Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting

Item details


Name of item:	Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting
Other name/s:	Mount Kembla Colliery, Mount Kembla Mine Site
Type of item:	Archaeological-Terrestrial
Group/Collection:	Mining and Mineral Processing
Category:	Mine site
Primary address:	Harry Graham Drive, Kembla Heights, NSW 2526
Parish:	Kembla
County:	Camden
Local govt. area:	Wollongong City
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Illawarra

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	21		DP	1190749

Boundary:

The SHR curtilage consists of the area within the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area (IESCA) (Lot 21, DP 1190749) which contains the ruins and archaeological features associated with the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting. This comprises the section of the IESCA which extends east of Harry Graham Drive at Mount Kembla and a section of the IESCA on the west side of the Harry Graham Drive (an approximately 80m strip adjacent the drive). The SHR curtilage has the same depth limit as Lot 21, DP 1190749: 15.24m below the ground surface. Note: the Harry Graham Drive road reserve is not included in the SHR curtilage.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Harry Graham Drive	Kembla Heights	Wollongong City	Kembla	Camden	Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
National Parks and Wildlife Service	State Government

Statement of significance:


	The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is of State heritage significance for its historic, technical, social, research, and rarity values. It is of State heritage significance for its historic and rarity value as the place of the worst mining disaster in NSW and Australian history. The 1902 disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 96 miners and rescuers, was a pivotal event that led to a Royal Commission and the institution of safer working conditions and increased rights for miners in the coal mining industry. The site also has social value to the coal mining community, especially those in the Illawarra region, as a place of commemoration and remembrance for the miners who died in the 1902 disaster. It is also of State heritage significance as a mine site (or former colliery) which has historic value for its role in the development of the NSW coal industry throughout the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries. The mine site also has technical value for its innovative use of gravity to facilitate transport of coal to Port Kembla, for use in the Port Kembla Steel Works, or for shipment elsewhere. It also has archaeological research potential due to the insights it can provide into coal mining operations and technological changes in the coal industry over its period of operation (1883 to 1970).
	Date significance updated: 16 Jul 24
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	William Burrell
Construction years:	1880-1970
Physical description:	For the purposes of the Heritage Act 1977, the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is a place that comprises: the ruins of a range of buildings (including the pit pony stables) associated with the operation of the former colliery relics and a range of works considered to be ruins across the surface of the site related to the former colliery relics and works associated with the coal mining operation below ground to a depth of 15.24m, and surrounding land. MOUNT KEMBLA COLLIERY The Mount Kembla Colliery, which operated under three different companies for over 90 years, was a complex operation involving several distinct elements. This included: 1.The underground mine, extending for several kilometres, through the Bulli and Balgownie coal seams. The underground mine extended to the west and north of the adits. 2.The above-ground mine complex, organised around the adits, which supported the underground operations. 3.The railway which led from the above-ground mine complex to the company jetty at Port Kembla. The railway was ingeniously designed to use gravity to power the downward and upward travel of coal skiffs. 4.The Kembla Heights Village, which housed the mine managers and workers and their families. 