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100 YEARS
pictorial history of ICC'S Coalcliff site

Illawarra Coke Company's (ICC's) site at Coalcliff in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia has been in continuous operation since the late 1800's.

Coalcliff Colliery 1878 to 1991
The working life of the Coalcliff site - where the Cokeworks still operates today - dates back to January 11, 1878 when the colliery opened. Coal was shipped out by sea from a man-made jetty as there was no road access. A proper road was built in 1880 with the coal company's assistance.

Coalcliff Colliery operated for 114 years from 1878 until its closure in 1991. In 1980 it was the largest underground coal mine in Australia employing 988 men with an output in excess of 1.7 million tonnes per annum. Images of Coalcliff Colliery can be viewed at:
1878-1978 Coalcliff Colliery Adit and Mine

Coalcliff Cokeworks Construction 1913-1914
Coalcliff Cokeworks was constructed in 1913 and commissioned in 1914. 50 ovens of the non-recovery modified `beehive' type formed one battery. The ovens have an arched roof and are rectangular in shape when looking from above. The original 50 ovens each had an individual chimney on the top. Images of the cokeworks construction can be viewed at:
1913-1914 Coalcliff Cokeworks Construction

Coalcliff Cokeworks 1915-1949
Coalcliff Cokeworks was directly linked by conveyor belt to a coal bunker at the adjacent Coalcliff Colliery which supplied the `slack and duff' (small coal) used in the cokemaking process. Images can be viewed at:
Coalcliff Cokeworks 1915-1949

Coalcliff Cokeworks 1950's
In 1954 both the Coalcliff Colliery and Cokeworks were acquired by Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Limited (KCC) - a subsidiary of The Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty Limited (BHAS). BHAS is a jointly owned subsidiary of the Broken Hill mining companies Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Limited, North Broken Hill Limited and BH South Limited. Images can be viewed at:
Coalcliff Cokeworks 1950's

Coalcliff Cokeworks 1960's
In the 1960's eight more ovens were added to the existing battery of 50 ovens. Images can be viewed at:
Coalcliff Cokeworks 1960's

Coalcliff Cokeworks 1970's
In April 1971 half of the battery of 58 ovens was converted to common ducting. In 1975 a new, award winning Quench tower was built (Prince Phillip award for achievement in industrial design). It was completed in November 1975 plus a new coke car and road, new quench settling pond, coke hopper and tunnel. Images can be viewed at:
Coalcliff Cokeworks 1970's

Coalcliff Cokeworks 1980's
In September 1980 a new coal grinding and screening plant was constructed. Images can be viewed at:
Coalcliff Cokeworks 1980's

Coalcliff Cokeworks 1990's
Following the closure of Coalcliff Colliery in 1991, all of the Colliery buildings on the Cokeworks site had been demolished by 1993.

In March 1996 the present owners, ICC Holdings Pty Limited - a private company - purchased Illawarra Coke Company Pty Limited (ICC) which operated both Coalcliff and Corrimal Cokeworks. It became the only independently owned producer of coke in Australia.

Technological and environmental improvements have been ongoing since. In 1998 the new owners of ICC constructed a new crusher and screening plant.
Coalcliff Cokeworks 1990's

Coalcliff Cokeworks 2000-2010
During 2000 to 2010 there were a number of operational and environmental changes at the Coalcliff Cokeworks site. Major site works to construct water storage ponds and a water treatment plant commenced in 2003. On completion of the ponds in 2004 a revegetation project was started from the top to the bottom of the site. A large area was planted with native trees and shrubs to stabilise the steep slopes and to improve the amenity for nearby residents in the village of Coalcliff. This project is still ongoing and the plants are flourishing.

A new truck wash was built in 2003 further away from the main entrance to allow more time for water to drain out of vehicles before exiting the site onto public roads. The cleaning and covering of truck loads was also further improved in 2005 with a new truck gantry erected for drivers to be able to easily climb up and cover loads.

In 2007 the first of two new chargecars was delivered and lowered by a huge crane on to the battery roof. A second new car was delivered in 2008. This changeover to custom designed chargecars provided numerous environmental improvements and significantly reduced charging emissions, as well as providing considerably improved air conditioned working conditions for operators.

The refurbishment of Number 1 combustion stack was carried out mid-2008. It improved the operating performance of the ovens and provided additional environmental benefits.

A new method of quenching the hot coke as it is pushed out of the hot car was introduced during 2010 and a new type of coke feeder to move quenched coke onto the conveyor was installed.

A significant landmark in June 2010 was the delivery of the one millionth tonne of coke to a Japanese smelter. This was celebrated with the presentation of two original oil paintings to the customer; limited edition prints to companies who assisted in the deliveries and the minting of a commemorative medallion for employees in Australia and Japan.

However, the decade ended on a sad note with the death of ICC's Chairman, John Horseman, in a car accident in November 2010.
Coalcliff Cokeworks 2000-2010

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Above: Coalcliff Cokeworks in the 1970s with chimneys on the ovens compared with the cokeworks in 2009 (below)