View source for Australian Kerosene Oil Company

'''Australian Kerosene Oil Company''' or '''<nowiki/>'A.K.O'''' (originally '''Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company Limited''') mined and processed [[oil shale]] to produce kerosene, paraffin wax and candles, lubricating oil and greases, and other petroleum-based products, in New South Wales Australia. It is particularly associated with the site of its mine and works, at [[Joadja]]. At times, it also had other mining operations, at [[Airly, New South Wales|Airly]] and near [[Katoomba, New South Wales|Katoomba]], and a soap and candle factory at [[Camellia, New South Wales|Camellia]]. The company used the brand name 'Southern Cross' for its kerosene products.
== Origins ==
[[File:Joadja, NSW - Oil shale works (Catalogue of Australian Kerosene Oil & Mineral Co. - 1880s; 1885 or later).jpg|thumb|Joadja works (c.1885).<ref name=":162" />|288x288px]]
After the discovery of oil shale in the valley of Joadja Creek, several parties began separate mining operations there. Interests associated with John de Villiers Lamb (1833-1900) and his partners began to buy out other separate mining leases. In 1876, the partners brought in [[John Fell (industrialist)#Early life and family background|James Walter Fell]] (1847–1882), an expert in the shale oil industry, as a consultant at Joadja. Fell had been manager of  Western Kerosene Oil Co. at [[Hartley Vale, New South Wales|Hartley Vale]], manager of Hartley Vale's oil refinery at [[Waterloo, New South Wales|Waterloo]], and was a founder of the [[Coastal coal-carrying trade of New South Wales#North Shore and Manly|North Shore Gas Company]] in Sydney.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1876-02-25 |title=An Act to enable Charles Watt and James Walter Fell to construct Gas Works within the Municipalities of East St. Leonards Victoria St. Leonards and North Willoughby. [Assented to, 23rd February, 1876.] |pages=873 |work=New South Wales Government Gazette |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223646562 |access-date=2022-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1879-03-08 |title=Advertising |pages=10 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13430485 |access-date=2022-06-26}}</ref> A crucial decision was taken to process the shale in retorts to be built at Joadja, rather than ship the shale to retorts elsewhere.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Joadja kerosene oil shale mining and refining site {{!}} Heritage NSW |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5045086 |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=apps.environment.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>
The partners hired an expert manager, James Fell's uncle, [[John Fell (industrialist)#Early life and family background|Alexander Morrison Fell]] (1825–1890), as the manager at [[Joadja, New South Wales|Joadja]], from 1877 to 1881. He had experience in the Scottish oil shale industry and at [[Mount Kembla]], where he was manager for the American Creek Oil Co., until 1877.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1881-03-05 |title=Late Country News. |work=Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161885301 |access-date=2022-06-26}}</ref>
== The operating companies ==
Operations were run initially by Lamb, Parbury and Co., but the partners sought to create a new company with a larger capitalisation. In 1878, the partners established the Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company<ref name=":11" /> and John de Villiers Lamb became chairman of its board of directors.<ref>{{Citation |last=Walsh |first=G. P. |title=Lamb, John de Villiers (1833–1900) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lamb-john-de-villiers-579 |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en |access-date=2023-01-01}}</ref>
In February 1891, a new company took over operations.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=1895-12-17 |title=THE AUSTRALIAN KEROSENE OIL AND MINERAL COMPANY (LIMITED), OLD COMPANY. |pages=8201 |work=New South Wales Government Gazette |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222322488 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1891-01-30 |title=THE AUSTRALIAN KEROSENE OIL AND MINERAL COMPANY (LIMITED). |pages=914 |work=New South Wales Government Gazette |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222104861 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> It seems likely that this change was triggered by events leading to the acquisition of additional mining operations near Katoomba, in 1890 and 1891.<ref name=":3" /> Shares in 'Australian Kerosene and Oil' were quoted on the stock exchange, for the first time, in June 1892.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1892-06-16 |title=MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13862969 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref>  The old company was close to being completely wound up, by January 1896.<ref name=":2" /> The new company became better known as Australian Kerosene Oil Company or 'A.K.O', but the old name, Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company, was also still used on occasion.<ref name=":4" />
== History of operations, technology and products ==
[[File:Joadja, c.1885, photographed by August Tronier (6729155371).jpg|thumb|217x217px|Incline at Joadja, c.1885 (August Tronier)]]
=== Joadja ===
{{Main|Joadja, New South Wales}}