5.The Mount Kembla Village was located further down the mountain which provided other services for the mining operations. At the time of its operation the mine and village complex was isolated from the main settlement of Wollongong, located along the coast. The focus of this SHR listing is the above ground mine complex, which includes the beginning of the railway (or incline). It only includes the portion of the site that is located within the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. Due to the presence of active coal mining beneath the site the SHR curtilage only extends to a depth of 15.24m below the ground surface. MOUNT KEMBLA MINE SITE (ABOVE GROUND COMPLEX) / MOUNT KEMBLA MINE DISASTER SITE RUINS AND SETTING The Mount Kembla Mine Site is located on the steep upper slopes of the Illawarra Escarpment, between Mount Kembla and Mount Keira. The mine site has a southeast facing aspect and is above the American Creek valley and the Mount Kembla village. Directly to the south of the mine site is the Kembla Heights village (Cserhalmi and Partners 2009:47; ERM 2007:59). The site is located adjacent to Harry Graham Drive. The main site complex is located to the south of the road, but historically some buildings were also strung out along the north side as well, in-between the mine site and Kembla Heights village. Since the inclusion of the mine site in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area (IESCA) the site has been reclaimed by vegetation and is now overgrown. However, historically the area surrounding the mine and villages was extensively cleared. It should be noted that over the 90 year operation of the mine, its features and nature were in constant flux and transformation due to the vagaries of the coal market, the introduction of new technology, and the changing ownership of the operation. For example, the mine disaster caused extensive damage to the above ground mine complex and resulted in the rebuilding and reorganisation of the complex, as well as the introduction of new technologies. Furthermore, there was another rearrangement of the complex in 1934 to introduce new technology that resulted in major changes to its design and size. This means that the site today is a mix of buildings and works from different phases of the operation, with the majority being from the last phase. Today, the site retains four main terraces, descending down from Harry Graham Drive. Historically, the upper level was used for the administrative buildings of the mine complex, including the Single Men's accommodation buildings, mine manager's office, engineer's office, and timber yards. Across the lower levels were sited the operational facilities (including the endless haulage engine, weighbridge, tippler connection to the railway) and support structures (including the stables, machinery workshops, and various storage buildings) (ERM 2007:59). The above ground mine complex now comprises a mix of buildings, works, and relics. This is a result of the partial demolition of the site that occurred in 1970. Buildings and substantial works, now in a ruinous condition, include (feature numbers refer to Cserhalmi and Partners 2009:54-65 ): Shed associated with the Stafford/Hatcher residence (Feature 2); Ablutions block (Feature 5); Pitpony stable (built 1956) (Feature 6); Retaining wall (Feature 7); Day magazine (Feature 9); Explosives magazine (Feature 16); Ventilation chimney (Feature 17); and Southern Magazine (Feature 27). Known archaeological features and sites, comprising both works (considered to be ruins) and relics, include (feature numbers refer to Cserhalmi and Partners 2009:54-65): Jack Moran's residence (Feature 1); Stafford/Hatcher residence (Feature 3); Bathhouse footings (Feature 4); Timber trestles of stone dump tramway (Feature 8); First Aid, Lamp and Union Rooms footings and building wall (Features 10 and 11); Cable haulage drum footings (Feature 12); Footings, possibly used for a boiler (Feature 13); Mine adit (Feature 14); Tension carriage and stone footings (Feature 15); Old Stables footings (pre-1950) (Feature 18); Coal Handling Plant Site (Stone Sorting Shed and Tippler) footings (Feature 20); Skip Tramway footings and earthworks (Feature 21); and *Rail incline site (Feature 22). These archaeological features (works) are considered to be of historical and archaeological interest and would be considered to have moderate to high State significant archaeological research potential. Scattered around the complex is a vast array of archaeological artefacts (relics). These relics have been disturbed or dislocated from their original locations by the demolition of the site, as well as land slippage, revegetation, and vandalism. However, some relics are located in the general area of their original locations (such as railway sleepers around the route of the incline railway). Overall, the relics scattered across the site are considered to have low archaeological research potential to yield useful data about the functioning of the mine complex (Tuck 2020:68).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The extant buildings and works at the mine site are considered to be ruins and are to be managed appropriately.
