Awaba Colliery, near Fassifern, NSW

Post-Mining Heritage Management Plan

Prepared by: Prepared for:

RPS AUSTRALIA EAST PTY LTD CENTENNIAL COAL NEWSTAN

743 Ann Street PO Box 1000 PO Box 1559 Toronto NSW 2283 FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006

T: +61 7 3237 8899 F: +61 7 3237 8833 E: [email protected]

Client Manager: Joanne McAuley Report Number: PR109115 Version / Date: Final/ August 2012

rpsgroup.com.au Awaba Colliery, near Fassifern, NSW Post-Mining Heritage Management Plan

Document Status

Version Purpose of Document Orig Review Review Date Final Issue to client J McAuley D. Rigby 28 June 2012 Draft V Sicari (Heritage Final Issue to client J McAuley 31 July 2012 Branch)

Approval for Issue

Name Signature Date

Joanne McAuley 17 August 2012

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Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 2 1.1 Background ...... 2 1.2 Study Area ...... 3 1.3 Methodology ...... 3 1.4 Authorship and Acknowledgements ...... 3 2.0 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT ...... 4 2.1 The Heritage Act 1977 ...... 4 2.2 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EP&A Act) ...... 4 3.0 HISTORIC HERITAGE RESOURCE WITHIN AWABA COLLIERY ...... 6 3.1 Previous Historic Heritage Studies of the Awaba Colliery site and environs...... 6 3.1.1 Awaba Colliery Outbye Extraction Cultural Heritage Assessment (ERM, November 2005) ...... 6 3.1.2 City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study (Suters Architects Snell, Dec 1993) ...... 6 3.1.3 Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment for Awaba Colliery (RPS, September 2010) ...... 7 3.2 Heritage Register Search ...... 8 3.2.1 The Australian Heritage Database ...... 8 3.2.2 The NSW Heritage Inventory ...... 8 3.2.3 Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2004 (LMLEP 2004) ...... 8 4.0 HISTORIC CONTEXT ...... 9 4.1 Historical Overview of the local area ...... 9 4.2 NSW State Coal Mines ...... 10 4.3 Awaba State Colliery ...... 10 4.4 NSW Historical Themes ...... 12 4.5 Sources...... 12 5.0 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ...... 14 5.1 Main Building Complex ...... 14 5.2 The Workshop ...... 16 5.3 The Drift Portals ...... 18 5.4 The Rail Track ...... 19 5.5 Fire Station Shed ...... 19 5.6 Layout ...... 19 5.7 Visual Setting/Curtilage ...... 21 6.0 HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENT ...... 23 6.1 Assessment against NSW State Heritage Significance Criteria ...... 23 6.1.1 Criterion (a): An item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area) ...... 23

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6.1.2 Criterion (b): An item has strong or special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)...... 23 6.1.3 Criterion (c): An item is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in NSW (or the local area) ...... 23 6.1.4 Criterion (d): An item has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in NSW (or the local area) for social, cultural or spiritual reasons ...... 24 6.1.5 Criterion (e): An item has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area) ...... 24 6.1.6 Criterion (f): An item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)...... 24 6.1.7 Criterion (g): An item is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of NSW’s (or the local area’s) cultural or natural places; or cultural or natural environments...... 25 6.2 Intactness and Integrity ...... 25 6.3 Level of Significance ...... 26 6.4 Summary of Assessment ...... 26 6.5 Contribution of Individual Features to Overall Significance ...... 26 7.0 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ...... 28 7.1 Summary Statement of Significance ...... 28 8.0 MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 29 8.1 General Statement of Conservation Approach ...... 29 8.2 Owner’s or Steward’s Requirements ...... 29 8.3 What are the items/fabric that must be conserved? ...... 30 8.4 Recommended approach to new development ...... 32 8.4.1 Layout ...... 32 8.4.2 Form and Bulk ...... 32 8.4.3 Adaptive reuse and/or extensions to existing buildings...... 32 8.5 Gaps in knowledge about the site and recommended further study/research ...... 33 8.6 What are the place’s conservation needs and interpretation requirements? ...... 34 8.7 Review of management recommendations ...... 34 8.8 Heritage management contingency protocols ...... 34 9.0 CONCLUSION ...... 35

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Tables

Table 4.1: NSW Historical Themes in evidence at Awaba Colliery

Figures

Figure 1: Current site plan Figure 2: Recent aerial photograph of the site Figure 3: Plan showing recommended locations for new development

Plates

Plate 1: Main building complex Plate 2: Lamp and battery racks in lamp room Plate 3: Corridor through main bath house Plate 4: Workshop Plate 5: Bearby & Morison crane within workshop Plate 6: 1947 drift portal Plate 7: 1949 drift portal Plate 8: 1987 drift portal Plate 9: Fire station shed Plate 10: View of complex from terraced car park

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Executive Summary

. This Post Mining Heritage Management Plan (PMHMP) has been prepared to satisfy Environmental Performance Condition 31 of the Project Approval for the Awaba Coal Mining Project under Section 75J of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 dated 13 May 2011. . The pit top complex is considered to be of local heritage significance. Having assessed the site against the NSW State heritage significance criteria, it has been found to embody historical, aesthetic/technical values. It is considered to be a good example of type and to have potential to yield further information. . A Statement of Significance has been prepared for the site (Section 7.0) which explains the site’s heritage values. It highlights that the Awaba Colliery pit top complex’s importance lies in it being an early and intact example of a state coal mine. Furthermore, that the continuity of use and historical association with Wangi Power Station are significant. In physical terms, the site’s strong industrial aesthetic and visually pleasing setting also contribute to its value. . Buildings, structures and features which contribute to the heritage significance of the site have been identified. These comprise the main red brick building complex, the workshop, the three drift portals dating from 1947, 1949 and 1987 respectively, the rail track, the fire station shed and the site’s setting (refer to Sections 5.0 and 6.0). Internal features of interest including original signage and lamp and battery equipment racks are also noted. . Conservation management and mitigation recommendations for the site have been provided (Section 8.0). The Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, 1999) is noted as a guiding document which advises “changing as much as necessary and as little as possible” (Article 3, page 3). . Recommendations are provided for each contributory building or feature as well as the approach to the introduction of new development. Essentially maintenance of the form and appearance of buildings and structures of significance is recommended as well as the retention of internal fabric and features of interest. It is also recommended that new development be located beyond the central late 1940s core of the complex (refer to Figure 3).

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1.0 Introduction

RPS has been instructed by Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd to prepare a Post-Mining Heritage Management Plan (hereafter ‘PMHMP’) for Awaba Colliery which complies with Environmental Performance Condition 31 of the Project Approval for the Awaba Coal Mining Project under Section 75J of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 dated 13 May 2011. This condition is set out below.

“Post-Mining Heritage Management Plan

31. The Proponent shall prepare and implement a Post-Mining Heritage Management Plan for the project to the satisfaction of the Director-General. This plan must:

(a) be prepared in consultation with OEH, Council, any relevant local historical organisations and the CCC and in accordance with any relevant OEH guideline;

(b) include an assessment of the heritage significance of the non-Aboriginal heritage items located on the site, including the Awaba Colliery surface buildings and the abandoned Awaba-Wangi Railway;

(c) provide recommendations for the long-term management and/or use of these heritage items; and

(d) be submitted to the Department, Council and OEH within 12 months of this approval.”

It is also noted that the Statement of Commitments within Appendix 4 of the Project Approval that a further requirement with respect to ‘European Heritage Management ‘is made. The specified action is that “Prior to the decommissioning of any pit top buildings at the Awaba Colliery and in consultation with the LMCC, all buildings will be subject to a heritage assessment of significance”. The desired outcome is to “Ensure that identified and unidentified Archaeological sites are appropriately managed”.