Retorts and an extensive refinery, in addition to the shale mines, were located in the valley of Joadja Creek, a right-bank tributary of the [[Wingecarribee River]]. The site produced kerosene and candles.<ref name=":162">{{Cite web |title=Catalogue of the Australian Kerosene Oil & Mineral Company Limited. |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-904937113 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=Trove |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Joadja kerosene oil shale mining and refining site {{!}} Heritage NSW |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5045086 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=apps.environment.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> These operations continued from 1878 to 1896,<ref name=":92">{{Cite web |title=Joadja kerosene oil shale mining and refining site {{!}} Heritage NSW |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5045086 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=apps.environment.nsw.gov.au}}</ref> and mining operations seem to have been restarted briefly, in 1901-1902.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1901-07-30 |title=A. K. O. AND M. COMPANY'S SHALE MINES. |pages=2 |work=[[Lithgow Mercury]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219545604 |access-date=2022-08-29}}</ref>
A mining village grew in the valley. Access to the valley floor was by an incline railway. In 1880, a 14 km long narrow-gauge railway was opened to connect the incline with the [[Main South railway line, New South Wales|Main South railway]] at [[Mittagong]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mittagong - Joadja Line |url=https://www.nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:joadja |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=www.nswrail.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1879-09-16 |title=NOTICE is hereby given, that it is the intention of the Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company (Limited) to petition the Legislative Assembly |pages=4130 |work=[[New South Wales Government Gazette]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223436499 |access-date=2022-10-05}}</ref> The rails used on the railway were notable as being rolled at the [[Fitzroy Iron Works#Larkin, Hunter and Henshaw (1877–1878)|Fitzroy Iron Works]], using [[wrought iron]] manufactured there from local raw materials.<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |date=11 April 1941 |title=Pioneering the iron industry |page=3 |newspaper=[[The Southern Mail]] |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118889213 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Eardley, Gifford H. (Gifford Henry) |title=The Mittagong to Joadja railway |date=1996 |publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society, New South Wales Division |others=Stephens, Eric M., Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division |isbn=0909650373 |location=Redfern, N.S.W. |page=6 |oclc=38823053}}</ref> The railway closed in 1904,<ref name=":0" /> but was still intact in 1911.<ref name=":1" />
=== Works at Camellia (Sandown) ===
Between 1887 and around 1901, the company had a works making soap and candles, at what is now Camellia, then better known as Sandown. The works lay on riverfront land between the [[Parramatta River]] and the tram line to the Redbank Wharf. The raw materials used were made at [[Joadja]] and came from there by rail, via [[Mittagong]] and the [[Sandown railway line]]. <ref name=":39">{{Cite web |title=Camellia {{!}} The Dictionary of Sydney |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/camellia |access-date=2021-07-03 |website=dictionaryofsydney.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jack |first=R Ian |year=1995 |title=AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, 13, Joadja, NewSouthWales;The Paragon of Early Oil-Shale Communities |url=https://asha-2015.worldsecuresystems.com/pdf/australasian_historical_archaeology/13_04_Jack.pdf |page=37}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=1885-07-15 |title=KEROSENE WORKS. |pages=3 |work=[[The Cumberland Mercury|Cumberland Mercury]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248790620 |access-date=2022-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1894-01-06 |title=Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Co's. Works |work=[[The Cumberland Mercury]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article252754475 |access-date=2022-08-29}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Catalogue of the Australian Kerosene Oil & Mineral Company Limited. |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-904937113 |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=Trove |language=en}}</ref> Changes in the import duty on candles led to the local candle manufacturing operation becoming uneconomic, and the works closed. It was for sale in February 1902.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1902-02-22 |title=Advertising |pages=4 |work=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237352269 |access-date=2022-11-07}}</ref>
=== Katoomba, Megalong and Jamison Valleys ===
In 1890, the company purchased the old Glen Shale Mine, in the [[Megalong Valley]]. In 1891, the company leased the operations of Katoomba Coal and Shale Company, the [[Ruined Castle (rock formation)|Ruined Castle]] shale mines, in the [[Jamison Valley]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1890-07-16 |title=Advertising |pages=2 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13784906 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> Significant investments were made, including construction of two tunnels, which linked the shale tramway operations in the two valleys to the base of the [[Katoomba Scenic Railway|inclined railway]], from the valley to the [[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main West railway]] at Katoomba. The operations were beset with industrial troubles, had limited mining lives, and failed to meet expectations.
