[0]

Killingworth

Towns

Killingworth, NSW 2278
02 4921 0333

Description

Killingworth is a small town located south of West Wallsend, New South Wales and east of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway.

Killingworth is a small town located south of West Wallsend, New South Wales and east of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. It is part of the West Ward of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area in Greater Newcastle.

History

Killingworth owes its origins to coal mining, which took place there from 1888 until the Great Depression, when it ceased for a time, and thereafter until the great slump in the industry in the 1960s. Caledonian Collieries Limited purchased the original unworked shafts at Killingworth in 1895 and continued its sinking to a depth of 880 feet. Two seams were subsequently mined, production commencing at Killingworth Colliery in October 1897. It was renamed West Wallsend Extended Colliery about 1915, although large K C letters continued to adorn the engine rooms. Their coal was shipped via its own branch which connected with the main private railway from Seahampton and West Wallsend to the government's main line at Cockle Creek.

A huge gas explosion occurred in the pit at 5.25 a.m. on 7 December 1910. No human life was lost but a horse named 'Splash' was killed. The shaft's cages were blown right up the shaft to lodge in a massive tangled mess in the metal headframe. Production did not resume until August 1911.

A brick kiln was established at the colliery, as was a sawmill connected to the mine's railway by a spur. The timber used to construct many houses in Killingworth was produced here. In addition, a large wagon repair shop was opened in 1924 and not closed until April 1961, eighteen months prior to the colliery's final closure.

A public school operated from 1891–1892 and 1902-1941.

Weather
Things to do

Details

Type: Towns

Population: 101-1000

Time zone: UTC +11:00

Area: 23.406 km2

Elevation: 11-50 metres

Town elevation: 36 m

Population number: 679

Local Government Area: Lake Macquarie City Council

Location

Killingworth
Killingworth, NSW 2278

Get Directions

Attribution

This article contains content imported from the English Wikipedia article on Killingworth, New South Wales

Killingworth - Localista

Top stories