Did you know…
The first major mining disaster in Australia occurred at Bulli Colliery, south of Sydney. On the 23rd of March, 1887, an explosion tore through the Bulli Pit, killing 81 men and boys. An inquiry found that a lamp ignited methane gas which started a series of rolling coal dust explosions. At the time the mine was being worked by Union miners alongside untrained labour. All significant mine safety issues were managed by the mine owner with little or no worker input.
An investigating newspaper reporter discovered naked lights and unlocked lamps had been used where considerable quantities of explosive methane gas was known to exist. He wrote: “The company had such a system of terrorism that men are afraid to exercise the right given them by law.” Miners who had raised safety issues were among those victimised.
All the dontated relief money went into consolidated mine revenue, rather than assisting the 50 widows and 150 orphans for who it was collected.
My descendant was Greener Brodie who died in the mine disaster along with his brother William Brodie. In my family history research I came across an article in Illawarra Mercury date 3rd March 1888 which lists the names of the widows and children who were given monies. It list the names and amounts paid. This might be interesting to read for any of the families of the deceased miners.
I am a descendant of William Attaway Bourne who along with three sons Felix, William, James were killed in that explosion. I have read with great interest how his payments went to his house keeper and not his widow. It would seem the administrators of that fund were diligent in their duties.,
Does anyone know if the report of the Royal Commission is available online anywhere?
I am waiting on a reply of how can I find out who were killed in the 1887 Bulli mine disaster, I have found at least two relatives .
How dreadful, a man could work the mine but if he drank too much, judgment was made that was no-one’s business was delivered and the money withheld from his children because he came from a ‘drinking’ family. I doubt the families got much of anything, I’m more inclined to believe it became part of mine-revenue, (as stated here in this article) especially if it was invested, the capital would have been drained and the gross of the interest it earned, a not inconsiderable sum was not recycled to lengthen the time years till the money ran out.
My great grand father Aaron Kinsey worked in the mine at the time of the disaster. Fortunately he was not killed but family legend tells us that his wife Sarah was paid to lay out the deceased miners. I believe that she was paid a guinea for each person she layed out.
Do you ha e any evidence of this or any information about Sarah and Aaron Kinsey please?
How can I found out the names of teh men and boys thawere killed in the Bulli Mine disaster in 1887
Hi Kerrie,
The original designers of the Coalface Experience constructed a ‘Safety in Mines’ timeline, on which the Bulli Disaster was documented with the text displayed in the News above. Upon receiving your message I have researched this and have found the following information. A relief fund was established for those suffering from the effects of the Bulli Mine disaster. By August 1887, nearly 40,000 pounds had been donated. The funds were placed in a trust under the care of Mr Macintosh. Certain restrictions were placed on the funds – no lump sums were to be handed out in order to “prevent those poor widows being deprived of their means by designing persons” or to be “parted with lightly”. The widows were granted 30 pounds per year. There were also restrictions on ‘drunken families’. In 1902 there was about 10,000 pounds remaining in the trust fund. The remaining amount was given to a general miners relief fund.
Thank you for spotting this! I have no idea where the original information came from as the company that constructed this have long since disappeared.
I understood that the money collected was distributed to the widows of the Bulli Mine Disaster of 1887. Can you provide information about it going to mine consolidated revenue ? I understood that the information of the day suggested that it was distributed to the widows.