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Elouera, Cobar, New South Wales

Elouera was a short-lived mining township, now a ghost town, in the Orana region of New South Wales Australia. The area that it once occupied has always been a part of Cobar, for local government purposes, although the old site lies around 10 km to the north-west of the Cobar township. It was associated with the Cornish, Scottish and Australian Mine (C.S.A. Mine), and was inhabited from 1906 to around 1930. It was also known, unofficially, as 'C.S.A.'

Location

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Elouera's site in relation to C.S.A. and Tinto mines.[1]

The area later known as Elouera lies within the traditional lands of Wangaaypuwan dialect speakers (also known as Wangaibon) of Ngiyampaa people, referred to in their own language as Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan.[2][3] After colonial settlement, the area lay in the County of Robinson, Parish of Kaloogleguy.

The settlement of Elouera was north of the road from Cobar to Louth and south-west of the C.S.A. mine site.[4][5][6] It was around 10 km, in straight-line distance, north-west of Cobar, but about 22 km by road.

Name

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The word 'elouera' is almost certainly derived from a word of Aboriginal origin. There is a type of Aboriginal stone hand tool that has been referred to as an elouera.[7][8] However, the word may have more than one meaning, or differing meanings in different Aboriginal languages. In the Tharawal language of the coastal Illawarra area, it is said to mean 'a pleasant place near the sea' or 'a high place near the sea'. The words 'elouera' and 'Illawarra', most probably, are derived from the same Tharawal word, which may have been closer to 'allowrie'.[9]

The name, 'Elouera' has been very widely applied by non-indigenous Australians, including for a beach, a surf life-saving club, a ship,[10] a race horse,[11] a colliery,[12] a housing land development,[13] numerous houses and other properties, numerous streets and a light rail station, and even as a girls' baby name.

History

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Mine and mining settlement

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Mineralisation, in outcrops in the area, was first identified in 1872, and led to the first exploratory mining, which gave the mine its name, Cornish, Scottish, and Australian Copper Mine.[14] However, it was soon overshadowed by the large copper deposit of the Great Cobar mine.[15] It was only in 1905 that a commercially viable lead-silver deposit was found. It was that deposit that was the first successfully mined at the C.S.A. Mine.[6]

 
C.S.A. Mine c.1908 (Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)

In the times before motorised transport, miners need to live close to their work and the Cobar township was over 22 km away, by road. Before Elouera, the area was known as CSA Mines, and almost certainly a settlement developed near the mine around 1906. The Town of Elouera was proclaimed 6 March 1907.[4][5] A new hotel and a post office opened there in 1907.[16][17] The company erected three houses for its staff and a boarding house for fifty men.[6]

In 1909, the CSA Mine closed, when the original lead-silver deposit was exhausted. It reopened, in 1910, after a copper deposit was found. By then, with no returns to shareholders, £100,000 had been spent on exploration and development. Around 1912, the adjacent Tinto Mine was amalgamated with the C.S.A mine, and the two were thereafter worked as one operation.[6]

There was a school at Elouera from July 1908 to May 1921, with two interruptions when the school closed for short periods during 1915 and 1916–17. It was a half time school, sharing its teacher with Meryula Siding (just to the east of Cobar), from October 1915 to March 1916.[18][19][20] Before the holidays began at the end of 1918, the school had 35 pupils using the 16 by 14 foot schoolhouse.[21] In 1919–1920, an existing school building was relocated to Elouera from Mount Drysdale.

In mid 1916, there were at least five of the village's men away at the First World War.[22]

In 1917, the company started production using the first of its water-jacket blast furnaces at its mine site. In the same year, the C.S.A. company erected another eleven houses for its workers in Elouera.[6] New blocks of land were being sold in the town in 1917[23] and in 1920.[24] Another hotel opened around August 1919;[25] Elouera then had two hotels, the new Royal Hotel—its licence transferred from Mt Drysdale[26]—and the Elouera Hotel.[27][26]

