The Development of the Greta Coal Measures of New South Wales

The earliest discovery and mining of coal in the northern area of the Greta Coal Measures at Anvil Creek in 1862 was by William Farthing, however, some official records attribute the discovery to Thomas Frost in 1864. Frost's discovery was examined by William Keen, government examiner of coalfields, and further prospecting was carried out. This was followed by the pioneering work of C S Wilkinson, government geologist in 1884. Subsequently in 1886 C S Wilkinson entrusted a detailed survey of the coalfield to the then geological surveyor, T W Edgeworth David.The outcrop of the Greta Coal Measures around the Lochinvar dome was mapped by Edgeworth David and as soon as he reported his discovery, the Department of Mines reserved in the interests of coal mining an area of 23700 acres, which extended between what became the South Greta and Abermain No I Collieries.