We are heading out to Richmond Vale Railway Museum and the old Mining site for a night of exploration and investigation.
The history of the Richmond Vale Railway goes back to 1857 when the first section was opened from Hexham, on the banks of the Hunter River, to Minmi near the Sugarloaf Range, a distance of five and a half miles.

In 1904 John Brown, who had taken over complete control of the J. & A. Brown Company, started a branch line from this first section through the Sugarloaf Range to Richmond Main Colliery and Pelaw Main Colliery near Kurri Kurri - a distance of twenty-two miles. A large locomotive shed was constructed at Pelaw Main with a major repair shop at Hexham. Richmond Main Colliery was John "Baron" Brown's pride and joy.

This mine was once the largest vertical shaft mine in the Southern Hemisphere.

At its peak the mine employed over 1200 men and boys, and had a stable of over 200 pit horses. In the 1920's it was the most modern mine in the nation.

These dates will include a short train ride.
Exploring the Mining Museum Building
Walking up to as close to the old pit head as we can get.

Cost is $60 pp + booking fee (donation to OzHarvest)
Adults only
**Tour will go ahead when we reach our minimum person amount as we must cover costs of train on the night as well as our donation to the Museum which will be used to lay more tracks (which were destroyed in the bushfire in late 2017).

IMPORTANT: YOU MUST WEAR COVERED IN SHOES AND BRING A TORCH.
(no covered in shoes - no entry onto the site!!!!

We have a strict observance of areas that we are allowed to be in - so please be aware that the group will stay together at all times. ( to observe Council regulations)

This is a real look back into our mining history and an opportunity to connect with the ghostly miners that still wander the site.