1.1 Background

The Project Approval requiring the PMHMP relates to the completion and cessation of mining activities at Awaba Colliery. Indeed, it is understood that mining operations at the Awaba Colliery will cease by the end of 2012 and it will no longer be required to handle, process or transport coal from its surface site.

Rather than acting as a colliery in its own right, it is proposed that the surface infrastructure of the Awaba Colliery be used as part of the planned expansion of the nearby Newstan Colliery. The proposed expansion would extend underground mining operations both within and beyond the existing approved ‘Newstan Colliery Life Extension Area’ using a combination of continuous miner and longwall mining methods to extract up to 4.5 million tonnes of coal per annum.

Centennial Coal is currently seeking approval for the Newstan Colliery Extension of Mining Project under Part 4 Division 4.1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). There are several components to this proposal and those which relate to the Awaba Colliery complex include: . Utilise and upgrade the existing surface infrastructure of the Newstan and Awaba Collieries; . Construct a new men and materials drift at the Awaba Colliery Surface Site for access to the Newstan Colliery underground workings; . Install and operate additional surface infrastructure for gas drainage, greenhouse gas capture

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and abatement, ventilation, support buildings, electrical reticulation, water reticulation, water management, communications and other services; and, . Increase manning to 350 employees.

It is also noted that Centennial Newstan has approval for the construction of a ventilation fan at Awaba Colliery Surface Site and that its installation is anticipated to commence in June 2012.

This report is a combination of two previous reports prepared by RPS, namely a Post-Mining Heritage Management Plan (April 2012) and a Heritage Assessment and Conservation Management Strategy for the Awaba Colliery Pit Top Complex (April 2012) which have been subject to external audit. As recommended by the audit, this report combines, rationalises and supplements the findings contained within the aforementioned RPS reports to ensure compliance with Project Approval Condition 31. RPS has prepared a number of reports relating to the Awaba Colliery and environs including a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (September 2010) which is discussed in Section 3.1.3 of this report.

1.2 Study Area

The study area comprises the Awaba Pit Top complex and associated land forming the Awaba Colliery (now within the Newstan Colliery holding) as shown in Figure 1. The colliery covers an area of approximately 8ha and is 10.5km to the southwest of Lake Macquarie within the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area. Awaba Village is approximately 1km to the north of the mine.

This report focuses on the buildings and structures that make up the surface infrastructure of Awaba Colliery. It is noted that Condition 31 of the Project Approval (refer to Section 1.0) also requires a heritage significance assessment and management recommendations for the ‘abandoned Awaba-Wangi Railway’. This PMHMP does not deal with the remains of the Awaba-Wangi Railway in any detail on the basis that the railway remains are outside of the Awaba Colliery boundary proper. Furthermore, it has been assessed that the railway remains will be largely unaffected by future mining and expansion activities (refer to findings of the RPS Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment summarised in Section 3.1.3).

1.3 Methodology

This report has been prepared in accordance with The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance (1999) and current best practice guidance published by the Heritage Office and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (now the Heritage Branch, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier & Cabinet). In particular, the following best practice documents have informed this report: Assessing Heritage Significance (2001), Conservation Management Strategy Form – Part 1 & 2 (2002), Conservation Management Documents (2002), Levels of Heritage Significance (2008) and New South Wales Historical Themes (2001).

1.4 Authorship and Acknowledgements

This report has been prepared by Joanne McAuley, RPS Senior Cultural Heritage Consultant, and was reviewed by Darrell Rigby, Cultural Heritage Manager.

Assistance in the preparation of this report was provided by several members of Centennial Coal staff including James Wearne (Environment and Community Coordinator – Projects), Nerida Manley (Environment and Community Officer), Terry O’Brien (Newstan Mine Manager), Rick Howell (Operations Manager, Awaba) and Trevor Hines (Production Manager, Awaba).

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2.0 Legislative Context

The following overview of the legal framework is provided solely as information for the client; it should not be interpreted as legal advice. RPS will not be liable for any actions taken by any person, body or group as a result of this general overview, and recommend that specific legal advice be obtained from a qualified legal practitioner prior to any action being taken as a result of the summary below.

The following paragraphs set out the legislative context with respect to non-Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment and management in New South Wales.

2.1 The Heritage Act 1977

Natural, cultural and built heritage is protected in NSW under the Heritage Act 1977. The Act is administered by the Heritage Branch (formerly called the Heritage Office), a State government agency within the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The Act creates the State Heritage Register (SHR) which provides permanent protection for a heritage item or place. Items of State heritage significance are defined as a place, building, work, relic, moveable object or precinct which is of historical, scientific, cultural, social, archaeological or natural significance to the State (Section 4A(1) of the Act). The effect of listing is that a person cannot damage, destroy, alter or move an item, building or land without approval from the Heritage Council..

The Heritage Council of NSW, constituted under the Heritage Act 1977, is appointed by the Minister and responsible for heritage in NSW. The Council reflects a cross-section of community, government and conservation expertise with the NSW Heritage Branch being the operational arm of the Council. The work of the NSW Heritage Branch includes: » working with communities to help them identify their important places and objects; » providing guidance on how to look after heritage items; » supporting community heritage projects through funding and advice; and » maintaining the NSW Heritage Database, an online list of all statutory heritage items in NSW.

The 2001 NSW Heritage Manual Update, published by the NSW Heritage Office (now ‘Heritage Branch’) provides guidelines for ‘Assessing heritage significance’. The Manual includes specific criteria for assessing heritage significance and the significance assessment within this report has been completed in accordance with these guidelines (refer to Section 6.0).

2.2 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EP&A Act)

The EP&A Act provides the statutory framework for environmental planning and assessment for NSW. In determining land use planning proposals the Act requires that environmental impacts are considered, including the impact on cultural heritage.

Assessment documents prepared to meet the requirements of the EP&A Act including Reviews of Environmental Factors (REF), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), are required to address cultural heritage amongst other matters.

Section 76A specifies development that requires development consent (as opposed to ‘complying development’ and ‘exempt development’). Section 76A (6) (f) states that development cannot be classed as ‘complying development’ if the land to be developed is subject to an Interim Heritage Order (IHO) or listed on the SHR, or listed on an LEP heritage item schedule.

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Statutory planning documents such as Local Environment Plans (LEP) and Regional Environmental Plans (REP) typically contain provisions for heritage where relevant.

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3.0 Historic Heritage Resource within Awaba Colliery

The following section describes the findings of previous heritage assessments and studies which considered the historic heritage resource at Awaba Colliery and the findings of our review of Federal, State and local heritage databases.

3.1 Previous Historic Heritage Studies of the Awaba Colliery site and environs

The Awaba Colliery area has been surveyed on a number of occasions with regard to cultural heritage. These surveys have focused primarily on Aboriginal heritage because the area is covered by an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA). A summary of non-Indigenous heritage findings as a result of previous surveys of the Awaba Colliery are discussed below, primarily the Awaba Colliery Outbye Pillar Extraction Cultural Heritage Assessment prepared by ERM (November 2005) and the City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study prepared by Suters Architects Snell (December 1993) which includes an assessment of the Awaba Colliery site.

3.1.1 Awaba Colliery Outbye Extraction Cultural Heritage Assessment (ERM, November 2005)

The study area for this assessment excluded the land occupied by the complex of pit top buildings. With regard to non-Aboriginal heritage, the main item/ feature identified is the remains of the Awabi-Wangi rail line and associated sites/structures.

The ERM report notes that the rail line, sleepers, rail pins and embankment formations remain present in the areas surveyed. A linear arrangement of power poles running parallel to the rail line (six in total) and a series of associated fence posts, also running parallel to the rail line, were noted during the survey.

In assessing the heritage significance of the rail line remains against the NSW Heritage Office assessment criteria, ERM found that the item/group of items were of historical value (Criterion (a) – an item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)). This historic significance was considered to be based on the rail line’s association with the Awaba State Colliery and the Wangi Power Station and consequently, the close link to the cultural history of the local area and the broader region. At the time of the survey, the rail line was considered to be ‘very well preserved and retains integrity’ such that it was considered to be of ‘high local and regional significance’.

