
Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.
If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Home » Themes » Technology » Industry
Centenary of Coal DiscoveryPrint Page 
The cairn commemorates the centenary of the discovery of coal by John Miller in April 1863.
Howard was for many years the centre of the historic Burrum Coal Mining region, which since 1865 has seen 94 shaft and tunnel mines extract over 14 million tons of rich coal from nine seams. By 1997, due to the advent of diesel, gas and modern technology the last of these mines was in its twilight days.
Brothers John and Robert Miller first discovered coal there in 1863 while cutting local timber for posts, rails, slabs and shingles for district houses. They were denied mining rights when Parliamenterian William Walsh allegedly applied for their lease in his name.
Location
Address: | Old Bruce Highway, Burrum River crossing, Howard, 4659 |
---|---|
State: | QLD |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -25.328752 Long: 152.575932 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Monument |
---|---|
Monument Theme: | Technology |
Sub-Theme: | Industry |
Actual Event Start Date: | 17-April-1863 |
Actual Event End Date: | 17-April-1963 |
Dedication
Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | 1963 |
---|
This cairn was erected to commemorate the centenary of the discovery of coal on the opposite bank of this river by John Miller on 17th April 1863