The Mine Hooter
The Mine Hooter
When the mine hooter blew its haunting lament at 8.30pm on 7 July, 1984, it ushered in the end of an era - the end of mining in Mount Morgan. No more would the hooter signal the change of a shift at the mine - not would it be heard to pay respect to the war fallen on Anzac and Armistice Days or herald in a new year.
Originally blown to mark the shifts and meal breaks, it soon blew as well for serious accidents to warn the hospital to prepare, and for town fires. Anyone in Mount Morgan could not miss the hooter. On a typical day, it blew at 6.30am (three blasts), 7.30am (two blasts), 8.00am, 10.00am, 10.10am, 12.00 noon, 12.30pm, 4.00pm,4.30pm, 7.30pm, 11.00pm (two blasts) 12.00 midnight and 3.30am!
It was designed by mine engineers and cast in the company foundry in 1919. Its two steam driven whistles were connected to a boiler in the mine power house.
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Mount Morgan Promotion & Development Inc.
61 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan Qld 4714
Phone: 4938 2333 Fax: 4938 2309
Email: mmpad@bigpond.com"