The Creswick Mine Disaster

admin • December 1, 2025

On 12th December 1882, Creswick became the location of a mining disaster which holds, to this day, the record for the deadliest mine disaster in Australia’s history.


There were 41 men who were on shift on the night of the 11th December working in the New Australasian No.2 Gold Mine. They descended 250 feet (76m) from the surface and then made their way a further 2000 feet (600m) to the face where they were mining. It was at 5.30am the next morning when a working shaft came too close to an older flooded parallel shaft – resulting in water flooding into the newer working part of the mine. 27 miners became trapped, but were able to reach a small air pocket in a space known as the No.11 jump-up. Here they stayed trapped for 2-3 days. They wrote messages on their crib pails to their families and sang together and prayed.


The rescue mission involved 2 days of frantic pumping of the floodwaters and Navy divers hurried from the ship HMVS Cerberus to help. By the time they were reached, after 3 days, 22 men had succumbed to the rising water levels and drowned. Only 5 of the 27 made it out alive.


When the funeral was held, there were many thousands in attendance – 400 people marched in the procession and another 15,000 onlookers lined the streets. 


At this time there was no such thing as workers compensation to help the 18 wives and 63 children who were left behind. So, the community set up a relief fund to assist the families. This would be the birth of workers compensation in Australia.


The Creswick Mine Disaster highlighted the need for better safety regulations in mining operations. It would remain the largest loss of life in a workplace incident in Australia for nearly 90 years, when The West Gate Bridge Collapsed in 1970.


For more information on the Creswick Mining Disaster Australasian Mining Disaster | Creswick Museum


List of the Dead

  • Christian Frederick Fisher (55) Wittenburg, Germany
  • James Carmoody (53) County Clare, Ireland
  • George Baulcomb (52 & 10 months) Maidstone, Kent, England
  • Nathaniel Trescowthick (45) Cornwall, England
  • Michael Hayes (45) Ireland
  • John Gower (44) Lyminge, Kent, England
  • William Curtis (42) Gwennap, Cornwall, England
  • James Minahan (38) County Clare, Ireland
  • William Tregloan (37 & 6 months) Marazion, Cornwall
  • Edward Campon Dargon (36) Kilkenny, Ireland
  • Anton Andersson (36) Christianstada, Finland
  • John Henry Crougey(35) Stithians, Cornwall, England
  • James Mitchell Temby (35) Redruth, Cornwall, England
  • James O’Shea also known as James Walsh (34years & 11 months) County Waterford, Ireland
  • Carl Waldemar Theodor Serrurier (34) Berlin, Prussia
  • Thomas Penbertha Chegwin (31) Redruth, Cornwall, Ireland
  • Abraham Wyatt (31) Adelaide, South Australia
  • Jabez Bellingham (28) Worcestershire England
  • Benjamin Bowen Bellingham (21) Happy Valley, Victoria.
  • John Tom Clifton (27) Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England
  • Edward Wood (26) Oldham, Lancashire, England
  • John Thomas Hodge (18) Creswick

Survivors

  • Peter Maloney
  • John Manley died 25/1/1924
  • Tom Corbett died 31/5/1935 Creswick
  • Cornelius Quirk died Feb. 1922 Milawa
  • Patrick Bowen  died 26/3/1909 Creswick

Engineered Stone - Anniversary of The Ban

By admin • June 29, 2026
Today is the anniversary of the banning of Engineered Stone. On the 1 st July 2024, Engineered Stone was banned due to the high levels of silica it contained, which presented a health and safety risk to those working with it. The banning of engineered stone is a huge win for the safety and health of workers, but it does not mean that workers are safe from silica related disease. Workers can still be exposed to silica from other sources, including: Stone Asphalt Cement, mortar and grout Concrete, concrete blocks and cement products Bricks and pavers Tiles Sand These and related products still present a risk and this comes in the form of respirable crystalline silica. Small particles of silica can be produced when dust is produces through cutting, sanding or processing the materials. This can occur during manufacturing and construction, when mining or digging, and when handling waste. The silica dust can be breathed deep into the lungs and can cause serious disease., including silicosis, fibrosis, COPD, bronchitis and lung cancer. In addition, it can cause other systemic diseases including serious effects on the kidneys, immune system, eyes, etc. Employers must control the risk of exposure and workers should be aware of the risks so that they can make sure that they are safe. BeSafe is still horrified to occasionally see dry cutting by workers who may not be aware of the serious risks of this practice. Just remember, that just because engineered stone has been banned, it doesn’t mean you are safe from silica related disease. Make sure you know how to protect yourself and stay safe from this serious and deadly hazard. More information: For the general information page with resources relating to crystalline silica, take a look at: Crystalline silica | WorkSafe Victoria For information relating to how employers must identify hazards, assess risk, control the risk and review and revise controls regularly, take a look at: Preparing a crystalline silica hazard control statement for high-risk crystalline silica work | WorkSafe Victoria For a practical guide on how to safely work with engineered stone, including exemptions, take a look at Compliance code: Engineered stone | WorkSafe Victoria

Welding Fumes

By admin • June 15, 2026
Welding fumes are hazardous, and employers must control the risk of harm. Various types of welding are used in the workplace, with varying levels of welding fume production. The amount and type of fumes produced during welding will vary based on various factors including: the metals being welded, the welding process used, the composition of the welding rod/wire, the shielding gases used and any contaminants or coating on the metal, etc. There are a number of health effects which may occur due to exposure to welding fumes. These include both short-term and long-term affects Short term: eye irritation, respiratory irritation, metal fume fever (zinc oxide). Long term: siderosis (iron accumulation in the body), lung and kidney cancer, nervous system disorders, asthma, pneumonia. The likelihood of developing damaging health effects from welding will depend on the type of welding being used (and therefore the type of fumes produced), the duration and frequency of exposure, the worker’s proximity to the fumes, the ventilation of the welding area, and any controls which were utilised during the exposure. Welding fumes are a hazardous substance and must be controlled according to the hierarchy of controls. Controls may include: Eliminating the need for welding if possible, for example by using different fastening methods or prefabricated components. Substituting the welding method, for example by using a method which generates less fumes, or using automation methods. Engineering controls including mechanical ventilation such as on-torch extraction or local exhaust ventilation. PPE should be provided by the workplace and includes the use of air fed ventilators. The use of respirators such as Powered Air Purifying Respirators can be used but only in addition to a higher-order control, or if higher-order controls are not possible. Other types of respirators are available but less effective. Several different controls may need to be used and as with any controls, training must be provided on their implementation. Atmospheric monitoring may also be required to monitor exposure levels in the workplace and health monitoring must also be carried out in accordance with the OHS Regulations 2017 Part 4.1 - Hazardous Substances.  Consultation with the workforce, including any elected health and safety representatives, must take place in accordance with requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. For more information on welding fumes, take a look at the following links: https://youtu.be/0tvrOw18Vr0?si=oK_v3vkbGebCzuMf Controlling exposure to welding fumes | WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: Hazardous substances | WorkSafe Victoria - Welding fumes | Safe Work Australia