Australian Goldrush History
  Images, documents, educational information, links to further information and more from the Culture & Recreation Portal.
• Australian Gold - The Rush to Riches
  ‘A Virtual Museum presented by Sovereign Hill, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the University of Ballarat and the State Library of New South Wales. Access the [following] topics to explore graphics and documents covering Australia’s gold-rushes.’
• Discovery of Gold in Australia
  Uses topic listings to lead to related pages and covers the 1850s era. Primarily taken from a text written in 1884.
• Gold !
  ‘Explore the impact of the gold rushes on Australia and uncover the stories of the diggers at SBS GOLD ! The topics [ ] detail the varied results of the gold rushes on the young colonies of Australia, and use newspapers, diaries and memoirs to uncover the personal experiences of those caught up in the rush.’
• Eureka Stockade
  A first genuine push for democratic involvement. The Southern Cross flag emanated from here.
• Arrests at Eureka
  Lists people arrested.
• Defending Victoria : Eureka Stockade
  Information, photos.
• new !Eureka Flag
  From wikipedia.
• Eureka Stockade …
  ‘Birth of the Australian National Idea.’
• Ross, Henry
  One of the leaders.
• The Eureka Stockade
  Articles.
• eGold
  [Electronic Encyclopaedia of Gold in Australia]
  ‘Telling the story of gold through images, stories and multimedia interactives, it connects individual stories to the wider historical themes of global gold rushes, global migration flows, building the Australian nation and democratic change during the gold rushes.’ Find information via Themes an A-Z Index or by searching.
  Well presented !
• Gold Downunder
  Covers properties, Gold in Australia, how it is used, how it forms, what it is worth, glossary, quizzes and more. From Geosciences Australia.
• Gold in Australia
  A map of present day mines in each state and territory, as well as brief notes about the first discoveries of gold.
• Gold, Rock File
  Covers ‘Properties, Uses, Source, Operating Gold Mines [Australia], Amazing Facts and Further Information.’ You can also download the information in the .pdf format.
• Gold Rush : The Australian Experience
  ‘This online exhibition was formerly known as Gold 150 project and is maintained by the Australian National Maritime Museum. The site is divided into the following two sections’, The Gold 150 Museum, a collection of images from the Gold-Rush days and The Gold 150 Library of documents on the Gold-Rush Era and other articles of historical interest.’ Among these are the document Gold Fever ! [Life on the Diggings 1851-1855].
• Immigration and Ethnicity
  This section expands into a huge range of information once you click on the ‘Read More’ and ‘Details’ links on the home and following pages, and the special links on the left. Looks at population, cultural and social impacts.
  Highly Recommended !
• Life on the Goldfields
  [A State Library of Victoria Virtual Exhibition. Now archived at Pandora]
  Sections cover on the road, life under canvas, entertainment, new chums, mining techniques, lucky diggers, Eureka Stockade and the Goldfields Petition.
• Mining Technology
  [Mining technology on the central Victorian goldfields in the 1850s and 1860s]
  This section expands into a huge range of information once you click on the ‘Read More’ and ‘Details’ links on the home and following pages, and the special links on the left. Demonstrates a range of these.
  Highly Recommended !
• Telling the National Story of Gold
  This section expands into a huge range of information once you click on the ‘Read More’ and ‘Details’ links on the home and following pages, and the special links on the left.
  Highly Recommended !
• Iron Ore :
• Australia - Mining : Iron Ore Mining
  Provides information covering an overview, mining organisations, facilities and participating organisations.‘ ’
• History of Iron Mining in Australia
  From the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia, 1910.
• Iron and Steel Technology
  A selection of information from Technology in Australia 1788-1988. Use page number and arrows at top left to read all relevant pages.
• Iron Downunder
  Information regarding the properties of iron, iron in Australia, uses of iron, the formation of iron, a glossary and more.
• Iron Ore
  An extensive fact sheet from the Australian Atlas of Minerals et al. Covers resources, reserves, exploration, production, world ranking, industry developments and more.
