Drag line at Griffin Mine - Bucryus Erie Dragline

Statement of Significance

Dragline at Griffin Mine – Bucyrus Erie Dragline, an excavator formerly used in the mining industry is located at the entrance of the Griffin Coal Mine at Muja, has cultural heritage significance for its association with the coal mining industry at Collie.

Physical Description

Excavator used for open cut mining. It is located at Muja mine entrance, however it is considerably obscured by high vegetation in 2017 and is included as part of a commemorative garden, visible from the roadside but no public access.

History

Griffin Coal has been active in the Collie area since 1923 when a private syndicate was formed to develop coal leases south of Collie to supply coal to Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR). In 1925 the syndicate was known as the Western Australian Coal Mining Briquetting and By-Product Company Ltd. In 1927 it became known as the Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd and supplied coal for shipping, railways and the WA goldfields. Open cut mining began at Muja in 1953 with deep mining work commencing the next year to extract the Hebe Seam. Mining ceased at when the mine was flooded in 1965. Griffin Coal’s website notes that ‘a single dragline was used on the coalfield for some years, but did not have the reach to cope with the deeper excavations dictated by the thick, unproductive overburdens. This machine now sits at Griffin’s Muja Mine entrance, as a reminder of the company’s past’.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate/ High

Condition

Unknown

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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