In 1903-1904, the company restarted its mining operations near Katoomba. Operations at the Glen shale mine appear to have been confined to relaying its tramway connection and using it to remove a large stockpile of second-grade oil shale that had been mined during previous operations.<ref name=":46">{{Cite journal |last=Quilty |first=A.J. |title=The Story of Megalong Valley |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-603582804/view?sectionId=nla.obj-609364988&partId=nla.obj-603588920#page/n40/mode/1up |journal=Journal and Proceedings |publisher=Royal Australian Historical Society |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=100–103}}</ref> The Ruined Castle mines were reopened and operated briefly.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1903-05-08 |title=TOWN TALK. |pages=2 |work=[[The Blue Mountain Gazette|Blue Mountain Gazette]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188872563 |access-date=2022-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1904-05-27 |title=THE MINES REPORT FOR 1903. |pages=6 |work=[[Lithgow Mercury]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221486159 |access-date=2022-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1904-02-12 |title=COAL, COKE, AND SHALE. |pages=6 |work=[[Lithgow Mercury]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221490545 |access-date=2022-10-05}}</ref>
=== Airly ===
In 1895, the mining leases covering the Genowlan Mine at [[Airly, New South Wales|Airly]] were taken over by [[British Australian Oil Company#Origins|Australian Oil Syndicate]]. Until around 1904, the mine was operated by the Australian Kerosene Oil  Company for payment of a royalty.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1897-07-31 |title=WORK AT THE SHALE MINES. |pages=11 |work=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238392216 |access-date=2022-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1904-05-27 |title=THE MINES REPORT FOR 1903. |pages=5 |work=[[Lithgow Mercury]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221486159 |access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref> There were two mines—New Hartley, operated by the rival [[New South Wales Shale and Oil Company|New South Wales Shale and Oil Co]]., and A.K.O.'s Genowlan Mine—sharing different parts the same seam of oil shale, and a dispute arose,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1903-09-04 |title=ALLEGED TRESPASS ON A SHALE MINE. |pages=5 |work=Lithgow Mercury |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221484892 |access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref> which was won by New South Wales Shale and Oil Company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1903-09-09 |title=VERDICT FOR £2000. |pages=5 |work=Evening News |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115855654 |access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref>  By mid 1904, A.K.O. operations at the Genowlan mine had ceased,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1904-05-27 |title=THE MINES REPORT FOR 1903. |pages=5 |work=Lithgow Mercury |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221486159 |access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref> although mining, by others, at Airly, occurred for some years thereafter to supply the [[Torbane, New South Wales|Torbane]] retorts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1913-06-27 |title=Two Townships Wiped Out. |pages=3 |work=Cobar Herald |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116958619 |access-date=2022-07-20}}</ref>
== Demise and legacy ==
With the future prospects of the mine and works at Joadja becoming doubtful, the company began mining shale at other locations (see above). Changes in import duties—in 1902, the duty on imported kerosene was removed—<ref>{{Cite news |date=1902-07-19 |title=THURSDAY, JULY 10. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221236028 |access-date=2022-08-29 |work=Weekly Times |pages=25}}</ref> affected the viability of the company's refining and candle manufacturing operations, which closed. Without Joadja and refining and manufacturing operations, the company was unable to retain the scale of its previous operations. After 1904, it had effectively ceased to mine oil shale.