• Iron Ore - Fact Sheet 11
  Download this .pdf pamphlet which gives on overall view of iron ore, brief information about iron ore in Australia, then more detailed information about iron ore in Western Australia.
• Iron Ore in Australia
  [A History of Red Gold in the Pilbara]
  Text article providing background information on this area and the ore discoveries there.
• Iron ore in Western Australia
  Downloadable .pdf document from the Department of Industry and Resources WA. Covers historical background, production past & present, occurrence in WA, prospecting, treatment of iron ore and references [bibliography].
• Iron Ore Mining Outlook
  From Australian Mining, 2007.
• Iron [Rock File]
  From general information to amazing facts, operating iron mines, properties and more. From the Australian Atlas of Minerals et al.
• Technology in Iron Ore Mining
  A selection of information from Technology in Australia 1788-1988. Use page number and arrows at top left to read all relevant pages.

1. Major Figures, Organisations and Groups
   Also check the information included in the Famous People & Discoveries section of the information on Gold above.
• Australian Atlas of Mineral Resources, Mines, and Processing Centres
  ‘Geoscience Australia, with its supporting partners Minerals Council of Australia and Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, is developing the Australian Atlas of Mineral Resources, Mines, and Processing Centres.’
• Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame
  Especially check their Hall of Fame Database.
• BHP Billiton [1]
  One of the biggest mineral companies in the world. Started as separate groups, BHP in Australia [Broken Hill] and Billiton in South Africa. Other information can be found at this BHP Billiton [2] site. A brief BHP history can be found here, including a timeline in .pdf format for download.
• CSIRO
  This section of their site covers their work with various metals.
• Evans, Henry James
  ‘Leading exploration geologist and discoverer of the Weipa bauxite deposits.’
• Flanagan, Tom
  ‘One of the prospectors whose discovery of gold in 1893 paved the way to mining in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.’
• Fortescue Metals
  One of the newer companies with huge mining resources in WA in particular.
• Geoscience Australia
  ‘Geoscience Australia plays a critical role by producing first-class geoscientific information and knowledge. This can enable the government and the community to make informed decisions about the exploration of resources, the management of the environment, the safety of critical infrastructure and the resultant wellbeing of all Australians.’
• Hancock, Lang
  Asbestos, iron ore in the Pilbara.
• Hilditch, Athol Stanley
  ‘Prospector and discoverer of major iron ore deposits in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.’
• Hoskins, Charles Henry
  Along with his son Sir Cecil Harold Hoskins were involved in the early steel industry in Australia.
• Lewis, Essington
  Iron and steel manufacturer and one of the major leaders of BHP.
• Miles, John Campbell
  Prospector, goldminer and discoverer of Mt Isa Mines.
• Minerals Council of Australia
  ‘MCA represents Australia’s exploration, mining and minerals processing industry, nationally and internationally.’
• Rasp, Charles
  ‘Pastoral worker, discoverer, and member of the syndicate that began mining at Broken Hill.’
• Rio Tinto
  ‘One of the world’s leading mining and exploration companies. We find, mine and process the earth’s mineral resources.’ Also check their Iron Ore site. There is information, links and videos on both sites.
2. Uranium :
• Australia’s Uranium Mines
  ‘There are three operating uranium mines in Australia, Ranger in NT, Olympic Dam. and Beverley in South Australia.’
• Uranium
  A selection of information from Technology in Australia 1788-1988. Use page number and arrows at top left to read all relevant pages.
• Uranium Exploration in Australia
  Text and graphical information regarding this. Includes a listing of companies and discovery sites.
• Uranium Fact Sheet [NT]
  Downloadable .pdf document covering information on uranium in the Northern Territory.
• Uranium Information Centre
  A range of downloadable .pdf documents as well as other fact sheets and more.
• Uranium Mining in Australia
  Multiple topics including information on Australia’s Uranium Mines, past and present.

1. Cultural Effects :
• How Australian Industry Policy Shaped Cultural Policy
  Article from the International Journal of Cultural Policy [2008]. This only links to details, You need to check for library access.
• Population, Migration, Social Change
  A highlights package taken from the Boyer Lectures. For each of the 6 lectures there are full transcripts.