By April 1917, the long-awaited extension of the railway line from Cobar to the C.S.A. Mine was under construction,[28] and it opened in January 1918.[29] One of the reasons used to justify the railway was to ship low-grade 'basic' ore from the C.S.A. to the smelters of the Great Cobar Mine; it would be mixed with Great Cobar's 'silicaceous' ore, as a flux for smelting, replacing limestone brought from much further away by rail.[30][31] However, at latest by early 1919, there was an acrimonious disagreement, between the managements of the two companies, probably motivated by an underlying unresolved contention over which company would dominate copper production on the Cobar mining field. The outcomes were that Great Cobar did not take any of C.S.A. low-grade ore as flux[32] and the railway was under-utilised, although it was still of great benefit to C.S.A.. Not long afterwards, in March 1919, the Great Cobar mine and its smelters closed, throwing hundreds of men out of work in Cobar.[33] Closure of the Great Cobar resulted in the loss of the source of electrical power used to supply water to the C.S.A. Mine.[34]

C.S.A. decided to build its own smelter and refinery at Kandos, to circumvent an effective monopoly of the electrolytic copper refinery at Port Kembla.[6] There was some ill will toward C.S.A., around Cobar, as a result of decisions it had made.[35]

Just as the future of Elouera was looking bright, the copper price had collapsed in 1919. The mine had to close due to lack of water, during part of 1919. After it reopened, it was employing 250 men. The company had spent more than £200,000 on developing the mine and its furnaces at Elouera. It had spent £32,000 on the electrolytic copper refinery at Kandos, which reused electrolytic tanks from the closed Great Cobar copper refinery at Lithgow. The company had commissioned a second, much larger, water-jacket blast furnace near the mine, in January 1918, which gave satisfactory results producing copper matte, for subsequent smelting and refining, initially at Port Kembla. The smelting section of the new plant at Kandos entered production, around September 1919, but its new electrolytic refinery would never enter service.[6][36][35]

Mine closure and end of Elouera

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Mine fire

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The rapid decline of Elouera began with the unexpected cessation of mining at the C.S.A. Mine, due to an underground fire that broke out, on the afternoon of Saturday, 20 March 1920. The location of the fire was in the timber supporting the long-abandoned silver-lead ore workings, on No.2 Level of the mine.[37][38] The ultimate cause of fire was never identified; 'incendiarism' was alleged,[39][40] and an earlier allegation of a deliberate setting fire to the company's property had been made, in September 1919.[41][42] Another plausible theory is that the fire was caused by heating, due to oxidisation of sulphide ore and backfill material, which then set alight Oregan timber framing supporting the old workings.[6]

 
Investigation team wearing 'Proto' breathing apparatus at C.S.A. Mine. (May 1920). (State Library of NSW)[43]

The mine was sealed, in an attempt to extinguish the fire, and initially smelting operations continued.[37] In April 1920, the smelters closed.[44] When the mine was unsealed on 3 May 1920, it was found to be full of dangerous gases, and could only be inspected by men wearing 'Proto smoke helmets', an early type of self-contained breathing apparatus.

The fire broke out again, around 6 May 1920, and spread further into the workings, propelled by flaming carbon monoxide gases. The mine was again sealed, and a decision was taken to ask the government to assist in bringing water by train to flood the mine. That had not happened, by 30 June 1920, when rainfall provided water, which was then used in an attempt to flood the mine,[45][46][47] apparently without success. An analysis of the mine air, in April 1921, revealed a 10% carbon monoxide content,[48] close to its lower explosive limit;[49] that was bad enough but the oxygen content was still 13.6%, more than enough oxygen to keep the timber smouldering. The company announced, in November 1921, that with copper prices low, the level of dangerous gases in the mine being high, and the prospect of fire breaking out, the mine would not reopen.[48]

Aftermath (1921-1946)

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Once it was clear that the mine would not reopen Elouera's inhabitants, amenities, and businesses departed rapidly. The school closed, in May 1921,[18] followed by the post office, in December 1921.[17] The Royal Hotel had closed by October 1922,[50] and the Elouera Hotel also closed. By May 1923, reportedly, there was only one family left living in Elouera;[51] the family of Robert Gardiner, the mine's accountant, may have been living there, at least as late as 1930.[52] It is probable that, after 1930, or thereabout, Elouera was deserted.