	Date condition updated:12 Jul 24
Modifications and dates:	The following general timeline has been extracted from (Cserhalmi and Partners 2009:9-10). 1878: Mount Kembla Coal and Oil Co. established to work coal seams. 1882: Railway constructed from Mount Kembla Colliery to the Port Kembla jetty. 1883: Mount Kembla Colliery opened. 1901: 336 men employed at the Mount Kembla mine. 1902: Mount Kembla Colliery disaster 31 July 1902 - 96 men and boys die. 1902: Royal Commission into the Mount Kembla Colliery disaster (6 November 1902). 1903: Construction of electric power plant at Mount Kembla mine. 1905: Memorial to victims of the Mount Kembla Colliery disaster unveiled on 12 August 1905. 1913: Mount Kembla Collieries Ltd purchase mine site. 1934: New Coal Handling plant built at Mt Kembla mine. 1946: Australian Iron and Steel Ltd (later BHP) purchase mine site. 1950: Mount Keira and Mount Kembla collieries joined by an underground tunnel to make Kemira Colliery. 1950s: Completion of new Pit Pony Stables. 1970: Mount Kembla mine closes on 18 September 1970. 1979: BHP donate extensive tracts of the lllawarra Escarpment for public use and rehabilitation including Mount Kembla mine.
Further information:	Minimum Standards of Maintenace and Repair for the Ruins within the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting (SHR 02099) have been gazetted on the SHR in accordance with Section 17 of the Heritage Regulation 2012. These minimum standards were gazetted on 14 November 2025 in NSW Government Gazette No. 475 (page NSWGG-2025-475-3). The full gazettal notice is provided below: Notice of listing on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Regulation 2012 of Minimum Standards of Maintenance and Repair for the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting (SHR 02099) In pursuance of section 17(4) of the Heritage Regulation 2012 (NSW), the Heritage Council gives notice that the Minimum Standards of Maintenance and Repair specified in Schedule "A" have been listed on the State Heritage Register in accordance with the decision of the Heritage Council made on 4 November 2025 to direct this listing. The Minimum Standards of Maintenance and Repair take effect on the date this notice is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Heritage Council of New South Wales SCHEDULE A In accordance with section 118(2) of the Heritage Act 1977 and sections 17 and 18 of the Heritage Regulations 2012, the following minimum standards of maintenance and repair apply to the ruins listed as part of the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting (SHR 02099) State Heritage Register item located as identified on the plan catalogued Heritage Council Plan 2476. 1. FIRE PROTECTION a) Fire protection for the State Heritage Register item is to be managed in accordance with a Fire Response Plan. b) The Fire Response Plan must nominate activities to manage fire risk, and address the following matters including, but not limited to: i. access ii. conservation of the State Heritage Register item (as defined by the curtilage identified on the plan catalogued Heritage Council Plan 2476) in accordance with the Heritage Act 1977 iii. defendable space iv. erosion risk and site stability v. fire response options vi. vegetation management for fire risk mitigation that ensures vegetation and any other material that could create a fire hazard for the ruins is removed and not permitted to accumulate. This excludes removal of the ruins, relics, and works associated with the former Mount Kembla Colliery which are of State heritage significance vii. water. c) An inspection must be carried out to monitor any fire risks identified in the Fire Response Plan: i. in the case of the standards set out in this section - at least once every 12 months ii. in any case - whenever reasonably requested by the Heritage Council of NSW. 2. SECURITY a) Security measures appropriate to the nature and location of the State Heritage Register item must be carried out to monitor the State Heritage Register item. b) Signage must be established and maintained to notify visitors about the protections provided for relics under section 139 of the Heritage Act 1977. c) Unauthorised access to a ruin through intact doorways, windows, or damaged walls is to be prevented by boarding up access points. d) An inspection must be carried out to monitor for vandalism and damage and ensure that protective measures remain intact: i. in the case of the standards set out in this section-at least once every 12 months ii. in any case-whenever reasonably requested by the Heritage Council of NSW.