3.1.2 City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study (Suters Architects Snell, Dec 1993)

A number of buildings and structures in the study area and environs identified as having heritage significance such that they merit LEP protection in a 1993 City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study prepared for the Council (hereafter the ‘1993 Heritage Study’).

It is emphasised, however, that the buildings and structures within the project area and discussed in the study have not been included in the Heritage Schedule of any subsequent LEP. Both the Lake Macquarie LEP 2004 and the current Draft LEP 2011 do not include the buildings and structures listed below and noted as being of heritage value in the 1993 Heritage Study.

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Table 3-1: Proposed Heritage Sites and Items within the 1993 City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study

Item Number Name of Item within study

Awaba State Mine AW-07

Awaba to Wangi Power Station Branch Railway Line RT-13

The buildings in the Awaba Colliery Pit Top area associated with the Awaba State Mine (AW-07) are assessed in the 1993 Heritage Study as having moderate state significance, high regional significance and very high local significance. The group is described as having ‘very high potential for interpretation and would be a valuable site on a heritage trail’.

A draft citation for the Awaba State Mine complex is included within the study with a statement of significance provided for the complex as follows:

“Awaba State Coal Mine is an attractive and virtually complete complex of colliery buildings, laid out in a compact group to suit the working of a modern drift mine. The rural setting at the bottom of a small valley, surrounded by forest clad ridges, gives the Coal Mine an aesthetic value unmatched elsewhere in Lake Macquarie...it was built to supply coal to Wangi, and was formerly linked to Wangi by a branch rail line, thus it shares in the high significance of Wangi P.S. as the first coalfields sited power station in NSW.”

The Awaba to Wangi Power Station Branch Railway Line (RT-13) is assessed as having very high local significance and high regional significance in the 1993 Heritage Study. As with the Awaba pit top complex, the study recommends the interpretation of the railway as a heritage trail.

3.1.3 Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment for Awaba Colliery (RPS, September 2010)

This report was prepared to assess the cultural heritage impacts associated with the Awaba Colliery Continuation of Mining Project in September 2010. The study area follows the footprint of the then proposed mining areas and related surface operations and extended considerably beyond the Awaba Pit Top Complex area to include remains of the Awaba-Wangi Rail line. The overall study area of the report is split into four smaller study areas with Study Area 1 containing the pit top complex and Study Area 2 containing the remains of the Awaba- Wangi rail line. The heritage significance of each component is discussed in the report and the likely impact of the proposed mining activities on this heritage significance is assessed.

The Awaba Colliery pit top complex is described as having very high local heritage significance, high significance on a regional level and moderate in terms of state significance. These findings are derived from the aforementioned City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study. The project involved no changes to the pit top complex and as such, there was considered to be no risk of impact on the heritage significance of the complex.

The remains of the Awaba-Wangi rail line is described as comprising a single track rail line on wooden sleepers and two power poles within the study area. The findings of the Suters Architects Snell study are reiterated and the remains are described as sharing their significance with the Wangi Power Station and the Awaba Colliery pit top area. The report notes that the project may cause subsidence which could cause some deformation of the rail line and possibly affect the two associated power poles. The report finds that if subsidence did occur, it would not detract from the significance of the item.

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3.2 Heritage Register Search

Heritage registers are used to record items of National, State and local heritage significance which are consequently afforded statutory protection. In order to establish whether there are statutorily-recognised heritage items within the study are, a review of the Australian Heritage Database, NSW Heritage Inventory and City of Lake Macquarie LEP Heritage Schedule has been carried out. The findings of this review are provided below.

3.2.1 The Australian Heritage Database

The Australian Heritage Database is an online database of items listed under the Commonwealth Heritage List (CHL), National Heritage List (NHL) and the Register of the National Estate (RNE) archive. The Commonwealth Heritage List relates to Commonwealth owned or occupied property and is not applicable to this assessment.

The National Heritage List (established by the Environmental Protection & Biodiversity Act (1999) (Commonwealth)) includes places of natural or cultural significance at a national level and can be in public or private ownership. Places on the NHL are considered to be of higher significance than places of State and local heritage value, even if State or local heritage lists do not specifically include them. There are no items listed on the NHL within the study area.

The Register of the National Estate (RNE) was in place prior to the creation of the NHL and CHL and for some time ran alongside the new system. Following amendments to the Australian Heritage Council Act 2003 in February 2007, the RNE was frozen such that no new places could be added or removed and as of February 2012, it no longer has statutory status. The RNE is maintained as an archive and educational resource and although items included on it no longer enjoy statutory protection, inclusion may be relevant to statutory decisions about protection The Register of the National Estate includes 32 heritage sites within the Lake Macquarie local government area none of which are located within the Awaba Project Area.

3.2.2 The NSW Heritage Inventory

The NSW Heritage Inventory is maintained by the NSW Heritage Branch and includes all heritage items registered at the World, Federal, State and local levels. Items of State significance are registered by the NSW Heritage Council under the NSW Heritage Act and are included on the State Heritage Register (SHR).

There are six items included on the SHR within the Lake Macquarie LGA but none are within the study area. The Wangi Power Station Complex is related to the study area and has a strong association with the Awaba State Coal Mine in that the mine was built to supply coal to the Power Station. The Wangi Power Station is included on the SHR and the Section 170 heritage register maintained by State Government agencies. The SHR inventory entry for the site notes that it has the ‘highest level (of) State heritage significance for its association with leading the evolution of coalfields-sited power stations and power generation in NSW’.

3.2.3 Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2004 (LMLEP 2004)

Schedule 4 of the LMLEP 2004 contains a list of ‘Heritage items other than of Indigenous origins and including potential archaeological sites’; however, none of the sites are located within the study area.

Lake Macquarie City Council is in the process of reviewing and updating their LEP. It is anticipated that LMLEP 2012 will go on public exhibition in 2012 and be finalised (published) in 2013. The only available online version of the draft LEP is an exhibition draft dated April 2011. Schedule 5 ‘Environmental Heritage’ lists items of local heritage significance within the local government area. There are none listed within the study area.

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4.0 Historic Context

The following section provides an overview of the historical development of the Awaba locality before going on to look at NSW State coal mines generally and in particular, the development of the Awaba State Mine. Reference is also made to Australian and NSW Historical Themes in evidence at Awaba Colliery.

4.1 Historical Overview of the local area In 1875 an exploration party examined the practicability of building a railway line between Lake Macquarie and Sydney. It was realised that the private line of the Wallsend Coal Company (now Gretley Colliery Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company) should connect to Sydney by a railway line passing to the western boundary of the lake. In 1878 a surveyor named Cummings produced a report which formed the basis of the plans from which the Sydney-Newcastle railway was eventually constructed. The small village of Awaba was then developed in response to the needs of the railway contractors.

In 1883 The Town and Country Journal made reference to Awaba whilst describing the various coal-bearing properties around the lake. The 1,100 acre property of W.A Kingscote situated near Lake Macquarie proved to contain coal-bearing grounds by the Government diamond drills. The first drill proved a good seam of coal and the second tapped an artesian supply of water however, there was no immediate attempt to extract coal from the Kingscote property. In 1885, a large influx of men who resided in tents and built huts, settled in the area after Awaba was selected as a site for railway construction depot. A timber depot was also established in 1885 with a large saw mill being an early feature of the village.

The development of a road approximately 3.5 kilometres west of the Awaba depot which linked Cooranbong to Wallsend created a junction which linked Awaba to Palmer’s. A hotel was formed at the junction which encouraged further settlement in Awaba. There was a large influx of timber-getters who arrived from across the Sugarloaf Ranges. The pioneering families of Field, Puddy and Wellard from the Mount Vincent district settled in the area. The development of Awaba village was scattered with dwellings established randomly over the area.

