Callide coal operation hits the 80-year mark

The Callide coal mine in Central Queensland is celebrating 80 years of operation since industry pioneers Thiess Brothers began excavations using a single D7 tractor and ripper on April 26, 1944. “To have operated continually for 80 years is a tremendous achievement for Callide mine, both under the management of Batchfire Resources and the previous responsible owners of this productive operation,” Batchfire Resources chief executive officer Allan Fidock said. “At a time when coal was considered to be of low value, early pioneers like the Thiess Brothers saw value where others didn’t, understanding that the energy needs of Queensland would require a solution like Callide mine’s thermal coal. “We continue to focus on powering Queensland industry and homes, while also supporting and caring for the local community, First Nations Gaangalu People, and of course the land on which we operate – taking Callide mine into the future.” The company will mark the occasion by hosting a family day at Callide mine in September 2024. The 80th anniversary of Callide mine coincides with another local milestone – the 100th anniversary of the Biloela township. Batchfire Resources will also be contributing to those celebrations. In a rundown of the mine's history, Batchfire says its story stretches back to the 1890s when a seam of ‘black gold’ was discovered by three state-aided prospectors – at a time when coal was worth less than a dollar per tonne. In 1891, government geologist William Rands sunk six shafts at what is now the Callide mine site to reveal a 9m thick coal seam that was one of the largest in Australia at the time. A Batchfire Resources article on the history states: 'Some 30 years passed as the forgotten treasure remained untouched, with cattle grazing on the scrub around Dunn Creek and Petersen’s Gully and people unaware of how valuable the land on which they roamed would become. 'In those days, coal was used primarily to power steam trains and was deemed to be of little value compared with more desirable resources like gold, but early pioneers saw its value as a commodity of the future. 'Those innovators were none other than the iconic Thiess Brothers, who were commissioned to remove overburden for the new open-cut coal endeavor when a second head of steam and need emerged. 'What resulted was a period of coal discovery that would change the Callide Valley forever and leave an indelible stamp on the economic development of Central Queensland, as the booming coal mining industry was born.' Using a single D7 tractor and ripper in 1944, Thiess Brothers moved 2400 cubic yards of overburden in just four days, exposing one of the best seams of black gold. By the 1960s, the operation scored a 25-year contract with nearby Calcap Power Station (now decommissioned Callide A) at a time when the mine had a staff of just 23 men. Batchfire Resources has shared this image of visitors observing Dragline 1 in early days. Landing a 22-year contract with Callide B power station in 1988 led to a major increase in staff and in 1993 the mine stepped up with an $80 million investment in a state-of-the-art Marion 8750 dragline, which is still operating today. Callide mine continued to grow before being purchased by Batchfire Resources in November 2016. 'As the Callide Valley region’s largest direct employer, supporting over 1250 families, we remain committed to supporting the local economy and its people,' the company states. You may also like: https://industryqld.com.au/thiess-clocks-up-90-years-of-operations

Callide coal operation hits the 80-year mark

Industry Queensland

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