The company still had its extensive landholdings at Joadja and Camellia. The Joadja Valley continued to produce fruit from orchards planted by the company;<ref>{{Cite news |date=1911-12-04 |title=ON THE LAND. FARM AND STATION. |pages=6 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15293697 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> the company set up an evaporator for producing [[dried fruit]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=1904-02-03 |title=Horticultural Notes. |pages=269 |work=Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163985787 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1907-04-24 |title=THE FRUITGROWER. |pages=36 |work=Australian Town and Country Journal |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71591452 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> and considered setting up a fruit-canning plant.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1894-06-26 |title=Another Protected Industry Shut Down. |pages=4 |work=Goulburn Evening Penny Post |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98509698 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref>
In 1906, shareholders voted to wind up the company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1906-09-05 |title=THE AUSTRALIAN KEROSENE OIL AND MINERAL COMPANY (LIMITED). |pages=5044 |work=[[Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226528028 |access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref> The company's land at Camellia (Sandown) was sold in 1908.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1908-01-25 |title=THE PROPERTY MARKET. |pages=13 |work=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238106293 |access-date=2022-11-07}}</ref> The new owners were still attempting to sell the buildings and equipment still on the site, in 1916.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1916-08-16 |title=Advertising |pages=3 |work=Daily Telegraph |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239210780 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> The company was still in liquidation, when the Joadja Creek property was sold, in 1911<ref>{{Cite news |date=1911-04-21 |title=JOADIA CREEK SOLD. |pages=5 |work=[[Evening News (Sydney)|Evening News]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114140913 |access-date=2022-08-30}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1911-04-15 |title=Advertising |pages=7 |work=Daily Telegraph |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239103096 |access-date=2023-01-01}}</ref> and at least as late as September 1926.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1926-10-01 |title=THE AUSTRALIAN KEROSENE OIL COMPANY LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION). |pages=4153 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222993292 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> Oil shale was again mined in the Joadja valley, by others, briefly in 1920-1922, and again during the Second World War.<ref name=":17">{{Cite book |last1=Knapman |first1=Leonie |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/225430545 |title=Australian Kerosene Oil & Mineral Company Limited, Joadja Creek, Southern Highlands, NSW. |last2=Hutton |first2=Adrian |date=1987 |publisher=Oil Shale Ghost Towns |others=Adrian Hutton |isbn=0-646-34020-4 |location=Mittagong, N.S.W. |pages=12 |oclc=225430545}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-08-21 |title=SHALE OIL AND DISTILLATE PRODUCTION. |pages=2 |work=Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117772613 |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref>
The main legacy of the company are the extensive ruins at Joadja. The site contains the only extant large ruin of the horizontal 'D section' shale retorts<ref name=":9" /> that dominated industry practice prior to the invention of more efficient [[Pumpherston retort|vertical retorts]].
== See also ==
* [[New South Wales Shale and Oil Company]]
* [[List of shale oil operations in Australia]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-904937113/view?partId=nla.obj-904940048 Catalogue of the Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company Limited (c.1885)]
{{commons|Category:Joadja|Joadja}}
{{commons|Category:Australian Kerosene Oil & Mineral Company|Australian Kerosene Oil & Mineral Company}}
[[Category:Defunct oil and gas companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Shale oil companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Companies based in New South Wales]]