Coal Mines Historic Site

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Coal Mines Historic Site

The Coal Mines Historic Site was Tasmania’s first operational mine, established as a place of puni

The Coal Mines Historic Site was Tasmania’s first operational mine, established as a much-needed local source of coal, but also as a place of punishment for the ‘worst class’ of convicts. Along with the Port Arthur Historic Site, the Coal Mines Historic Site is included in the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property. Conservation Volunteers Australia is running a volunteer program at the Coal Mines Historic Site funded by an Australian Government Your Community Heritage Program grant

A visit to the Coal Mines is a fascinating and rewarding adjunct to any visit to the Port Arthur Historic Site.

14/09/2026

There are parts of the Coal Mines Historic Site that are no longer accessible.

And perhaps none is more intriguing than the Main Shaft.

Originally around 92 metres deep, the shaft constantly flooded. Pumps had to operate continuously to remove water, initially powered by groups of men and later by a steam engine.

Convicts were lowered into the mine using a windlass. One man sat across a short iron bar holding the chain, while another sat opposite him, across his knees.

Then they were lowered into the darkness.

Image credit

Standing beside the remains of the Main Shaft today, knowing what once happened beneath your feet gives this landscape an entirely different meaning.

26/08/2026

Some places invite you to slow down.

At the Coal Mines Historic Site, walking trails wind through convict ruins, native bushland and breathtaking coastal scenery, revealing one of Australia's most significant convict landscapes. With sweeping views across Norfolk Bay and stories waiting around every corner, it's a place to explore at your own pace.

Take a walk, pause for a moment and discover where history and nature exist side by side.

Image credit: Gaylene Norton

19/08/2026

Some photographs capture more than a landscape. They capture quiet moments. Layers of history. A place where nature has reclaimed one of Australia's most significant convict sites.

Whether it's the morning light filtering through the ruins, the reflections across Norfolk Bay or the details hidden among the sandstone walls, every visit offers a new perspective waiting to be discovered.

This World Photography Day, we'd love to see the Coal Mines Historic Site through your lens. Share your favourite photographs and tag us in your adventures.

Image credit jules.witek

31/07/2026

On 31 July 2010, the Coal Mines Historic Site was recognised as part of the Australian Convict Sites UNESCO World Heritage listing.

The site provides a rare insight into the industrial side of the convict system, where labour, punishment and isolation combined to support the growing colony. Today, the ruins and surrounding landscape tell the story of the men who worked here and the systems that shaped their lives.

Today, we join communities across Australia in celebrating the anniversary of the Australian Convict Sites UNESCO World Heritage listing and the stories that continue to connect us to our past.

27/07/2026

The Coal Mines Historic Site offers a unique blend of history and nature.

Native trees are a vital part of the ecosystem, provide habitat for wildlife, stabilise the soil, frame historic ruins and contribute to the peaceful atmosphere that defines the site today. Their presence reminds us that landscapes continue to evolve long after people have gone.

This National Tree Day, we celebrate the natural environment that now surrounds this important convict site.

Image credit Port Arthur Lodge

12/07/2026

At first glance, the Coal Mines Historic Site appears peaceful. Yet beneath the landscape lies the story of a settlement built on punishment and labour.

Convicts mined coal, quarried stone and carried out physically demanding work far from family and freedom.

The remains visible today offer a glimpse into one of the most important industrial convict sites in Australia.

25/06/2026

The Coal Mines Historic Site offers a different kind of convict story.

Far from the larger settlements, this remote station combined punishment with relentless labour. Men worked underground extracting coal in physically demanding and dangerous conditions.

Today, visitors can walk at their own pace through the remains of the site and discover the layers of history still present across the landscape.

Quiet now, but never empty.

Image Credit Coal Mines, Tasman Peninsula (State Library of New South Wales: DGA 64 / vols.1-2, FL513694)

05/06/2026

Wind, water and bushland have reshaped the Coal Mines Historic Site over time.

What was once a industrial settlement is now a place where visitors can experience both history and the natural landscape of the Tasman Peninsula. Preserving these spaces ensures future generations can continue to learn from them.

On World Environment Day, we celebrate the landscapes that hold our stories.

Address

Saltwater Creek Road
Saltwater River, TAS
7186

Telephone

+61362512310

Website

http://coalmines.org.au/

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