In the 1860s, mines were opened on either side of Cadiangullong Creek, which flows through the valley into the Belubula River. Cadia developed on its eastern bank,[6] near what became the main crossing of the creek,[7] downstream of the confluence of Cadiangullong Creek with its tributary, Cadia Creek, formerly Rodd's Creek.[8] The first phase of copper mining ended in 1868, resuming again at 'Iron Duke,' the hill also known as 'Big Cadia', between 1882 and 1898.[9]
Cadia - Copper smelter with village in the background c.1907.
From around the start of new copper mining activity, in 1905, the centre of settlement at Cadia moved northward and uphill, toward the underground copper mine workings, at the location known 'Iron Duke', and closer to the road to Orange. Chillcott Street became its main street.[7][10] From 1905 to 1917, 5,000 tons of copper metal were obtained from 100,000 tons of ore mined at Cadia.[11]
Cadia iron ore quarry operations c.1923. The quarry is on the hill. The incline tramway (centre) and aerial ropeway (left of centre at front) can be seen.
From 1918 to 1929, 1,682,000 tons of iron ore was mined at Cadia from a surface deposit at 'Iron Duke'. The ore was shipped over a privately operated railway branch line that joined the main line at Spring Hill.[11][12] The railway line ended on the eastern side of the creek. Iron ore was carried downhill in skips via an inclined tramway, crushed in a steam-driven rock breaker, then transported across the valley by an aerial ropeway to bins, from where it was loaded into rail wagons and sent to Lithgow.[13][14][15]
Working conditions in the quarry were poor, by today's standards.[16] The iron ore mine was the site of a disastrous accident, on 10 March 1921, in which nine miners were killed as the result of the premature explosion of a blasting charge.[17][18] Iron ore mining at Cadia ended soon after the relocation of blast furnace operations from Lithgow to Port Kembla in late 1928.[19][20][21]
The 1920s saw the town at its greatest population and extent. In 1925, the population reached 300.[7][22] Even in what would be its heyday, Cadia was a primitive and rough little town. An observer described it, in February 1928, as follows, "The town itself possesses scarcely half a dozen decent buildings. Most of the dwellings are built of iron, tins, hessian, and similar materials, and almost every place is a 'boarding-house,' where the food as a rule is as rough as the language of the boarders." The rest of the town consisted of, "The hotel, a couple of small stores, and a rickety tin post office... not forgetting, of course, the two corrugated iron churches." Across the creek were the school and teacher's house, "whose beautiful flower garden forms the one bright spot in Cadia." Further along the creek, was the police house; "The solitary constable Is reinforced every pay week-end by a colleague from Millthorpe." The same observer concluded that Cadia was, "a rough place to look at and a still rougher place to work at."[16]
During excavation for the terminal of the ore ropeway, a permanent spring was uncovered, and tanks were constructed to provide a water supply, [23] avoiding the necessity to pump water to the village from the creek below. However, the village's waste probably polluted the same creek, downstream, as there were no "sanitary arrangements" in Cadia, even by 1926.[15]
Once the iron mine closed, around November 1928, its decline was rapid.[24][7][22] The railway closed immediately.[24] Cadia lost it police presence by January 1929.[25] Cadia Public School, which had opened in December 1865, closed in May 1930.[26] Cadia Post Office, which opened on 1 August 1864, closed on 29 March 1935.[27] By 1940, just the old school building and two residences survived.[28]
When the 'Iron Duke' iron ore mine was re-opened in late 1942, during World War II, new staff housing had to be built and a temporary 'tent city' established for the workers.[11][29] In 1945, mining ceased and Cadia was abandoned. Cadia Public School, which had reopened in January 1943, closed permanently in May 1945.[26] In June 1945, forty buildings at the site were auctioned.[30] All buildings in Cadia subsequently were removed or destroyed; the entire village reverted to paddocks. Old Cadia Road still follows the alignment of Chilcott Street, the old main street.[7]
Although mining had taken place in the vicinity for well over a century, it was not until 1992 that the porphyry gold-copper potential of the district was recognised by geologists of Newcrest. Enormous tonnages of ore-grade mineralisation were identified, resulting in the huge open-cut mine and two nearby underground mines now in operation.[31]
The enormous scale of the modern mines has led to the relocation of some artifacts of Cadia's history and cultural heritage, including a scarred tree[5] and the former village's cemetery.[32]
Heritage listings
Cadia has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Orange is a city in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. It is 254 km (158 mi) west of the state capital, Sydney [206 km (128 mi) on a great circle], at an altitude of 862 metres (2,828 ft). Orange had an urban population of 41,920 at the 2021 Census, making the city a significant regional centre. A significant nearby landmark is Mount Canobolas with a peak elevation of 1,395 m (4,577 ft) AHD and commanding views of the district. Orange is situated within the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri Nation.