Current use:	Ruins and archaeological site.
Former use:	Coal mining.

History

Historical notes:

STATEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Illawarra region is the traditional Country of the Dharawal people. The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is located within an area identified as the Djeera-Djembla Cultural Landscape. This landscape includes Djeera (Mt Kiera), Djembla (Mt Kembla) and the adjoining connective escarpment and upper slope formations (within which the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is situated). The cultural landscape is of very high Aboriginal cultural significance for its social and spiritual value to past, present and future generations (Niche 2022).

THE BEGINNING OF THE MOUNT KEMBLA COAL MINE

In 1849, Rev W.B. Clarke found and tested oil-bearing shale from Mount Kembla. This led to the establishment of an oil shale mine, the Pioneer Kerosene Works (on the north side of American Creek), on Mount Kembla in 1865. The mining of coal on Mount Kembla began as part of these works, as the coal was used to fire the retorts of the kerosene works. Following the exhaustion of the oil shale deposit, the mine was closed in 1878 (Kass 2010; Organ 2005).

Soon afterwards, a new English company, the Mount Kembla Coal and Oil Company, was formed to open out the upper coal seams on Mount Kembla, beginning operations in 1880 (Dept of Mines Annual Report 1880). The company's chairman was the leading industrial entrepreneur Ebenezer Vickery (1827-1906) (Organ 2005; Walsh 1976). Under the supervision of the mine's engineer and designer, William Burrell, construction on the mine, railway to Port Kembla, and jetty began in 1881 (Department of Mines Annual Report 1882). The mine was officially opened in February 1883, with a workforce of 110 men, and in the rest of that year over 21,000 tons of coal was produced.

THE MOUNT KEMBLA MINE DISASTER

The following section is taken from Environmental Resources Management (ERM) (2007:32-35):

The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster occurred at approximately 2pm on the 31st July 1902. The massive explosion caused 94 miners, both men and boys, to lose their lives and has remained Australia's worst mining incident (Stone 1984:28). At the time of the disaster approximately 250 men were in the mine with the 'front' shift completing their shift and exiting the mine (Herben 2007). The loss of life was predominantly attributed to the volume of smoke that prevented visibility for trapped miners to escape (Stone 1984:28).

The explosion in the Mount Kembla Colliery which caused the disaster was documented to be so forceful that it was heard over 11 kilometres away in Wollongong. The Daily Mirror stated:

"Inside the mine, roofs collapsed, coal skips were tossed about like leaves in a hurricane and searing blasts of gas roared through the tunnels. Feats of grim heroism were enacted as rescuers risked and in some cases gave their lives to save entombed victims." (Daily Mirror 1902 cited in Stone 1984:28)

The manager of the mine Mr W. Rogers, was appearing in Wollongong court (to present evidence on a dispute between the miners and the owners of the mine) when the disaster occurred. It is documented that on receiving the news Rogers and the other mine managers rushed to the mine (Herben 2007). Rescue parties were quickly formed with one led by Major Henry Osborne McCabe who had experience from the 1887 Bulli mine disaster, and William McMurry. McCabe and McMurry, overcome by fire damp, died attempting to rescue the trapped miners (Herben 2007).

The Mount Kembla mine disaster left 33 widows and 120 children fatherless. A public meeting was held in Wollongong Town Hall on the 5th of August 1902 to form a national relief effort. The Government distributed 500 pounds amongst the widows, in addition to other organisations, which included displays at the Sydney Cricket Ground to gather support. Messages of condolence came from across Australian and overseas including King Edward VII (Stone 1984:28).

The Royal Commission into the Mount Kembla mine disaster was appointed on the 6th November 1902. A report was produced in May 1903, concluding that a fall in a thirty -five acre waste, drove a mixture of fire damp and air to contact with a wheeler's naked light, which resulted in a succession of explosions in coal dust throughout the mine (Stone 1984:28). The findings from the Royal Commission contributed to better safety measures at the mine and those neighbouring it, including the safety lamp and better ventilation techniques including the use of electric powered fans to assist in drawing the fumes out of the mine.

The effect of the disaster on the local community, at the time relatively isolated and tight-knit, was profound and far reaching. The disaster remains a prominent aspect of the community's identity, and is commemorated at the site via a small plaque as well as an obelisk located in the Kembla Heights church grounds.

POST-DISASTER OPERATION OF THE MINE

Following the disaster, the mine rebuilt its infrastructure and within two months reopened. The disaster led to the introduction of electric power for lightning, which was installed at the mine in May 1903 (South Coast Times 9 May 1903; Department of Mines Annual Report 1903).