In 1889 the railway officially linked Newcastle to Sydney and soon after a general store and a butchers shop were established and operated by settlers. In 1890 the government established a school which opened in 1891. Coal mining then followed with the establishment of the State Coal Mine, Awaba (later Awaba State Coal Mine) in 1948 by J.M. Baddeley.

Additional collieries were established in the wider area of Awaba following the Awaba State Coal Mine opening. These included the Northumberland Colliery and Olstan Colliery (later Newstan Colliery), South Teralba Colliery, and the Myuna Colliery. The Northumberland Colliery which is located west of the Awaba Colliery began operation in 1886 and was expanded in 1914 with the opening of Northumberland No.2 Colliery. In 1916 the two Northumberland Collieries were sold to Fassifern Coal Co. who expanded their operations through the opening of another colliery in 1919 named the Oldstan Colliery. The three collieries were then sold in 1949 to the NSW Electricity Commission who reopened them as the Newstan Colliery in 1950.

The South Teralba Colliery was opened in 1886 by the Teralba Co-operative Coal Company and is located north of Awaba. The South Teralba Colliery experienced many name changes from the early 1900’s as the colliery experienced many different owners. The colliery, referred to as the Stockton Borehole Colliery at this point was acquired by BHP in 1949 and is still currently in use. Myuna Colliery is located at Wangi Wangi, south-east of Awaba. The colliery operation commenced in 1979 by its owners Centennial Myuna Pty Ltd. The colliery operates its extraction of coal and minining activities using bord and pillar methods in three coal seams located in Wallarah, Great Nothern and Fassifern.

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4.2 NSW State Coal Mines

The State Government’s first venture as a colliery owner was at Lithgow where preparation work began at the site in the city outskirts in September, 1916. Work was suspended in July 1917, but resumed in June 1921 when two shafts were sunk and a relatively small amount of coal was produced during that year, principally for the railways. The control of the mine then came under the control of the Railway Commissioners of New South Wales until September 1932 when the State Coal Mines Control Board was established and assumed control. This organisation then became the State Mines Control Authority (SMCA) on 1st March 1950 set up to take over existing and future State Coal Mines.

The main function of the SMCA was to produce coal for the use of Government instrumentalities, mainly the Department of Railways and the Electricity Commission. The chief administrative officer of the Authority was the Director of State Coal Mines responsible for the implementation of the Authority’s decisions, while oversight for field operations and coal dispatch was the responsibility of the Superintendent of Colleries.

In 1950 the SMCA was responsible for two producing coal mines at Lithgow and Awaba and for the development of the Oakdale State Coal Mine. The Awaba State Colliery commenced production in July 1949 (discussed further below) and the Oakdale State Mine commenced production in July 1951 respectively. Subsequently the Authority became responsible for the Liddell, Munmorah and Wyee State Coal Mines.

On 1st July 1973, the Authority’s head office and the four coal mines under its control, namely the Awaba, Liddell, Wyee, and Munmorah State Coal Mines, were transferred to the Electricity Commission of New South Wales, and then to Elcom Collieries Party Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Commission). The State Coal Mines Authority was ultimately abolished in 2000.

In terms of the former State Coal Mines other than Awaba Colliery, the Lithgow Colliery stopped producing coal in 1964 and remaining buildings form part of the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park and Railway; the Liddell State Coal Mine is still in operation and has been renamed the Cumnock Colliery owned by Xstrata; Wyee State Colliery operating since 1960 continues to do so and has been renamed Mannering Colliery; and, the Munmorah State Colliery is understood to have operated from 1962 to 2005. There is no readily available information on the Oakdale Colliery’s length of operation.

4.3 Awaba State Colliery

The State Mines Control Authority was responsible for the site selection, establishment, planning and management of the Awaba State Mine which was commenced in 1947. As such, it was the first colliery to be planned, constructed and managed by the Authority because the only other colliery under its control at the time was the pre-existing Lithgow Colliery.

An article by R J Ashworth in 1955, then Director of State Coal Mines and Chairman of the SMCA, describes Awaba State Colliery as “one of the best equipped coal mines in Australia” and goes on to say,

“The bath and change house and other amenities at the mine and also the workshop and stores building, are unsurpassed at any other colliery in the State, whilst the electrical and mechanical installations are of a high order” (Mineral, Vol. 1, No. 3. June 1955).

The Colliery was established with the object of providing coal for the Wangi Power Station located 5 miles away and connected by rail line. The power station was specially designed to burn coal from the Great Northern Seam being worked at Awaba State Colliery. Awaba State Mine’s maximum output was intended to be 2,500 tons per day.

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The first unit of the Wangi Power Station was due to come into operation during 1956 (it was officially opened on 7th November 1958) and in the meantime, Awaba State Mine produced coal for Metropolitan power houses. This pattern of collieries providing coal for nearby power stations was the case for most of the state mines that followed.

In 1947 No. 1 tunnel was driven in at a grade of 1 in 5 (men and materials drift closest to the bathroom complex) and the first coal was hauled from underground on 4th December 1947. In early 1949 No. 2 tunnel (belt drift) started; also driven at a grade of 1 in 5. The Colliery was a “tunnel mine” and the coal won is brought from working places by battery and cable reel shuttle cars to “district belts” and then by a series of belts to the main conveyor belt located in No. 2 tunnel and leading to the modern screening and loading plant on the surface (this was replaced in 1955 with an electric trolley wire locomotive haulage system). Pit ponies were used to draw 1 tonne skips along a 760mm gauge track. It is understood that pit ponies were used at the mine until it became fully mechanised in the early 1980s when continuous miners completely replaced conventional units.

With regard to progression of infrastructure development following the creation of No. 1 and No. 2 tunnels, the next development was the completion of a screening and crushing plant on the surface in December 1953. Over the next few years the office and bathroom complex and the workshop and stores complexes were completed.

Throughout the life of the Awaba State Mine improvements and upgrades were consistently made with regard to the mining machinery used, the mechanisation of the mine’s workings and haulage system as well as the drifts and facilities. For instance, the No. 1 men and materials drift constructed in 1947 had the original timber supports replaced throughout its length with side walls and girders in 1961.

The method of mining also diversified with the introduction of pillar extraction in 1971; principally in areas where total extraction was not practicable because of shallow cover. This subsequently led to water inundation problems for the site with slippages and creep occurring due to heavy rainfall combined with the relatively shallow surface cover. The average depth of cover between the surface and the Great Northern Seam is 30m on average across the site area but is a low as 15m in places.

In 1973 the colliery changed ownership when the Government decided to amalgamate the northern coalmining operations under the control of the Electricity Commission of NSW. The mines were vested in the Newstan Colliery Pty and the name changed to Elcom Collieries. This occurred in the context of a declining power station market apparent from the late 1960s and as a result, drilling programmes had been undertaken at Awaba State Mine to determine the potential of other seams with a view to exporting to markets other than power stations.

From 1982 coal from Awaba Colliery was sent to Eraring Power Station via a newly constructed coal haulage road. It is assumed that this was as a result of the imminent closure of the Wangi Power Station which closed in 1986. The Eraring plant was the successor to Wangi Power Station using the same coal sources and employing the same community. Its construction began in 1976 and the last unit was commissioned in 1984.

Two additional drifts were created at Awaba Colliery in the 1980s. The first in 1981 was a 1 in 4 drift which incorporated a new conveyor belt system to replace a trolley wire locomotive coal haulage system. This is assumed to have been constructed to enable the mine to better meet the needs of supplying Eraring Power Station. The second was in 1987 when a 1 in 20 grade drift with trackwork for men and materials haulage was commissioned.

