Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891:body:0:p185
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 526159–529117

of the few Australian convict sites which outstandingly
represent the economic role of convicts. It is rare as the only surviving penal
coal mines with coherent surface remains. The place contains features related
to the extraction of coal including coal seams at the beach, the remains of the
original adits, the main pit head with original machinery footings, the boiler
and the airshaft, and ground circular depressions which indicate the sites of the
1838, 1842 and 1845 main shafts. The place also contains features relating to
the transportation of coal including evidence of the inclined plane for coal tram
cars, which extends from the 1845 shaft on Coal Mine Hill to Plunkett Point,
subsidiary inclined planes which appear as modifications to the natural
landscape and the remains of wharves and jetties.

The alternating solitary cell complex built in 1845-6 is the only extant example
of this form of convict punishment accommodation and an outstanding
example of the extreme harshness of convict life. The cells effectively isolate
convicts from contact with fellow prisoners and were a way of both punishing
convicts and ensuring that homosexual activity did not occur.

Being the only extant penal colliery in Australia, the surviving ruins and the
archaeological remains associated with the structures of Coal Mines Historic
Site, have yielded and have high potential to further yield valuable information
on the working conditions, technical skills, penal administration, and the
mining technologies used by convicts.

Archaeological exploration of convict accommodation and associated
structures, and in particular, the dormitories and solitary cells as well as

Section 11: Appendices
Authorised Version F2016L01891 registered 09/12/2016

Jean Rice Architect | CONTEXT | GML Heritage

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Special Gazette 17
No. S141, 1 August 2007

Criterion Values

(c) continued the site of the separate apartments have the potential to provide a greater
understanding of the lives and conditions for convicts in a place that was
renowned for its harshness and 'immorality'. The existence of extensive

historical documents in public collections and its ability to provide additional
contextual information to evidence uncovered at the site enhances the
importance of the research potential of the place.

200 Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area—Heritage Management Plan, April 2016

Authorised Version F2016L01891 registered 09/12/2016

Jean Rice Architect | CONTEXT | GML Heritage

18 Special Gazette Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
No. S141, 1 August 2007

EXTERNAL TERRITORIES
Norfolk Island Area

Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area:

About 250ha, at Kingston, being an area bounded by a line commencing at the High Water Mark
approximately 120m to the south east of Bloody Bridge, then proceeding westerly via the High Water
Mark to about 230m west of the eastern boundary of Block 91a, then from high water