Helensburgh's Miners Tribute restored thanks to community effort

Thanks to local clubs, coal-mining heritage features are back at Charles Harper Park in Helensburgh.

Community members celebrated the arrival of two newly restored coal skips to form the centrepiece of the Miners Tribute monument at a dedication ceremony on Friday, September 8.

The 18-month-long joint restoration project, led by Helensburgh Lions Club treasurer Keith Hawkins, called on the refurbishing expertise of Helensburgh’s Men Shed and the support of Peabody’s Metropolitan Mine, which donated two replacement skips and funded their restoration.

Though the process was long, Keith is delighted to see the skips finally return to Charles Harper Park.

“[It’s] great to see them back,” Keith said.

“It gives people a bit of hope that things are getting restored, and whether they know who's done it, I don't mind, really, but it's nice to see the little plaque there… and I hope people take a bit of trouble to have a little look.”

Officially unveiled on April 26, 1998, Helensburgh Lions Club’s Miners Tribute is dedicated to miners who have worked in the township’s coal mine since the discovery of coal in 1883.

After more than two decades on display, the original skips – once hauled underground by pit ponies – and the surrounding garden fell into disrepair. With rotted wood and exposed steel rods, the site not only became an eyesore, it posed a danger to children and passers-by.

Once Wollongong City Council gave Helensburgh Lions Club’s proposal the green light, the decayed skips were removed ahead of the UCI Road World Championships in September 2022.

Then a small team of handymen from Helensburgh Men’s Shed, led by Wayne Wheatley, got to work on refurbishing the replacement skips, adding timber where necessary, cleaning tar and rust, sanding down the skips and preserving the timber and metal with coats of oil and paint.

“I've thoroughly enjoyed doing this project,” Wayne said. “It was so good knowing where it was going to be and what it was for.

“[It’s] a bit of Helensburgh's history. If it wasn't for the the coal mine in Helensburgh, there wouldn't be a Helensburgh, and just to be a part of that is pleasing to me and to the guys that worked on the job.”

Two coal-mining pickaxes, contributed by Helensburgh resident Andrew Paine, now also feature in the display.

Keith is elated that Wayne and the team at the Men’s Shed have managed to restore this piece of Helensburgh history and he hopes the community will feel the same.

“[We] appreciate their expertise in restoring this,” Keith said. “Proud as punch, I should think they'd be.

“To put a little bit of heritage back in town is good, and I hope people appreciate it.

“When I walk past or drive past the big Smith Family bins, you notice them every time you drive past, and hopefully it's going to be the same with the coal skips.”