1791 First discovery of coal in Australia at Newcastle by escaped convicts. 1797 Illawarra coal deposits first officially documented by George Bass (near Coalcliff)
1821 O'Brien, Cornelius - granted 300 acres in the vicinity of Bulli 1828 Australian Agricultural Co. has monopoly on coal - Shoobert is blocked from opening a coal mine.
1836 Westmacott, Capt. Robert Marsh - purchases 300acres land from Cornelius O'Brien 1837 Plunkett, John Herbert - on his property "Keelogues" ("Gundarun") 1280acres 1837 Construction starts on Belmore Basin, Wollongong Harbour 18xx Wylie, John obtains 2000 acres ("Dunlop Vale", north of Mullet Ck., Dapto) then loses it to Andrew Lang, the father of Rev. Dr. D. J. Lang. 1839 Australian Agricultural Co. complains that Capt. Westmacott has opened mine at Bulli on land purchased from O'Brien (not proceeded with) 1839 Rev. W. B. Clark, Geologist, commences examination of South Coast coal measures.
1841 Owen, Robert purchases coal land 1844 Construction of Belmore Basin completed. 1846 Owen, Robert (later Judge Owen), purchases land at Jamberoo 1848 Albert Mine (aka Shoobert’s Mine) - Tunnel in 5m seam (Wongawilli sm.) under Mt. Keira by James Shoobert. 1849 Albert Mine (aka Shoobert’s Mine) - Tunnel in second seam (1.2m), the 4' seam (Albert sm.), located above first. 1849 First coal mined for sale taken to Wollongong harbour by horse dray (27th August) by James Shoobert. Mined from the 4' seam. 1849 Wollongong Bay - first coal mined, loaded on SS "William the Fourth"