Further modernisation occurred in the following decades. In 1912 the mine introduced the use of mechanised coal cutters for longwall advancing. In c1934 the mine was rebuilt to allow for the introduction of further technological improvements such as more efficient coal handling facilities. Steam power generation was phased out at the site in 1948 when the mine was connected to the Australian Iron and Steel electric grid (Cserhalmi and Partners 2009). In 1968, the hand-worked contract method of mining was replaced by a mechanised system using rubber tyred front-end loaders, however, this proved to be uneconomical.

By 1970, production was down to 400 tons a day and the Mount Kembla mine was closed - it had yielded 14 million tons in 90 years. Soon afterward a contract for clearing the mine site was let, however, this remained incomplete owing to a disagreement. In 1979 the mine site was part of a large segment of the Illawarra escarpment that was donated to NPWS by BHP.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Industry-Activities associated with the manufacture, production and distribution of goods	Mining-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Mining-Activities associated with the identification, extraction, processing and distribution of mineral ores, precious stones and other such inorganic substances.	Transporting coal and coke-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Mining-Activities associated with the identification, extraction, processing and distribution of mineral ores, precious stones and other such inorganic substances.	Mining for coal-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in mines and quarries-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is of State heritage significance as the site of the worst mining disaster in State and Australian history. The 1902 disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 94 miners (men and boys) and two rescuers, was a pivotal event in the history of NSW. The disaster led to a Royal Commission (1903) that resulted in changes to mining regulations and increased the rights of mine workers, thus, developing safer working conditions in the coal mining industry. This was an important development in the history of coal mining in NSW. As a mine site it is also of State heritage significance for its role in the historical development of the NSW coal industry throughout the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. The coal industry was a crucial component of the NSW economy throughout this period and was an essential contributor to the steel industry and electricity generation. As the mine had access to a large quantity of high-quality coking coal it was one of the most important collieries on the south coast, associated with a purpose-built railway line, shipping jetty (at Port Kembla), and village (Kembla Heights) for the accommodation of mine workers and their families. It was also one of the first to introduce longwall advancing with early coal cutters (1912) and one of the first in the Illawarra to introduce electricity as a power source (1903).
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is of State heritage significance, as a mine site, for its technical innovation, seen in the use of gravity to transport coal from the mine to Port Kembla, for use in the Port Kembla Steel Works, or for shipment elsewhere. Due to the location of the mine on the steep slope of the Illawarra Escarpment the mine required a range of structures above ground to assist with the movement of coal out of the mine and facilitate transportation to Port Kembla. The system of buildings, trestles, gantries, and incline railway that were constructed cleverly utilised gravity as a motive force so that after the coal was removed from the mine it continually moved downslope. The incline railway was designed so that gravity powered both the upslope and downslope movement of hoppers. This system was part of the original design of the mine and remained in use until its closure. This design was an innovative solution to the topographical challenges of the mine location.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is of State heritage significance due to the social value and continuing attachment people across NSW, especially those in the Illawarra region and coal mining community, have to the site. It is a place of commemoration and remembrance for the miners who died in the 1902 disaster, the worst mining disaster in the history of Australia. This disaster profoundly impacted the local populace and regional coal mining community and commemoration services have been ongoing at the site, or at the places where the disaster victims were buried, since 1903. A range of interpretive, memorial, and artistic installations and events continue to be produced by the community every year to ensure it is remembered and its devasting impact on the community recognised. It continues to be a poignant reminder of the need for safe work practices in the coal industry and remains in the consciousness of mining communities and companies throughout NSW.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is of State heritage significance, as a mine site, for its archaeological research potential due to the insights it can provide into coal mining operations and technological changes in the coal industry throughout the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. This is valuable to industrial archaeology, and Australian historical archaeology in general, due to the survival of evidence of coal mining practices that were used prior to the introduction of fully mechanised mining techniques (such as the use of pit ponies and gravity as a motive force for transportation). The mining site also has the ability to provide valuable insights into the everyday lives of coal miners and changes in working conditions and practices over time. Such information would increase our collective understanding of the lived experience of coal mining over this period.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting is of State heritage significance for its rarity as one of the few historical places in the State where there was a tragic mining disaster. The 1902 explosion in the Mount Kembla Colliery, which resulted in the death of 96 miners and rescuers, remains the worst mining disaster in Australian history.
Integrity/Intactness:	The Mount Kembla Mine Site is now overgrown with vegetation as part of the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. The site has also been impact by erosion and landslips in the recent past, which has obscured some elements of the site. However, altogether, a fair portion of the mine site remains intact, allowing it to to be read and identifed as such.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Heritage Act - Site Specific Exemptions	Exemption Order for the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting listing on the SHR No. 02099 under the Heritage Act 1977 I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of NSW dated 8 November 2024, make the following order under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977 (the Act) granting an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out of any activities described in Schedule C by the owner, manager, mortgagee or lessee (or persons authorised by the owner or manager) of the item described in Schedule A on the land identified in Schedule B. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 17th day of December 2024. The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage SCHEDULE A The item known as the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting SHR No. 02099, situated on the land described in Schedule B. SCHEDULE B The item known as the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting SHR No. 02099, located as identified on the plan catalogued HC Plan 2476 in the office of the Heritage Council of NSW. SCHEDULE C The following specified activities and works to an item do not require approval under section 57(1) of the Act. EXEMPTION 1: EXISTING APPROVED DEVELOPMENT Specified activities and works: (a) All activities in accordance with a current and valid determination in force at the date of gazettal for listing the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Site Ruins and Setting on the State Heritage Register if those activities are for a use authorised under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. Note: State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 permits development for any purpose without consent on land reserved under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, or acquired under Part 11 of that Act, if the development is for a use authorised under that Act.	Dec 19 2024
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		02099	19 Dec 24	506	2024-506-2

