Minmi is an outer western suburb of Newcastle

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, Australia

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, located 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Newcastle's central business district

Central business district

A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...

. It is part of the City of Newcastle

City of Newcastle

Newcastle City Council is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.-Demographics:According to the Australian Bureau Statistics the City of Newcastle had an estimated resident population of 154,777 as of 30 June 2008...

 local government area

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.

Minmi was a important coal mining centre in the second half of the nineteenth century, particularly under the ownership and management of J & A Brown.

Minmi's mines were connected by a private railway line across the Hexham Swamp to J & A Brown's loading facilities on the Hunter River at Hexham. J & A Brown's engineering workshops were also located at Hexham.

Some key dates in Minmi's history since 1835

The following information is largely taken from a sign in Minmi Park (see photo in image gallery below).

Before white settlement the Pambalong aborigines had occupied the Minmi area for thousands of years. By 1893 there was no trace of the tribe in the district.

1835 - Coal discovered by Harry Styles

1848 - First coal mines opened by Turner Brothers

1850s - Coal mining by Eales and Brown Brothers

1860s - J & A Brown acquire all land and mining rights in Minmi.

1861 - Public education begins. The first miners' union formed.

1877 - Back Creek tunnel opened. First Minmi race day.

1878 - New school opens with 300 students. Police station established.

1882 - John Brown - Manager of J & A Brown.

1884 - First soccer game in Newcastle - Minmi versus Lambton

1890s - Progress Association established

1895 - Post office and courthouse built

1900s - Minmi's population at its height with 6,000 residents

1909 - Maitland coal fields opened

1924 - John Brown closes Back Creek mines

1929 - Coal strike and lockout

1930 - John Brown dies

1949 - Seven week strike. Army in open cut mine.

1951 - Open cut mining ceased. Back Creek despoiled.

1961 - Centenary of public education. New school opens.

1980 - Residents win land titles.

1990s - Minmi land rezoned. Ronnie Lorn Estate established.

1992 - Freeway opened.

1995 - Fire station commissioned.