Newcastle and the History of Coal

1797
Newcastle first discovered when Lieutenant John Shortland, looking for escaped convicts, entered the harbour.  He found a coal seam on the hill from which coal was collected and taken back to Sydney for analysis.

1799
Vessel "The Hunter" carries first export coal to Bengal via Sydney.

1802
First direct coal export from Newcastle (to Cape of Good Hope) via vessel "Anna Joseph".

1804 - 1850
Early mining operations from tunnels and shafts driven into the cliff faces adjacent to Newcastle Harbour area.

1878
Hydraulic cranes erected for the first time in 1878, speeding up the coal loading process greatly.

1896
The Port had 12 hydraulic cranes and 5 steam cranes for coal loading.

1913
Record 5.2 million tonnes of coal shipped from Newcastle.  This volume of tonnage was not achieved again until the 1960's.

1915
First Electric Cranes built for loading coal.

1958
A local mining company built the Dyke Loader located at Carrington Coal Loader present site, the first 'modern' conveyor type loader.  This loader relied on direct feed from rail wagons (there were no stockpiles or bins).

1967
The New South Wales State Government built and commenced operation of the Basin Coal Loader, which was, located two kilometres south of the current Carrington Coal Terminal site and had an operating capacity of 7 million tonnes per annum.

1968
Canwan Coal Pty Ltd established 'private' stockpile operations (in an area near where Carrington Coal Terminal now stands), which were eventually linked by conveyor to the Basin Loader in 1970 increasing capacity to 11 million tonnes per annum.

1974
Gollin & Co commenced construction of a new coal loader at Port Waratah, the current site of Carrington Coal Terminal.  Stockpile area to occupy the 'old' Port Waratah rail marshalling yards.

1976
Gollin & Co encounter financial difficulties.  A group of coal shippers and Japanese investors, form PWCS to acquire the project and assume responsibility for the funding, construction and operation of the new Terminal.  PWCS came into commercial operation in October 1976 and the new Terminal had a throughput capacity of 16 million tonnes per annum.

1980 to 1982
PWCS expand Carrington Terminal to present capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum.

1984
Kooragang Coal Loader Limited commences operation.  Major shareholders were BHP (30%), Maritime Services Board (20%), Howard Smith Industries (12.5%) and Newcastle Coal Shippers 27.5%.  Japanese utilities held a combined 10%.  BHP was the managing shareholder.

PWCS and Kooragang Coal Loader Limited established a formal commercial agreement which provided for a common loading charge through the Port regardless of which Terminal handled the coal.

Basin Coal Loader stockpiles were closed and all coal loaded at the Basin Coal Loader was sent by conveyor from Carrington Coal Terminal.

1989
The Basin Coal Loader closes.

1990
PWCS purchased all of the shares in Kooragang Coal Loader Limited, thus making Kooragang Coal Loader Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of PWCS.  The PWCS shareholding was restructured and is largely represented by the present shareholdings.

Combined loading capacity of 46 million tonnes per annum for both Carrington Coal Terminal and Kooragang Coal Terminal.

1993
PWCS commits to 'Step-by-Step' expansion program for Kooragang Coal Terminal.  Stage 2 construction commences, with 2nd berth completed in 1994.

1996
With the completion of the second shiploader at Kooragang Coal Terminal, PWCS nominal capacity reaches 66 million tonnes per annum.

1997
PWCS receives State Government approval for the expansion of Kooragang Coal Terminal.

1998
Construction of additional coal loading berth at Kooragang Coal Terminal.

1999
Commenced Stage 3 Kooragang expansion.

2002
Completion of Stage 3 Kooragang expansion.  Shiploading capacity at Kooragang Coal Terminal increased to 64 mtpa.  Total shiploading capacity at PWCS - 89 mtpa.

2005

Board approval in April 2005 to undertake Kooragang expansion 'Project 3D'.