In 1990 Awaba State Mine failed to win a contract to supply coal to Eraring Power Station and its future became uncertain such that it was put up for sale along with a number of other mines. An appropriate buyer

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was not forthcoming and the Government decided to keep the mine running but with a considerably reduced workforce.

In 1994 Awaba State Mine was renamed Awaba Colliery and ENC Management was renamed Powercoal Pty Ltd. The majority of coal was exported overseas and the major buyer was Japan. Centennial Coal, the current owners, took over the colliery in 2002 and it continues to supply coal to Eraring Power Station as well as servicing the export market.

4.4 NSW Historical Themes

The following table identifies and explains the Australian and NSW Historical Themes in evidence at the Awaba Colliery site. It should be noted, however, that although State Historical Themes are evidence, this does not confer a state level of heritage significance. A heritage significance assessment of the site is within Section 6.0 of this report.

Table 4-1: Australian and NSW Historical Themes in evidence at the Awaba Colliery site

Australian Theme NSW Theme Comment

Mining The site has been an operating 3. Developing local, regional and colliery since 1949 and as such, has a national economies longstanding and continuing association with coal mining.

Labour The site contains tangible evidence of activities associated with work practices and organised labour in the 5. Working form of the layout of the pit top complex and buildings specifically provided for workers in the case of the bath houses particularly.

4.5 Sources

The sources of information for the above historical context sections include: » “Chronicle of Awaba Colliery” by P. Enright, 1995 (unpublished academic paper provided by Centennial Coal). » State Records Archives Investigator (online resource) – Agency Details for the State Coal Mines Board and the State Mines Control Authority. » “The State Coal Mines of New South Wales” by R J Ashworth within Mineral Journal, Vol. 1, No. 3, June 1955. » “City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study” by Suters Architects Snell (Dec, 1993). » “Mining Sites in NSW: History and Heritage” by Dr Michael Pearson & Dr Barry McGowan, NSW Dept of Industry and Investment, 1998. » NSW Heritage Office online inventories for Wangi Power Station and Eraring Power Station.

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» “Coal, Railways and Mines – The Colliery Railways of the Newcastle District and the Early Coal Shipping Facilities, Volume 2” by Brian Robert Andrews, Iron Horse Press, 2007. » “Reid’s Mistake: the story of Lake Macquarie from its discovery until 1890” by Keith H. Clouten, Lake Macquarie Shire Council, 1967.

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5.0 Physical Description

This report is focused on the principal elements of the Awaba Colliery pit top complex including buildings, tunnels and infrastructure in the form of the extant iron tracks indicating haulage routes across the site (refer to Figure 1). It is understood that approval has been granted for the removal of the coal conveyor structures throughout the site and that this is imminent.

As noted earlier, this report does not discuss the remains of the Awaba-Wangi rail line in any detail. Consequently, the remains were not inspected as part of this report and are not included in the following physical description.

The following physical description of the Awaba Colliery pit top complex is based on an inspection carried out by Joanne McAuley of RPS on 1st February 2012 and on the 12th and 13th June 2012. It is intended to identify principal elements and to outline their built form, materials, architectural details and internal features where considered to have heritage potential. Details included on the date of various site components and alterations over time have been provided via discussion with a number of longstanding mine staff including Terry O’Brien (Newstan Mine Manager), Rick Howell (Operations Engineer, Awaba Colliery) and Trevor Hines (Production Manager, Awaba Colliery).

This is not a thorough inventory of the site and in particular, recent interventions in the form of demountable storage structures etc are not described.

5.1 Main Building Complex

The main building complex comprises the administrative buildings, bath and change house, lamp room and boiler house (Plate1). They have been constructed to fit within the sloping topography of the site and range from single storey to the equivalent of 2 storeys (the bath and change houses) and 3 storeys in the case of the boiler house to the south which rises up above the remainder of the complex.

This interconnected group of buildings are constructed in red brick with low pitched gable roofs and simple, white painted timber casement windows set beneath brick soldier courses providing the only facade articulation. In the case of the central bath and change house buildings windows are concentrated at the upper first floor level.

A plaque has been placed on a wall of the shower and change rooms/bath house building which states that it was erected in August 1953 by the employees of Awaba State Mine in appreciation of the services of the Hon. J.M. Baddeley in the establishment of the mine and as director of state coal mines from 1949-1953. Internal features of interest include: » The racks with combined lamp and battery equipment remains within the lamp room (Plate 2). The original lamp room was a larger space which has subsequently been subdivided to create a muster room. It is understood that the lamp racks do not date from the mine’s first operation and that they are estimated to date from the 1960s to 1980s. » The main bath house appears to be relatively unchanged with features of interest including lockers within the change room with integral heat vents and the remaining revolving door separating the administrative section from the bath house. It is noted, however, that this part of the building has been closed off because of the existence of asbestos in the building fabric.

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Plate 1: Main Building Complex

Plate 2: Lamp and battery racks in Lamp room

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Plate 3: Corridor through centre of main bath house

5.2 The Workshop

The workshop is a large structure consisting of four sawtooth bays constructed from corrugated metal sheeting on a red brick plinth (Plate 4). The rail lines (discussed further below) run through the centre of the building. Internally, this is an open double height space with an enclosed office space in the north east corner. The roof structure is made up of metal strut work and internal gantries remain.

There is a plethora of machinery, equipment and vehicles located within the workshop. An inventory was not prepared of these items as part of this assessment because this is beyond the remit of this instruction. A number of pieces of machinery were noted during site inspection. In particular, an overhead gantry crane with clear provenance provided by the maker’s sign stating “DESIGNED & MANUFACTURED 1953 MORISON & BEARBY LTD NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA” (Plate 5).

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Plate 4: Workshop

Plate 5: Bearby and Morison crane dated 1953 within the workshop

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5.3 The Drift Portals

The drift portals date from 1947, 1949 and 1987 respectively (Plates 6, 7 & 8). The incised lettering above the entries for the two early portals state ‘State Coal Mine Awaba’ whereas ‘Awaba State Mine’ is incised above the 1987 portal. The dates are incised above the 1949 and 1987 entries only. The 1940s entries are rectangular and constructed in white painted concrete with some modelling whereas the 1987 drift portal entry is arched and has a flush facade constructed in the same material.

Plate 6: 1947 Drift Portal Plate 7: 1949 Drift Portal

Plate 8: 1987 Drift Portal and rail track leading into the entry

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5.4 The Rail Track

The rail tracks which formed the original haulage system throughout the site remain in situ as well as later rails understood to have been constructed in the 1980s associated with the 1987 drift portal and storage yard area to the southeast of the site (Plates 4, 7 & 8).

5.5 Fire Station Shed

A small fire station shed is located to the north of the main administrative building complex. It is a small, single storey red brick shed with white painted timber double doors and a section of rail track leads to it. The structure acts as a store for modern fire fighting equipment.

Plate 9: Small fire station shed with rail tracks leading to it.

5.6 Layout

This is a relatively small mine and the arrangement of pit top infrastructure is compact with short distances between drift entries and workers facilities and offices. The large workshop building is centrally located within the site. The 1987 portal and associated adjacent storage buildings are located beyond the central core of the late 1940s mine complex to the south (refer to Plates 10 & 11).

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Figure 1: Current Site Plan (provided by Centennial Coal; NTS)

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5.7 Visual Setting/Curtilage

The pit top complex sits within a valley and as such, is surrounded by higher ground. The surrounding heavily wooded slopes create an attractive setting for the mine complex as well as strong visual screen (Figure 2 & Plate 10)

Figure 2: Recent aerial photograph showing the site complex and its bushland surroundings

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Plate 10: View of the complex from the terraced car park

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6.0 Heritage Significance Assessment

An assessment of the heritage significance of The Awaba Colliery pit top complex against NSW heritage significance criteria (‘Assessing heritage significance’, NSW Heritage Office (now ‘Heritage Branch’), 2001) is provided below. ‘Guidelines for assessing heritage significance of mining places in NSW’ contained within Pearson and McGowan (refer to Section 4.5) are also referred to.

