Bloomfield

In contrast to many other mining companies throughout Australia, the Bloomfield Colliery near Maitland in New South Wales's Hunter Valley, is an example of how a family run company can co-exist alongside the great global multi-nationals who are forever focusing on greater and greater profits at all costs. The Bloomfield Colliery has now entered its 76th year and is well positioned to ride out yet another volatile period in its long history.

Bloomfield success is Owed to Good Customers, Good Employees and Good Management

The Bloomfield Colliery management credits the relative success of their 'small' operation to their good customers and consistency of management and employment over the years. The colliery is managed these days by John Richards, and other members of the same family.

A Coal Mining Company Founded by the Cant Family in 1937

The Bloomfield Colliery was founded in 1937 by the Cant family who also ran a coal mine at Dudley at that time. Throughout the decades since it has always kept a close relationship with its workers and have dealt with the many changes in the industry as they arise. The company managements says it owes a lot to it never being in a mad rush to expand and it is considered as a reliable alternative to many of the much bigger players in the industry. In fact it is regarded as a considerable competitor to the major coal producers. An indication of company's growth can be seen when you compare its annual production rate of 10,000 tonnes of coal a year in the 1930s using steam equipment to today's 600,000 tonnes a year using the latest in modern day mining equipment.

Coal Railed to Newcastle for Overseas Export

The Bloomfield Colliery has enjoyed steady growth throughout its lifetime through its readiness to innovate. Today it employs 90 mining personnel at the Bloomfield Colliery as well as those working in its CHPP (Coal Handling and Preparation Plant). The open pit method of mining it employs at the Bloomfield Colliery is a multi bench, multi seam system mining up to 13 splits, or seams, at a time. This is achieved with the use of a large range of heavy earthmoving equipment that delivers ROM (run-of- mine) coal to its washery situated on-site. The coal is then taken by rail to Newcastle where it is stored awaiting shipment at the PWCS (Port Waratah Coal Services) coal terminal. The Bloomfield Colliery is a major shareholder and founding member of the PWCS.

A Total Workforce of 500 People

The CHPP at the Bloomfield Colliery open pit mine processes coal from the nearby Tasman and Abel underground coal mines as well as that from the nearby Donaldson open pit along with its own. Altogether the Bloomfield Group, that includes the Rix's Creek open pit at Singleton, the Bloomfield Colliery, the CHPP, its two engineering business's, Four Mile Engineering at East Maitland and Kings Engineering at Lithgow and Rutherford, employs a total of 500 people. In the last 76 years it has certainly grown into a formidable company.