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The Early Stages
When european settlement was established in Australia, the industrial revolution was in its early stages.
It was expected that the main activitywould be farming in order to feed the settlers.
No steam powered machines were brought from england. -
Coal
Coal was first discovered by europeans in Australia at the mouth of the hunter river in NSW by an escaping convict. The next discovery of coal was in1797 near Thirroul. The first coalmine in Australia was established near the mouth of the Hunter river. The Govenor king set up a permanent settlement the which became the centre for the development of Australia's coal. -
Steam
The first steam engines to be shipped arrived in Sydney and was installed into John Dickson's flour mill. More engines arrived in 1825, 1826 and 1829. By 1831 there were six steam engines including one at the Newcastle coalmine. By 1840 there were 26 engines being used in flourmills and ten in other businesses. -
Textile
Simeon Lord established a mill in sydney and in 1816 he entered into and agreementwith govenor Macquarie to mill dye and dress cloth from a female factoie at Paramatta. Another fatcorie was established in 1832 at blackwattle bay in sydney. By 1848 there were seven mills in NSW and by 1841 most people in the colony were dressed in tweeds made at Paramatta. The output of wool reached 235000 yards per annum in 1852. There was also a mill near Launceston which won a prize of 1000 piunds. -
Iron and Steel
The first attempt at creating iron and steel m=smelting in Australia was was made near Mittagong in NSW. The plant was closed in 1877 as it was not economical. many more attempts were made to establish iron and steel smeltingbut all were closed as they were not economical.It took five years to create a satisfactory production was acheived. -
Gold Rush
The Gold Rushes brought wealth and people to Austraila, thus sydney and Melbourne begsn to grow and develop as cities. Shortly after technology was invented people began using inventions in Austrailia such as; Electric telegraphs, telephones, trams, gas and electric light.Gold gave a huge financial boost to Australia. With the rapid opening up of goldfields shovels,picks and other tools grew in demand. Steam engines were also used to mine gold. -
Railway
1849 construction began on the first railway line in Australia. 1850 THe railway was opened between Melbournes flinders street and Port melbourne. Many other Railways opened such as Sydney to Parramata and Ipswich to Grandchester in QLD, Adelaide and Port Adelaide in SA, Lockville to Yoganup Wa, Launceston and Deltoraine TAS, Darwin and PIne Creek NT and Queanbeyan in ACT. -
BHP
Autralia was to have its first major mining and steel production company called 'Broken Hills Proprietary.1885 BHP begins mining silver, lead and zinc deposits. 1890 smelting begins at port pirie in SA. 1891First export of lead to China. 1899Leases obtained for Iron Knob and Baron Iron Ore deposits in SA. 1900 BHP commences iron ore mining at Iron Knob. 1915BHP begins steelwork operaation at Nwcastle.