The NSW State heritage significance criteria encompass the four values in the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter, namely: . Historical significance . Aesthetic significance . Scientific significance . Social significance

6.1 Assessment against NSW State Heritage Significance Criteria

6.1.1 Criterion (a): An item is important in the course, or pattern, of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)

The Awaba Colliery is historically significant as the first State Mine to be planned, constructed and managed by the State Government through the State Mine Control Authority. This represented a significant phase of post-war expansion in colliery development by the state aimed primarily at providing fuel for state-run power stations.

On the basis that the Colliery was conceived to produce coal for the Wangi Power Station (included on the State Heritage Register) there is considered to be an important historical association between the two places.

The use of the former State Mine for over 60 years since coal was first extracted in 1949 to the present day, albeit to varying degrees of intensity, demonstrates continuity of an historical activity. Following the closure of the Wangi Power Station, Awaba Colliery provided coal for the Eraring Power Station, its successor, and continues to do so today. This fact further reinforces the Colliery’s significance with respect to continuity of use or function.

6.1.2 Criterion (b): An item has strong or special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)

There is no evidence to suggest that the site has particular associative value with individuals or groups of persons of cultural historic importance. Further historical research may reveal significant associative value.

6.1.3 Criterion (c): An item is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in NSW (or the local area)

The building and structures associated with the former Awaba State Colliery are utilitarian in character and solidly constructed in good quality materials, particularly in the case of the main building complex (red brick and timber casement windows). They are not considered to be accomplished architecturally or particularly aesthetically pleasing. They do display, however, a distinctive industrial aesthetic which is characteristic of the broader region and its rich coal mining history. The immediate setting of the colliery complex is visually

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attractive as characterised by the surrounding heavily forested ridges which feature in views throughout the site (refer to Figure 2).

It is understood that the colliery was built to the highest standards for its time as commented upon in 1955 by the Director of State Coal Mines, R J Ashworth. He describes the facilities as being unsurpassed at any other colliery in the State and that the electrical and mechanical installations are of a ‘high order’. The complex is therefore considered to demonstrate technical achievement.

6.1.4 Criterion (d): An item has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in NSW (or the local area) for social, cultural or spiritual reasons

This heritage significance assessment criterion is aimed at identifying social or cultural value currently in evidence. In order to fully demonstrate that a site or place has social significance, community consultation is usually required.

Nonetheless, the continuous operation of the Colliery since the 1940s suggests that there will be many current and former employees and their families within the local community who have a connection with the site or indeed, consider that the colliery gives the locale a sense of identity.

6.1.5 Criterion (e): An item has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)

This criterion relates to whether a site can provide further substantial scientific and/or archaeological information that no other site or resource (for instance, documentary evidence) can.

On the basis that the Colliery was considered to be technically advanced for its time, there may be evidence available at the site that would yield information on the development of mining technology and mid 20th Century mining technology.

Further research would be required to establish whether this criterion is met through a thorough inventory of potential moveable heritage items for instance. Site survey findings and discussions with longstanding Awaba Colliery staff has revealed, however, that there is little of the original mid-20th Century machinery and equipment remaining at the site. For instance, it is understood that the original coal crushing machinery in the coal crushing plant was replaced in its entirety in the 1980s. This point is discussed further under Section 6.2 ‘Intactness and Integrity’ below.

6.1.6 Criterion (f): An item possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of NSW’s cultural or natural history (or the cultural or natural history of the local area)

In order to fully understand whether the site has rarity value it is necessary to carry out a comparative analysis of contemporary, former state coal mines. There is a lack of readily available information on the extent of original fabric remaining at former state mines still in operation. A review of local and state heritage registers indicates that none of the other broadly contemporary state mines or items within the sites (Oakdale, Liddell, Munmorah and Wyee) are included on statutory heritage registers.

Further research is required to determine whether the other former state coal mines broadly contemporary to the Awaba Colliery retain a significant level of original built form and infrastructure. The Awaba Colliery could be considered rare if its level of survival and intactness is greater than the other state coal mines. Pearson and McGowan emphasise that the gathering of comparative information and its rigorous analysis is a necessary part of assessment of the rarity criteria. There is a lack of readily available information on other former state coal mines and as such, a definitive response cannot be provided for this criterion.

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6.1.7 Criterion (g): An item is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of NSW’s (or the local area’s) cultural or natural places; or cultural or natural environments

The Awaba Colliery pit top complex is relatively intact and retains the main components of a typical colliery dating from the post-war era including administrative complex, bath and change houses, lamp room, workshop and boiler house. Pearson and McGowan (1998) note that social facilities such as bath and change houses only started to appear at collieries in the 1940s and administrative buildings in the post-war period. The site is therefore considered to be representative of a mid-20th Century colliery.

6.2 Intactness and Integrity

The integrity and intactness of the Awaba Colliery pit top complex is considered to be relatively high, certainly with regard to the layout and external form of the buildings. The core of the late 1940s part of the site (Figure 3) has not been subject to extensive change and internally, layouts remain legible although there has been a significant loss of original/early machinery and equipment.

With regard to the intactness of the complex and external form and appearance, substantial changes over time include:

 Demolition of the original stables, electrical sub-station and carpenter’s workshop and painter’s shed. The remains of the carpenters and paint workshop in the form of a concrete platform and some low sections of brickwork walling are located in a landscaped area to the northeast of the main complex building.

 Some additional offices have also been inserted between the east wings of the bath house complex and to the north east of the muster and lamp rooms to house an IT suite and additional office space.

Internally, there have been a number of changes to the fabric and function of the buildings as well as equipment and machinery including:

 The original administration offices including the mine manager and surveyors’ offices were located in the office wing at the southern end of the main complex adjoining the boiler house. This area of the building is currently vacant and suffering from water penetration and white ant attack.

 The location of the existing administrative function to the northern end of the complex was originally largely occupied by bath houses for the management and youths separated off from the main workers bathhouse. Evidence of this original use is largely gone although there are some sections of tiled wall finished and parts of shower fittings remaining.

 The original lamp room was a much larger space than the existing which has been split into two rooms to accommodate a relatively recent muster room. Two lamp racks remain and there is evidence that several more were fixed to the floor in the original lamp room space which has since been removed.

 With regard to machinery, it is understood that the original crushing machinery within the sizing plant was replaced in its entirety in the 1980s. In addition, the original boiler equipment is understood to have been replaced. The winding gear associated with the site rail system has also been removed in its entirety.

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6.3 Level of Significance

Heritage Council guidance entitled Levels of Heritage Significance notes that only four levels of significance for heritage in NSW are recognised: local, State, national and world. An item is considered to have local heritage significance when it is important in the local area by embodying the heritage values/criteria set out in Section 6.1.1 to 6.1.7 above at the local level. An item has state heritage significance when it is important in NSW for one or more of the aforementioned heritage values/criteria. A heritage place may have one or more levels of significance; however, the majority of heritage in NSW is of local significance.

The aforementioned guidance notes that heritage places which are “rare, exceptional or outstanding beyond the local area or region may be state significant”. Therefore, in determining whether a site meets the threshold of state significance, demonstrating that the site is rare and/or exceptional/outstanding at a state- wide scale is required. Comparative analysis of other sites is required to determine rarity value or whether a site is outstanding.

As discussed earlier, there is a lack of readily available information on other state coal mines broadly contemporary with Awaba Colliery. As such, it has not been possible to provide a definitive response to the rarity heritage value criterion.

A review of places included on the SHR which are classified as falling under the NSW Historical Theme of Mining has been carried out. Although a number of sites incorporate post-war interventions, all of the sites predate the First World War and the vast majority date from the early to mid 19th Century. As such, there is little precedent for the inclusion of a post-war mine site on the SHR.

