TIMELESS WOLLONGONG
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WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER
The construction of the Illawarra railway was undertaken in three sections.
The first section from Sydney to Waterfall was a distance of 38 miles, No.2 section Waterfall to Coal Cliff (now Coalcliff) a distance of 17 miles and No.3 section from the southern end of the Coal Cliff tunnel to Wollongong. The tunnel, referred to as the Coal Cliff tunnel, is about 1096 yards long and is the only one of the original tunnels still in use today. This tunnel passes through geological unstable ground, which perhaps makes it too hard to be replaced.
It was announced in September 1883 that Coal Cliff station would be situated three-quarters of a mile to the south of the tunnel. In June 1884, tenders were called for the works to commence. Work started from both ends of the site. The men began working on the tunnel in November 1884 in three eight-hour shifts.
A landslide in June 1885 closed the tunnel mouth, imprisoning a horse. After two months the debris had still not been removed. A small hole was made for a man just to fit through to take feed and water to the confined horse. It was anticipated that the poor creature would not be freed until about October, making it about four months that it was imprisoned in the dark.
While the work was proceeding to attempt to free the horse, other workmen were busy constructing a retaining wall in the hope to prevent further landslides in the future.
It was reported, at the time, that 100 British workmen drilling in the north section were to be given their matching orders as that section of the works had been contracted to Italians. It was suggested that an interpreter could make a living on the site.
On February 20, 1886, a serious accident occurred. There were about 50 to 60 Italians working on the site and amongst them was 38-year old ganger Donato Corona. Work commenced as usual about 8am. The gang was working the northern end of the tunnel at about 25 chains from the entrance where Corona directed the filling of wagons and sent them on their way as soon as the signal "go" for a "clearway" was received. Waiting on the signal, he noticed a rock had fallen on the line. He ran to the spot where the stone was and after bending down to pick up the stone a wagon weighing about four tons came down the line striking him. Corona was knocked down to the ground in front of the wagon, which ran over both his legs severely injuring him. He was transported by rail van to Bulli. He was met by Dr T. W. Lee and on seeing Corona's injuries, took him directly to Albert Memorial Hospital in Wollongong. Dr Lee and Dr Thompson conferred that Donato Corona would not survive an operation. Donato Corona died at 11pm that same evening.
At 2pm on Friday, May 7, 1886, drills from both ends broke through, finalising the drilling works. It was only a matter of finishing the bricking of the tunnel, which was expected to take eight months. The licensee of the Clifton Hotel provided a cask of beer for each of the two teams working on the drilling. It was reported that the teams at each end sang and danced in the tradition of their country.
The opening of the first section of the Illawarra Railway took place on June 21, 1887.
Train travel was in two parts. One had to catch a train from Wollongong to Clifton and then take a coach to Waterfall before joining another train to Sydney.
After the Clifton to Waterfall section, containing all eight tunnels, was completed in October 1888, train travel became much easier and comfortable as there was only one train to catch from Wollongong to Sydney and return.
Information courtesy of Carol Herben, OAM. Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au