Mt bischoff

The Mount Bischoff tin mine at Waratah in Tasmania was the first major mining venture to take place in Tasmania. It was discovered by hobby prospector James ìPhilospherî Smith and Shawn Bischoff in 1871. The discovery grew to become one of the richest tin mines in the world.

Mount Bischoff Enjoyed 70 years of Production
The Mount Bischoff mine enjoyed the production of tin for over 70 years until it was finally closed in 1947. However, before its closure, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments nationalised the mine during the second world war stating it was an industry of national importance. Following nationalisation legislation both governments ran the mine as a joint undertaking. The legislation gave the two governments the power to acquire the property and assets of the Mount Bischoff Mining Company for a compensation payment of 10,000 pounds. The mine was then operated under the provisions of the National Security (Minerals) Regulations. A board was established to carry out the operation, two members were nominated by the Federal Government, two by the State Government and one an industry representative. Both governments were to share equally in any profits or losses.

No Real Attempt was Made to Revive Mining at Mount Bischoff Until 2008
After its closure a few spasmodic mining ventures were undertaken on a small scale to mine the remaining tin deposits at the site but nothing lasting eventuated until 2008. Metalsx, a Perth based mining company, through its subsidiary Bluestone Mines Tasmania Pty Ltd , the operator of the Renison Bell Tin Mine, one of largest tin mines in the world today, decided to mine the remaining tin at Mount Bischoff to blend with ore at its Renison Bell operation. A large open cut operation taking in all the old historic workings was developed at Mount Bischoff for this purpose with the ore being trucked 80 kilometres to the Renison Bell processing plant. At the time ore reserves at Mount Bischoff were estimated to be 845,000 tonnes grading at 1.20 percent tin. In 2009/10 198,000 tonnes of ore was mined at the Mount Bischoff open pit that produced 6267 tonnes of tin in concentrate. The open cut mine at Mount Bischoff is currently on care and maintenance. Bluestone Mines Tasmania Pty Ltd is continuing its exploration program at Mount Bischoff.

Mount Bischoff led the way to Other Mineral Discoveries on the West Coast of Tasmania
During the first 70 years the Mount Bischoff mine was operational it produced 62,000 tonnes of metallic tin and was the impetus for the exploration for other Tasmanian West Coast mineralisation zones that resulted in the discovery of the Mt Lyell copper and gold mine at Queenstown, the Zeehan silver mines, the Renison Bell tin mine and the Rosebery Zinc mine.

From a Small Start to a Mighty War Effort
The Mount Bischoff Mine began with a sluicing process taking place at the top of the waterfall in the centre of what is now the town of Waratah. This easy ore expired in 1893 and sluicing was discontinued. Mining continued at the site via an open cut as well as an underground operation. The underground mine closed in 1914, although the open cut survived until 1929, when the low tin price also forced it to close for the first time. The Commonwealth Government re-opened the mine in 1942 to support the war effort and formally nationalised it in 1945 before it finally closed in 1947.

Many Benefits Came to Waratah From the Mount Bischoff Tin Mine
At its peak the Mount Bischoff tin mine attracted a population to Waratah of more than 5,000 people. It was the reason the first railway line was constructed to the West Coast of the island in 1884. It was also the reason Waratah enjoyed one of the first ever hydro-electric power stations that was completed in 1907. The power station provided electric power the the mine's crusher, as well as the town trams and the cable cars that transported the ore from the mine to the mills. The people of Waratah benefited as all homes in the town were connected to the power supply during the great depression of the 1930's and for the price of two shillings rental householders could use as much power as they wished, as there were no metres to worry about.
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