Killingworth, New South Wales

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Killingworth
city =
state = nsw


caption =
lga = City of Lake Macquarie
lga2 = City of Cessnock
postcode = 2278
pop = 720 (2006 census)
area =
est = 1892
parish = Teralba
stategov = Cessnock
fedgov = Charlton
dist1 = 23
dir1 = W
location1= Newcastle
near-nw =
near-n = West Wallsend
near-ne = Holmesville
near-w =
near-e = Barnsley
near-sw = Awaba
near-s = Wakefield
near-se = Teralba

Killingworth is a small town located south of West Wallsend, New South Wales and west of the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. It is part of the West Ward of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area, and Ward 'D' of the City of Cessnock.

History

Killingworth owes its origins to coal mining, which took place there from 1888 until the Great Depression, when it ceased for a time, and thereafter until the great slump in the industry in the 1960s. Caledonian Collieries Limited purchased the original unworked shafts at Killingworth in 1895 and continued its sinking to a depth of 880 feet. Two seams were subsequently mined, production commencing at Killingworth Colliery in October 1897. It was renamed West Wallsend Extended Colliery about 1915, although large K C letters continued to adorn the engine rooms. Their coal was shipped via its own branch which connected with the main private railway from Seahampton and West Wallsend to the government's main line at Cockle Creek.

A huge gas explosion occurred in the pit at 5.25 a.m. on December 7, 1910. No human life was lost but a horse named 'Splash' was killed. The shaft's cages were blown right up the shaft to lodge in a massive tangled mess in the metal headframe. Production did not resume until August 1911.

A brick kiln was established at the colliery, as was a sawmill connected to the mine's railway by a spur. The timber used to construct many houses in Killingworth was produced here. In addition, a large wagon repair shop was opened in 1924 and not closed until April 1961, eighteen months prior to the colliery's final closure.

A public school operated from 1891-1892 and 1902-1941.

External links

* [http://www.lakemac.infohunt.nsw.gov.au/library/lhist/suburb/lmp&p/killingworth.htm History of Killingworth]