The Blackwater coal mine is one of Queensland’s largest and most established coal operations, located in the Bowen Basin near the town of Blackwater in Central Queensland. Operating since the late 1960s, the mine has evolved into a major open-cut mining complex with extensive infrastructure and long-term production capability.

The operation produces both metallurgical and thermal coal, supplying international export markets through Queensland’s rail network and coastal ports. Mining is undertaken across multiple pits using large-scale draglines, truck-and-shovel fleets, and integrated coal handling and processing systems, supporting consistently high output.

Blackwater was operated by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance before transitioning to Whitehaven Coal in 2024 as part of a major asset acquisition. The change in ownership maintained operational continuity and retained the majority of the existing workforce, underlining the mine’s importance to regional employment and the Central Queensland economy.

With a workforce in the low thousands when employees and contractors are combined, Blackwater is a key economic driver for the region. Its scale, reserve base, and established logistics position it as a long-life asset within Australia’s coal sector, playing an ongoing role in Queensland’s resources and export landscape.