The C.S.A. Mine's closure was one of many that severely affected the Cobar area, in rapid succession; the two most significant others were the closure of the vast Great Cobar Mine, the town's main employer, in March 1919,[33] and the unexpected closure of the large Occidental Gold Mine, at Wrightville, in July 1921.[53] The closure of the Great Cobar and C.S.A. mines affected smaller copper mines that used the larger mines' smelters, causing those smaller mines to also close.[44] As work for miners disappeared, buildings were removed, from Wrightville and Cobar, to be re-erected in more prosperous places,[54] and the same probably happened at Elourera. In 1934, it was reported the disused railway line was to be repaired, so that equipment could be removed from the mine site.[55]

The plant and buildings at Kandos were sold off in 1925; the timber from its large building was reused at the nearby cement plant, but its prominent concrete chimney stack would stand until the 1980s.[56][57]

The fire in the C.S.A mine was reported to be still burning in 1935.[58] The company kept the mine, and its furnaces, for many years. However, the circumstances were never appropriate to reopen it, during the years before the company began to be wound up in December 1946. Before then, around early 1942, the mine's equipment had been sold.[59][60]

Remnants

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Although the old mine was dewatered and exploratoratory mining carried out, between 1951 and 1958, it was not until 1962-1963 that the C.S.A. reopened, with the modern mine in full production from 1965. The old railway to the mine was rehabilitated.[6][61][62] The reopening of the C.S.A. mine sparked a revival in the fortunes of Cobar,[63] but the old settlement of Elouera was only a memory by then. Its old site may have been used for temporary buildings and outdoor storage, during and after construction of the new mine.[64][65]

A similar name 'Elura' was used for a new mine in the region, the Elura Mine and its railway line, opened in 1983, but this is far from Elouera's old site; it was later renamed the Endeavour Mine.[66][67]