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	AHMS	2012	Mount Kembla Mine Site Survey
Written	Australian Museum Business Services (AMBS)	2010	Mt. Kembla Mine Site, Kembla Heights: Moveable Heritage Assessment
Written	Cardno	2019	Land Stability and Drainage Assessment: Mount Kembla Mine - Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area
Written	ERM	2007	Mount Kembla Mine Site - Industrial Heritage and Social Values Assessment
Written	Hughes Trueman P/L	2008	Implementation Plan - PK2 Pit Pony Stables
Written	Kass, Terry	2010	A Thematic History of the City of Wollongong	View detail
Written	McNamee, David	2009	Mount Kembla Mine Site - Conservation Management Plan
Written	Michael K. Organ and Carol Speechley	1997	Illawarra Aborigines - An Introductory History	View detail
Written	Mike Donaldson, Lee Bursill, and Mary Jacobs	2015	A history of Aboriginaly Illawarra: Volume 1: Before colonisation	View detail
Written	Niche Environment and Heritage	2022	Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report: Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Trail Bike Concept Plan (Draft 6 - 9 May 2022)
Written	NSW Government	1980	Illawarra State Recreation Area (notice of permanent reservation, land title details)
Written	Organ, Michael	2005	The Pioneer Kerosene Works at American Creek, Mount Kembla, New South Wales: 1865 - 1878 Chronology	View detail
Written	Otto Cserhalmi and Partners Architects	2009	Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area - Mount Kembal Mine Site - Conservation Management Plan - Stage 2
Written	Southern Geotechnics, consulting Geotechnical Engineers	2008	Preliminary Geotechnical Assessment of Mount Kembla Mine Site, Harry Graham Drive, Kembla Heights
Written	Sydney Restoration Co. (SRC)	2010	Pit Pony Stables: Harry Graham Drive, Kembla Heights: Condition Report: Assessment and Recommendations for Corrective Action
Written	Tuck, Dan	2020	Historical Archaeological Assessment - Mount Kembla Mine Remediation Works
Written	Walsh, G. P.	1976	Vickery, Ebenezer (1827-1906)	View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5061372
File number:	EF11/06535-02

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