Cobar is a town in central western New South Wales, Australia whose economy is based mainly upon base metals and gold mining. The town is 712 km (442 mi) by road northwest of the state capital, Sydney. It is at the crossroads of the Kidman Way and Barrier Highway. The town and the local government area, the Cobar Shire, are on the eastern edge of the outback. At the 2016 census, the town of Cobar had a population of 3,990. The Shire has a population of approximately 4,700 and an area of 44,065 square kilometres (17,014 sq mi).
Cadia Mine is a series of large underground and open-cut gold and copper mines located in the Cadia Valley, about 20 kilometres south of the regional city of Orange, New South Wales, Australia. The mine has been developed throughout the 1990s and is a major employer in the region with an expected lifespan of several decades. Cadia is the second largest open cut mine in Australia after the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie. Large mineral deposits are also being uncovered from the more recently developed Ridgeway underground mine, and Cadia East underground mine, adjacent to the Cadia Open Cut Mine. The mine is operated by Newcrest.
Newcrest Mining Limited is an Australian-based corporation which engages in the exploration, development, mining and sale of gold and the froth flotation product, gold-copper concentrate. It is Australia's leading gold mining company and its operations have expanded beyond Australia, for example Indonesia, thus becoming a prominent international mining corporation. Newmont initially started the company as a subsidiary in 1966. The subsidiary became Newmont Holdings Pvt Ltd in 1980 and in 1990 acquired 100 per cent of Australmin Holdings Limited taking the current name.
Coombing Park is a farming property situated in western New South Wales just off the Mid-Western Highway about 5 km west of Carcoar, 260 km west of Sydney and 54 km south-west of Bathurst. The property is of considerable note because of its relationship with convicts, bushrangers and the Cobb & Co coaching company. The property was offered as an estate to its owner Thomas Icely by the early New South Wales Government in 1826. It was one of the first estates created on the western side of the Blue Mountains that border the area of Sydney.
The Main Western Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Blue Mountains, and Central West regions. It is 825 kilometres (513 mi) long, of which 484 kilometres (301 mi) is currently operational.
Mining in Wales provided a significant source of income to the economy of Wales throughout the nineteenth century and early to mid twentieth century. It was key to the Industrial Revolution in Wales, and to the whole of Great Britain.
Tallawang is an historical locality north of Gulgong in central western New South Wales, Australia. The place name is derived from an aboriginal word for "apple gum".
Spring Hill is a small village 13 km south-east of Orange, Australia. Its buildings date back to the 1870s and a Heritage Trail has been established for tourists. At the 2016 census, Spring Hill had a population of 502 people.
The Telfer Mine is a gold, copper and silver mine located at Telfer on the land of the Martu people, in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. It is owned by Newmont, having acquired the previous owner, Newcrest Mining, formerly the largest gold producer listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, in November 2023.
William Chandos Wall was an Australian politician. He was also a prospector, geologist, minerals surveyor, commission / mining agent, inventor and a quarry and mine operator before and after entering politics. In June 1886 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly to succeed the former NSW premier Sir John Robertson KCMG as one of the members for Mudgee. In 1894 Wall transferred to Rylstone and in July 1895 he lost the Rylstone seat.
Burraga is located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, 47 kilometres south west of Oberon and about 67 kilometres (42 mi) south of Bathurst. It is within Oberon Shire. At the 2016 census, Burraga had a population of 91.
Henry Roach was a miner from Cornwall who was Captain of the Burra copper mine in Burra, South Australia for many years. In this position he almost always employed Cornishmen as his assistants, and most of the miners were also immigrants from Cornwall.
Shuttleton is an Australian ghost town located in the Parish of Hume, County of Mouramba, New South Wales. The former village site is 29 km west-south-west of Nymagee. The area in which it lies is treated as part of Nymagee for postal and statistical purposes.
Cadia Engine House is a heritage-listed engine house at Cadia, Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1865 to 1867. The property is owned by Newcrest Mining Limited, forming part of the company's Cadia-Ridgeway Mine lease. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Charles Henry Hoskins (1851-1926) was an Australian industrialist, who was significant in the development of the iron and steel industry in Australia.
The Cadia Mine railway line is a closed and dismantled railway line in New South Wales, Australia. The 18.5 km long branch line started where it branched from the Main Western Railway line at Spring Hill and ended at Cadia. Its main role was to carry iron ore from the quarry at Cadia and for much of its life was privately operated.
Australian Iron & Steel was an Australian iron and steel manufacturer.
Sir Cecil Harold Hoskins (1889–1971) was an Australian industrialist associated with the iron and steel industry. He is notable mainly for the establishment of the steel industry at Port Kembla, the company Australian Iron & Steel, and its subsequent merger with BHP in 1935. He was also on the board of the Australian Mutual Provident Society for many years and was its chairman from 1947 to 1962. He is less well known for his involvement in centre-right political organisations and the scouting movement, and his interest in landscape gardens.
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