It is considered that the Awaba pit top complex is of local heritage significance; however, there is insufficient evidence to dismiss a state level of significance entirely. Based on a review of current sites included on the SHR falling under the mining historical theme, it is considered highly unlikely that the site would meet this considerably higher threshold of significance. Furthermore, although the site is unusual in that it was planned, constructed and managed by the State, there is no evidence to suggest that the layout, built form and technologies employed at the colliery were particularly different to those found at other post-war collieries in NSW.

6.4 Summary of Assessment

The Awaba Colliery pit top complex meets a number of the NSW heritage significance criteria. The site is considered to embody historic, aesthetic and technical values as well as being a good example of type. The level of heritage significance is considered to be local with further comparative analysis required to establish whether the site could be classed as state significant.

The likelihood of the site meeting the state significance threshold is considered to be low having carried out an analysis of current places on the SHR falling under the mining historical theme. As noted above, there is also a lack of evidence to demonstrate that the colliery was in any way unusual or exemplary when compared to other post-war collieries beyond the heavy involvement of the State government.

6.5 Contribution of Individual Features to Overall Significance

Each of the principal buildings, structures and features are assessed below with regard to their contribution to the heritage significance of the overall site which is considered to be local. Their contribution is assessed as low, moderate or high. Although this ranking system is no longer recognised by the Heritage Branch having been replaced by local or state significant, identifying the level of importance of the components of a site is considered to be a useful exercise which helps guide management decisions.

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Feature Contribution

Main building complex including administrative buildings, bath and change High rooms, lamp room and boiler house

Workshop High

1947 Drift Portal High

1949 Drift Portal High

1987 Drift Portal Moderate

Rail Track High

Demountable storage sheds to south of site adjacent to the 1987 Drift Portal Low/negligible

Fire Station Shed Moderate

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7.0 Statement of Significance

7.1 Summary Statement of Significance

The Awaba Colliery complex is historically significant at a local level as the first colliery to be planned, constructed and operated by the NSW State Government via the State Mines Control Authority. It is representative of the significant expansion in colliery development in New South Wales by the State Government during the post-war period. Furthermore, the colliery’s operation from 1947 to the present day marks a significant period of continuity in use.

The site has a strong historical association with the State significant Wangi Power Station for which it provided fuel. It was also physically linked to the Power Station by a direct rail line of which some evidence remains.

Evidence suggests that the pit top complex was technically innovative for its period of development in terms of the calibre of the social facilities provided and the standard of mechanical and electrical installations. As such, it may have the potential to yield information on mid 20th Century mining technology.

The pit top complex by virtue of its built form, infrastructure and layout represents an intact and highly legible example of a colliery dating from the immediate post-war era. The Colliery buildings, in particular the main administrative and bath house complex, have a strong industrial aesthetic characteristic of the broader region, evoking its rich coal mining history. The location of the colliery within a valley surrounded by forested slopes creates an attractive setting.

The Awaba Colliery is considered to be of local significance with further research required to establish whether it could be classed as State significant (principally through comparative research into contemporary collieries and in particular, former state coal mines). The likelihood of the site meeting the state significant threshold is considered to be low.

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8.0 Management and Mitigation Recommendations

Project Approval Condition 31 (c) requires that the Post Mining Heritage Plan (PMHMP) provide recommendations for the long-term management and/or use of heritage items. Proposals are currently being formulated for the reuse or rather, more intensive use of the Awaba pit top complex as part of the proposed expansion of the neighbouring Newstan Colliery. On the basis that the proposals have not been finalised, the management and mitigation recommendations in this section are relatively general in nature although guidance is provided for the main components within the site.

The preparation of this section has been guided by Heritage Branch, Office of Environment and Heritage guidance on the preparation of a Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) (“CMS Form – Part 1 & Part 2”, 2002) which sets out a number of broad headings under which to arrange conservation and policy sections. Heritage management contingency protocols are also provided at the end of this section.

8.1 General Statement of Conservation Approach

The Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, 1999) provides best practice guidance to be followed when making decisions about changes to and the future management of heritage places.

The Charter advocates a three stage process in managing heritage places: 1. Identify – identify all aspects of the site considered to be of potential heritage significance through physical inspection (Section 3.0); 2. Assess – assessment of the heritage significance of the place and its component parts with regard to aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value (Section 4.0 & 5.0); and 3. Manage – management recommendations and decisions based on a full understanding of the heritage significance of the site and the way in which this significance is embodied, i.e. which buildings/features/characteristics make a contribution to the site’s importance.

A cautious approach is recommended in the Charter where respect is paid to existing fabric, use, associations and meanings. The key guideline to be followed is changing as much as necessary but as little as possible.

8.2 Owner’s or Steward’s Requirements

As noted in the Background section (Section 1.1) of this report, the expansion of the Newstan Colliery will in time lead to a more intensive use of the Awaba Colliery pit top complex. It is envisaged that this will involve the following: . the upgrading and reuse of existing facilities including administration buildings, bath and change house facilities and workshop; . the remediation of those parts of the site understood to have asbestos within structural elements; . the introduction of new facilities and infrastructure within the site. This would presumably include new buildings and car parking areas; and . the introduction of a new men and materials drift portal within the site.

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8.3 What are the items/fabric that must be conserved?

The following table highlights those buildings or features considered to make a moderate or high contribution to the local heritage significance of the complex and the recommended approach to their future management including fabric recommended for retention.

Feature Recommendations

 Maintain external form and appearance. Brickwork and window repairs to be carried out in a ‘like for like’ manner.

 Retain original signage in situ identifying ‘mine manager’, ‘surveyor’ etc. found in the original administrative wing to the south of the main complex. Where retention in situ cannot be achieved, recording, retention and storage on site in a suitable location is Main Building Complex – recommended. Administration Buildings  Should alterations be required to significant internal fixtures, fittings or layout, further advice should be sought from a heritage consultant. Retention in situ should be the first option considered and where it is proven that this cannot be achieved, recording and retention elsewhere on site (where appropriate) should be investigated.

 Maintain external form and appearance. Brickwork and window repairs to be carried out in a ‘like for like’ manner.

 It is understood that the bath and change house have asbestos contamination. It is therefore anticipated that remediation will Main Building Complex – Bath require substantial reconstruction works. In advance, it is and Change House recommended that a photographic record be made of the interior including fittings such as the lockers with integral heat vents. Every effort should be made to retain, reuse or store features/items on site where possible. For example, a sample of the original lockers and the remaining revolving door separating the administrative section from the bath house.

 Maintain external form and appearance. Brickwork and window repairs to be carried out in a ‘like for like’ manner. Main Building Complex –  Retain original lamp and battery shelving in situ. Should it be Lamp Room decided that this feature cannot be retained in its current location, it is recommended that the racks be recorded and stored on site. These features are considered to have strong interpretive value.

 Maintain external form and appearance. Brickwork and window Main Building Complex – repairs to be carried out in a ‘like for like’ manner. Boiler House  Should the removal of the boiler and associated equipment be

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Feature Recommendations

required, recording prior to removal is recommended. Although it is understood that much of the original equipment has been replaced, a full inspection of the equipment has not been carried out.

 Maintain external form and appearance as well as internal structure and integral machinery including the Morison and Bearby overhead gantry crane (it is understood that this has been recently serviced Workshop and the intention is that it will remain at the site in the long term).

 It is recommended that an inventory be made of the moveable items within the workshop (refer to Section 6.5 below).

 Retain in situ in current location and maintain external form and appearance.

 Should relocation of the portal be considered necessary, it is 1947 Drift Portal recommended that specialist structural engineering advice be sought to establish whether this is feasible. Where removal from the current location proves to be unavoidable, it is recommended that the structure be recorded in its current position and if feasible, removed and relocated to another position within the site.

 Retain in situ in current location and maintain external form and appearance.

