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First Discovery
Discovered at the mouth of the Hunter River in New South Wales by William Bryant, an escaping convict. -
Second Discovery
William Clarke was the next to discover coal near Thirroul, on the south coast of New South Wales. -
First Coalmine
Near the mouth of the Hunter River, the first coalmine was established in 1801. -
Newcastle
Governer King named Newcastle, after making it a permanent settlement. Production of salt was one of the first uses of Newcastle. It soon became Australia's centre for development in coal trade. -
Period: to
Production of salt.
Newcastle became producing salt by boiling seawater with local coal for fuel. Lime was also produced for building, by burning seashells.