Box Flat Mine
Encyclopedia
The Box Flat Mine or Box Flat Colliery was located in Swanbank, Ipswich, Queensland
. The mine opened in 1969 and operated until its closure in 1972. Its coal
was mined for the operation of the Swanbank Power Station.
. Another man died later as a result of his injuries. Some workers at the surface were also injured in the explosion.
The incident was the worst mining disaster in Ipswich's history. After the explosion the mine closed and the tunnels mouths were sealed. The miners bodies were never retrieved from the mine.
transported most coal to the power station. There are two balloon loop
s located on the branch line. The first balloon was used to deposit excess coal for the needs of the power station. This balloon is known as Box Flat. The second balloon was known as Swanbank balloon and coal was deposited directly at the power station.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
operate heritage steam train tours on the Swanbank branch line through the Box Flat balloon.
The mine's closure combined with a restricted market and the effects of the 1974 Brisbane flood
meant that coal production in the region didn't increase during the 1970s.
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
. The mine opened in 1969 and operated until its closure in 1972. Its coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
was mined for the operation of the Swanbank Power Station.
Explosion
The Box Flat Mine disaster occurred on the 31 July 1972. 17 miners lost their lives after an underground gas explosionGas explosion
A gas explosion is an explosion resulting from a gas leak in the presence of an ignition source. The principal explosive gases are natural gas, methane, propane and butane, because they are widely used for heating purposes. However, many other gases like hydrogen, are combustible and have caused...
. Another man died later as a result of his injuries. Some workers at the surface were also injured in the explosion.
The incident was the worst mining disaster in Ipswich's history. After the explosion the mine closed and the tunnels mouths were sealed. The miners bodies were never retrieved from the mine.
Memorial
A memorial can be found in Swanbank on Swanbank Road located near the power station. It honours those who lost their lives in the Box Flat Mine disaster. A bridge on the extension of the Centenary Highway was named in honour of the lives lost in the 1972 disaster.Legacy
After the Box Flat Mine closure the need to transport coal to fuel the power stations became imperative. The Swanbank railway branch lineBranch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
transported most coal to the power station. There are two balloon loop
Balloon loop
A balloon loop or turning loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or even stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains, such as coal trains....
s located on the branch line. The first balloon was used to deposit excess coal for the needs of the power station. This balloon is known as Box Flat. The second balloon was known as Swanbank balloon and coal was deposited directly at the power station.
Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway
Queensland pioneer steam railway
The conduct steam train trips from Bundamba Racecourse on the Swanbank Branch Line to the Swanbank Power station, near Ipswich, Queensland. There is a heritage station located at Swanbank and a platform at the Bundamba Racecourse.[1]...
operate heritage steam train tours on the Swanbank branch line through the Box Flat balloon.
The mine's closure combined with a restricted market and the effects of the 1974 Brisbane flood
1974 Brisbane flood
The 1974 Brisbane flood occurred in January 1974 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, when waterways in the city experienced significant flooding...
meant that coal production in the region didn't increase during the 1970s.
See also
- Coal in Australia
- List of disasters in Australia by death toll