 Should relocation of the portal be considered necessary, it is 1949 Drift Portal recommended that specialist structural engineering advice be sought to establish whether this is feasible. Where removal from the current location proves to be unavoidable, it is recommended that the structure be recorded in its current position and if feasible, removed and relocated to another position within the site.

 Retain in situ in current location and maintain external form and appearance.

 Should relocation of the portal be considered necessary, it is 1987 Drift Portal recommended that specialist structural engineering advice be sought to establish whether this is feasible. Where removal from the current location proves to be unavoidable, it is recommended that the structure be recorded in its current position and if feasible, removed and relocated to another position within the site.

 Retain in situ throughout site as much as possible.

Rail Tracks  Where significant ground works are proposed including regrading such that the rail lines will be covered, it is recommended that a record be made of the rails in their current positions. Furthermore,

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Feature Recommendations

the potential of some form of interpretation of the original layout be explored in the new works.

 Retain in situ in current location and maintain external form and appearance. Fire Station Building  Should removal be proven necessary, photographic recording is recommended.

In line with many of the recommendations listed above, in advance of the substantial changes to the Awaba Colliery complex, it is recommended that a thorough photographic record (externally and internally where appropriate) be made of the buildings and features highlighted above.

8.4 Recommended approach to new development

It is understood that new buildings and structures will be required at the Awaba site as part of the proposed Newstan Colliery expansion. Set out below is advice with regard to recommended locations for new development, the form and bulk of new development as well as modifications to existing building.

8.4.1 Layout

The main late 1940s core of the Colliery comprising the two drift portals, workshop, main building complex and fire station form an intact group. It is recommended that any new built form be located beyond this core group and its immediate setting (refer to Figure 3).

Suggested acceptable locations for new development include to the east of the 1987 drift portal and the extreme northern end of site currently occupied by conveyor structures (refer to figure 3). It is understood that the proposed new men and materials drift would be located at the northern end of the site some distance from the late 1940s core of the complex which is considered acceptable in heritage terms.

8.4.2 Form and Bulk This is an industrial complex which is utilitarian in nature and as such substantial, large footprint buildings are commonplace on the site such as the workshop and the later storage structures close to the 1987 drift portal. In general, however, built form does not exceed 3 storeys and it is recommended that this be set as the upper parameter for future development.

8.4.3 Adaptive reuse and/or extensions to existing buildings As noted in Section 8.3, it is recommended that the external form and appearance of the principal contributory buildings be maintained and that significant features internally be retained in situ. Where internal alterations to layout or fabric/fixtures and fittings are proposed, further heritage advice should be sought. As a general rule, however, the aim should be the maximum retention of significant fabric in situ. Where this cannot be achieved, archival recording is recommended followed by retention and storage of the fabric/feature at the site, where appropriate and feasible.

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Figure 3: Recommended locations for new development

8.5 Gaps in knowledge about the site and recommended further study/research

A full inventory of potential items of moveable heritage such as equipment contained within the workshop has not been carried out because this was not included in this instruction. This may provide an insight into the development of mining technology in the mid 20th Century and it is recommended that further survey and assessment work be carried out in advance of significant changes to the site.

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Although the site is considered unlikely to reach the high threshold of state significance, this cannot be definitively assessed until comparative information has been obtained and analysed. An historical analysis of post-war collieries in NSW and in particular, other state coal mines broadly contemporary with Awaba Colliery is a recommended area of further study to address this matter.

8.6 What are the place’s conservation needs and interpretation requirements?

The Awaba Colliery pit top complex will continue its life as an active mine set albeit as part of an extension to the neighbouring Newstan Colliery. As such, there is no likelihood of public access in the short to mid-term future. Nonetheless the site is considered to have strong interpretive value. This was a point made in the 1993 City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study (refer to Section 3.1.2). Heritage interpretation would benefit the staff of the colliery in the short to mid-term and the general public in the longer term if public access improves such as the creation of a wider heritage trail in the locality.

The recommended initial steps in enabling heritage interpretation of the site include the following:

 Retention of historic records for the site.

 In advance of any significant changes, a photographic record of the site should be made.

 Retention of moveable heritage and features which can feasibly be removed from their current position, kept intact and stored. This would include the lamp racks, lockers from the main bath house and original storage.

 A clear record of all changes made to the site as part of the more intensive use of the site.

The above records and items will provide a valuable resource which could provide a basis for any future heritage interpretation of the site.

8.7 Review of management recommendations

It is recommended that the mitigation and management recommendations for the site outlined above be reviewed following the works to the site as part of the Newstan Colliery extension project and every five years thereafter.

8.8 Heritage management contingency protocols

In the event that further non-Indigenous heritage sites or archaeological relics are discovered during any works at the site, it is recommended that the protocol described below be followed. It is considered that the likelihood of further discoveries at the Awaba Colliery site is low.

If during the course of work within the project area a significant non-Indigenous heritage item is identified, a qualified heritage consultant should be contacted. A significance assessment of the item in question must be carried out together with an assessment of the potential impact of the works on its heritage significance. In addition, a detailed recording of the item should be made by the heritage consultant.

The PMHMP should be amended to reflect the mitigation and management recommendations devised and appended to the PMHMP.

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9.0 Conclusion

This Post Mining Heritage Management Plan (PMHMP) has been prepared to address Environmental Performance Condition 31 of the Project Approval for the Awaba Coal Mining Project under Section 75J of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 dated 13 May 2011. This condition requires the preparation of a PMHMP which assesses the heritage significance of the non-Indigenous heritage resource at Awaba Colliery and provides recommendations for the long-term management and/or use of identified heritage items.

This report has also been prepared in light of current proposals for the Awaba Colliery site which are likely to result in significant change in the coming years. Coal extraction and handling at the site ceased in March of 2012. The pit top complex, however, will be utilised as part of proposals to extend activities at the neighbouring Newstan Colliery. This will result in more intensive use of the site, upgrading and reuse of existing buildings and the introduction of new infrastructure (refer to Section 1.1).

Awaba Colliery was the first State coal mine to be planned, constructed and managed by the NSW Government via the State Mines Control Authority. The first coal was extracted in 1949 and when completed, the colliery was considered one of the best equipped in the country. It was specifically designed to provide fuel for the Wangi Power Station (site now included on the State Heritage Register). The colliery has been continuously upgraded throughout its lifetime and has been in operation, albeit to various degrees of intensity, for almost 65 years (refer to Section 3.0).

The site has been assessed against NSW Heritage Office (now ‘Heritage Branch’) criteria and is considered to be of local significance. Further comparative assessment is required to determine definitively whether the site is state significant; however, the likelihood of the site meeting the high threshold of state significance is considered to be low. The site is considered to embody historic, aesthetic and technological values as well as being a good example of type (refer to Section 6.0)

Those buildings, features and characteristics which make a moderate to high contribution to the heritage significance of the site have been identified. These include the main red brick building complex, the workshop, the three drift portals dating from 1947, 1949 and 1987 respectively, the rail track, the fire station shed and the site’s setting (refer to Sections 5.0 and 6.0).

A Statement of Significance is provided within Section 7.0. This summarises the findings of the heritage significance assessment and explains how the site’s interest lies in its inception as an early state coal mine; its continuity of use; the historical association with Wangi Power Station; the technical innovation it demonstrated for its time, the post-war period; its potential to yield information on mid 20th Century mining technology; and its aesthetic values with regard to built form and setting.

Conservation Policies and management recommendations for the site are contained within Section 8.0. Best practice principles as contained within the Burra Charter are advocated. In summary, this entails changing as much as necessary and as little as possible. Recommendations are provided for each contributory building or feature as well as the approach to the introduction of new development. Essentially maintenance of the form and appearance of buildings and structures of significance is recommended as well as the retention of internal fabric and features of interest. It is also recommended that new development be located beyond the central late 1940s core of the complex (refer to Figure 3).

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