Nothing remains of the old mining settlement, except for the map of its street plan, although the site of the town and its 'tank', or water supply, still can be discerned in aerial views.[5][65] There may also be a lonely cemetery.[68]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Andrews, E. C. (1913). Report on the Cobar copper and gold-field. Mineral resources / Department of Mines, Geological Survey. Geological Survey of New South Wales. Sydney: Govt. Printer.
  2. ^ Office of Environment and Heritage. "Cobar Peneplain - regional history". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  3. ^ Studies, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (10 November 2022). "Map of Indigenous Australia". aiatsis.gov.au. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 6 March 1907. p. 1588. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Map of the town of Elouera [cartographic material] : Parish of Kaloogleguy, County of Robinson, Land District of Cobar, Western Division N.S.W. 1908". Trove. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i McQueen, Ken (September 2006). "Hidden Copper: The Early History of the Cornish, Scottish and Australian (C.S.A.) Mine, Cobar, NSW" (PDF). Journal of Australasian Mining History. 4.
  7. ^ McCarthy, Frederick D.; Davidson, F.A. (1943). "The Elouera Industry of Singleton, Hunter River, New South Wales". Records of the Australian Museum. 21 (4): 210–230. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.21.1943.536 – via The University Library Special Collections - University of Newcastle (N.S.W.).
  8. ^ "Some Flake Work of the Australian Aborigine". Sydney Mail. 20 July 1932. p. 33. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  9. ^ Reed, A. W (1973). Place names of Australia. Sydney: Reed Books. p. 120.
  10. ^ "ENGINES FITTED TO ELOUERA". Argus. 14 March 1923. p. 17. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  11. ^ "MORUYA RACES. ELOUERA WIN'S TOWN PLATE". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 February 1910. p. 12. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Elouera Colliery (Coal) - City of Wollongong". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Elouera Estate – From The Pleasant Place". Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  14. ^ "THE CORNISH, SCOTTISH. AND AUSTRALIAN COPPER MINE". Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 15 August 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  15. ^ "BOURKE". Evening News. 17 September 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Concentrates". Cobar Herald. 9 August 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Elouera, N.S.W." Phoenix post office list.
  18. ^ a b "Elouera". nswgovschoolhistory.cese.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  19. ^ "C.S.A. AND MERYULA SCHOOLS". Western Age. 11 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  20. ^ Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (6 March 2023). "Glossary of school types". education.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  21. ^ "ELOUERA PUBLIC SCHOOL". Western Age. 10 January 1919. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  22. ^ "The Roll of Honor". Western Age. 21 July 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  23. ^ "LAND SALES". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 27 July 1917. p. 3920. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  24. ^ "SALE AT THE LANDS OFFICE, COBAR". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 9 July 1920. p. 4021. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Advertising". Western Age. 8 August 1919. p. 1. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Licensing Court". Western Age. 14 December 1917. p. 4. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  27. ^ "COBAR POLICE COURT". Western Age. 2 April 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  28. ^ "TRAINS AND TRAMS". Daily Telegraph. 25 April 1917. p. 13. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  29. ^ "C.S.A. Mines Ltd". Western Age. 15 January 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  30. ^ "DOES THE C.S.A. MINE JUSTIFY THE LINE?". Cobar Herald. 5 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Cobar's Prospects". Western Age. 13 September 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  32. ^ "DIRECTORS OF C.S.A. INTERVIEW MINISTER FOR WORKS, STATE GREAT COBAR REFUSED TO TAKE ORE". Western Age. 7 February 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  33. ^ a b "COBAR THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION". Sydney Mail. 19 March 1919. p. 17. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  34. ^ "Cobar Municipal Council". Western Age. 21 March 1919. p. 2.
  35. ^ a b McKillop, Bob (October 2004). "Mining Railways of Cobar - 7. Other Mines, 1871-1922" (PDF). Light Railways (179). Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc.: 9, 10, 11.
  36. ^ "COPPER SMELTING WORKS". Daily Telegraph. 1 October 1919. p. 11. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  37. ^ a b "C.S.A. MINE FIRE". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 March 1920. p. 8. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Fire at C.S.A. Mine". Western Age. 23 March 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  39. ^ "FIRE IN C.S.A. MINE". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 July 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  40. ^ "C.S.A. FIRE". Sun. 16 July 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  41. ^ "SUMMARY". Western Age. 9 September 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  42. ^ "Advertising". Western Age. 12 September 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  43. ^ "CSA Mine "investigation" team - Cobar, NSW". State Library of NSW.
  44. ^ a b "N.S.W. MINING NEWS". Australian Worker. 22 April 1920. p. 20. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  45. ^ "FIRE IN C.S.A. MINE". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 July 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  46. ^ "The C.S.A. Mine Fire". Western Age. 25 May 1920. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  47. ^ "A brief history of our breathing apparatus". www.london-fire.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  48. ^ a b "C.S.A. MINES". Daily Telegraph. 26 November 1921. p. 13. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  49. ^ "CARBON MONOXIDE (and CO by COHb) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration". www.osha.gov. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  50. ^ "Licensing Reduction Board". Western Herald. 4 October 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  51. ^ "BAD TIMES". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 May 1923. p. 13. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  52. ^ "APPLICATION FROM C.S.A. MINES". Western Age. 3 September 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  53. ^ "The Occidental Gold Mine". Western Age. 29 July 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  54. ^ "GOING TO ARDLETHAN". Western Age. 17 February 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  55. ^ "Personal And General". Western Age. 29 June 1934. p. 2. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  56. ^ Kandos History (31 May 2021). "The Harder You Fall". Kandos History. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  57. ^ "KANDOS". Lithgow Mercury. 7 October 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  58. ^ "THE QUEST FOR GOLD". Northern Star. 10 April 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  59. ^ "THE C.S.A. MINES LIMITED.—At an Extraordinary". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 20 December 1946. p. 2952. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  60. ^ "TENDERS CALLED". Construction. 17 December 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  61. ^ "COBAR MINE WORKS AGAIN". Western Herald. 30 March 1962. p. 14. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  62. ^ "Operations at the C.S.A. Mine, Cobar". Western Herald. 13 September 1963. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  63. ^ "Population Boom is Expected due to Mining". Western Herald. 19 July 1963. p. 11. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  64. ^ "Aerial view of the modern C.S.A. mine and plant in 1966 (photo courtesy... | Download Scientific Diagram".
  65. ^ a b "Satellite View - CSA Mine · Louth Road, Cobar NSW 2835, Australia". Google Maps. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  66. ^ "CBH Resources :: Endeavor Mine". www.cbhresources.com.au. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  67. ^ "Elura Mine". www.nswrail.net. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  68. ^ "General Cemetery At Elouera, Plan Of Portion Cemetery County Of Robinson Parish Of Kaloogleguy". search.records.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
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31°25′07″S 145°47′04″E / 31.41861°S 145.78444°E / -31.41861; 145.78444

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