Down in the Brunner Mine

Brunner was the site of New Zealand's worst mining disaster. 65 miners were killed in the mine in 1896.

They work in the heat and the coal black dust Sticks to the skin like a burn'd pie crust We curse each day that the miner must Go down in the Brunner mine. Down at the face of the the Brunner mine Two hundred feet by the survey line There's never a sign of sun and sky Down in the Brunner mine. The miner's breath comes short and hot He's using all the breath he's got Whether it's good for his lungs or not Down in the Brunner mine. A sound that'll creep through the miner's soul Is the shake and rattle and down she'll roll A hundred feet of rubble and coal Down in the Brunner mine. A cave-in'll give us a shut down day But that'll never make a miner gay For the trembling earth speaks Judgment Day Down in the Brunner mine.

The Brunner Mine

One of New Zealand's earliest coal mines. The explorer Thomas Brunner discovered a seam of good quality coal on the banks of the Grey River in 1847 during his exploration of the area and the first commercial mine opened in 1864. Coal production reached a peak in 1901, and then after a steady decline, mining ceased in 1942.

Brunner was also the site of New Zealand's worst mining disaster in 1896 when 65 miners were killed by a an explosion of methane gas.

A monument to those miners now stands beside the road on the north bank of the site and their mass grave is located at Stillwater, a few kilometres up the valley. A suspension bridge, mine chimney, mine entrances and coke ovens can still be seen here.

There are more details and photos on this Christchurch Library web page, and a full account of the mine disaster at this Rootsweb web page.