Coal Mining Through the Ages

Image source Shire of Collie

Artist: Shakey (Jacob Butler)

Asset Type: Mural

Year of Work: 2021

Location: Collie Woolworths, rear carpark

Provenance: Shire of Collie

Description: “Collie coal has played a vital role in the development of Western Australia. The danger and hard work that the men (and women who supported the family) endured is incredible and hard to comprehend in this day and age.

I wanted to pay tribute to the underground coal mining industry in two parts.

Central to part one is a hostler walking out with his pit pony at the end of shift. The painting is referenced from a photo taken at the Bullfinch Coal Mine (Proprietary )Collie in April 1939.

Part two is laid out like a timeline, from the early days (earliest reference photo from 1939) dominated by manual-handling up until the introduction of machinery like the bobcat and the Alpine Continuous Miner.” Shakey (Jacob Butler)