The cliffside suburbs of the northern Illawarra are built directly above deep-seated history. Today, towns like Bulli and Clifton are celebrated for their relaxed coastal lifestyle, ocean pools, and escarpment views. Yet, carved into the sandstone cliffs behind these villages are sealed mine portals that mark a dark, pivotal chapter in Australian history.
On the latest episode of the Current Conversations Podcast, host Kurtis Ocean and producer Gabe paddled out to explore Australia's first major industrial disaster: the 1887 Bulli Colliery Explosion.
The boys unpacked the 1887 explosion—a catastrophic event that took 81 lives in a split second, forever transforming the northern Illawarra into a stronghold for worker safety and union solidarity.
The Mountain, the Methane, and the 8-Foot Seam
To understand the 1887 disaster, you have to look at the volatile geology of the Illawarra escarpment. The Bulli Colliery originally opened in 1863 to mine the thick, high-quality "Bulli Seam". As miners pushed deeper into the mountain behind Bulli, the coal seam intersected with intrusive volcanic rock formations (dolerite dykes) and natural fault lines. These geological fractures trapped pockets of volatile, highly flammable methane gas—known to miners as "firedamp".
Tensions inside the mine reached a breaking point in early 1887. Two months before the explosion, unionised local miners went on strike to protest low pay and terrifyingly high gas levels in the headings. Mine management dismissed their safety concerns and responded by bringing in non-union replacement workers from Sydney.
Adding to the hazard, miners were required to supply their own oil safety lamps. Because locked safety lamps produced a very dim light in the pitch-black tunnels, workers routinely unlocked them or used open candles to see the coal face.
2:30 PM, 23 March 1887: The Shot that Ignited the Mine
On Wednesday, 23 March 1887, at 2:30 PM, the accumulated danger culminated in a sudden, catastrophic blast. Inside the No. 2 Heading of the Hill End district, an unvented pocket of methane gas had settled 28 yards past the nearest ventilation air passage.
Miner John Westwood (or his working mate) prepared an overcharged explosive shot directly on top of a stone roll without undercutting the rock face first. The shot partially blew out, shooting a high-temperature flame straight into the trapped gas pocket.
The initial methane flare-up suspended fine, dry coal dust throughout the tunnel. The suspended dust acted as a fuel-air bomb, converting a localised gas ignition into a massive, self-propagating explosion wave that roared through the colliery.
The human toll was immediate and devastating:
81 Deaths: 81 men and boys were killed instantly, leaving 50 women widowed and 150 children fatherless in the small village of Bulli.
One Single Survivor: Out of 82 miners working in the Hill End district that afternoon, 17-year-old Herbert "Boy" Cope was the sole survivor. Knocked unconscious by the blast wave, he woke up in total darkness, crawling through toxic gas to reach safety.
The Aftermath: Work Shed Morgues and Mary Ann Jones
In the minutes following the roar, local miners rushed into the suffocating pit mouth without breathing gear, risking secondary explosions to haul out their mates. Most victims were killed not by direct flame, but by suffocating "after-damp" (a deadly mix of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) or the sheer physical force of the shockwave.
With no official morgue in the area, 81 bodies were laid out in the coal company's work shed on the corner of Hobart Street and Princes Highway while coffins were hastily built along the roadside.
One of the most remarkable human stories from the disaster is that of local resident Mary Ann Jones. After mine manager Alexander Ross allegedly instructed her to "spare no expense," Mary Ann spent three relentless days washing and preparing all 81 bodies for burial. When the coal company subsequently refused to pay her bill of £20 and 5 shillings, Mary Ann took them to the Sydney District Court—and won.
The subsequent NSW Royal Commission, chaired by Dr. James R. M. Robertson, delivered a scathing assessment. Colliery Manager Alexander Ross was cited for apathy and failing to enforce airflow discipline, while overman Richard White and union secretary J.B. Nicholson were censured for ignoring clear warning signs weeks prior.
Living History: Local Memorials and Escarpment Footprints
The 1887 disaster permanently altered the identity of the Illawarra. It forced sweeping reforms to the Coal Mines Regulation Act, making wet tamping compulsory, mandating canvas bratticing for airflow, and banning shot-firing in gassy mines while workers were underground. Tragically, just 15 years later in 1902, the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster claimed 96 lives, giving the Illawarra the somber distinction of being home to Australia's two worst industrial disasters.
For locals and visitors exploring the northern suburbs today, the heritage of the mining era remains visible across several key spots:
St Augustine's Anglican Church (Bulli): Located on Princes Highway, this historic churchyard is the final resting place for many of the 1887 victims who were buried side-by-side. Every year on March 23, an official memorial service is held here to honor their legacy.
The Old Mine Portal Footprint: Tucked into the bushland behind Hobart Street at the base of the Bulli escarpment, the original mine entrances were eventually sealed with 12 feet of solid concrete. Overgrown sorting foundations can still be spotted hidden in the scrub along local walking tracks.
The Bulli Heritage Hotel: Situated near the Princes Highway and Hobart Street precinct, this historic pub was originally established by early coal pioneer Thomas Hale, offering an authentic spot to sit down for a meal and reflect on local history.
Catch the Conversation
To hear Kurtis Ocean and Gabe break down the full timeline of the 1887 disaster—along with Kurtis's hilarious update on his unlocked car knife saga—listen to the full episode, “1887 Bulli Explosion," streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred audio platform.