• The Real Matilda
  [Woman and Identity in Australia, 1788 to the Present]
  Extensive excerpts as part of the Google Book project.
’
2. Data, Opinion, Research, Publications :
• Australian Industry Information
  ‘This research guide will provide you with starting points for finding information on Australian Industry information.’ From the RMIT Library.
• Australian Trade Policy 1965-1997
  [A Documentary History]
  ‘Over the last thirty years there have been dramatic changes in Australia's approach to trade and industry policy. On the domestic front, objectives have shifted from protection and expansion of manufacturing industry to promotion of international competition in most sectors of the economy.’ From Google Books.
• In Defence of Industrialisation and Mining
  An interesting commentary, taking a line through the industry to infant mortality rates.
• Industrialisation and South Australia
  ‘This paper documents and seeks to explain the distinctive pattern of industrial change in South Australia.’ Available in .pdf format but Fee-based.
• Managing Labour
  [UK and Australian Employers in Comparative Perspective, 1900-50]
  Extensive text article by Arthur McIvor and Christopher Wright.
• The Theoretical Rational for Industry Policy
  Text article. Colours used may make it difficult to read.
3. General Information :
• Industrialisation
  Good background information about what industrialisation is and how it began. From wikipedia.
• Industry Policy in Australia
  A Research Paper done in 1999 and held in the Australian Parliamentary Library. Full text.
• Railways and Industrial Politics
  Article on the linking of the nation by rail lines.
• Transport and the Making of Cities, 1850-1970
  Looks at the role of transport in urban expansion and has a relationship to the development of industry both for transport and urban development.
4. Government Involvement :
• Ausindustry
  ‘The Australian Government’s agency for delivering products, services and information that support innovation, industry, science and research.’
• Australia’s Industrial Development Experience
  ‘Australian Government industry policy focuses on macroeconomic stability, microeconomic reform and specific interventions.’ Download in .pdf format.
• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
  Entry for this portal.
• Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
  Entry for this portal.
5. Major Figures, Organisations and Groups :
• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  ‘It is a venerable organisation with more than a century of history serving the interests of business.’
• Australian Council of Trade Unions
  The peak body for all trade union and labour movements in Australia.
• Business Council of Australia
  ‘Our membership is made up of the CEOs of 100 of Australia’s top companies, representing all industry sectors.’
6. Trade & The Economy :
• Australian Manufacturing :
  [A Brief History of Industry Policy and Trade Liberalisation]
  A parliamentary research paper covering the period from about 1970 through to 2000.
• Australian Trade Policy 1965-1997
  [A Documentary History]
  Excerpts from this books as part of the Google Books project.
• Manufacturing From Settlement to The Start of The New Century
  Brief information on the period prior to Federation, with multiple periods described from then to 2000.
7. Union Involvement & Influence :
• A Century of Change in The Australian Labour Market
  ‘This article examines unemployment, employment by industry, and trade union membership, and describes some of the major changes in these aspects of the labour force over the twentieth century. There are also data on the use of child labour in factories in Australia earlier in the century, and its decline later in the century.’
• Labour Disputes in Australia
  Provides links to site covering a range of major disputes including a number related to coal, the Pilbara, Mt Isa and others.
• Australian Labour Movement
  Early history, growth of the trade and industrial unions, the Labour Movement at the beginning of the 1900s, Depression and the attacks on unions, World War 2 and after and changes in 2005. References. From wikipedia.‘ ’
• Australia’s Labour Movement Begins
  Article covering the early period after British settlement, with links to further sections covering later periods and further information.
• Australian Trade Union Archives
  ‘An online gateway for researchers and scholars of labour history, designed to link together historical detail, archival resources, published material and current information about Australian industrial organisations, mainly including trade unions and also employer bodies.’
• The Convict Origins of the Trade Union Movement
  Text article with link to extensive referencing on all Australian history.
• The Union Movement
  ‘The story of the Trades Union movement in South Australia began almost as soon as European colonisation.’ The site provides information about this.
• Unions and Related Sites
  A collection of links compiled by the Australian National University [Political Science].