Cadia, New South Wales

The Wiradjuri people are the traditional owners of the land around Cadia, the area now known as the Cadia Valley.[4]

In the 1860s, mines were opened on either side of Cadiangullong Creek, which flows through the valley into the Belubula River. Cadia developed on its eastern bank,[5] near what became the main crossing of the creek,[6] downstream of the confluence of Cadiangullong Creek with its tributary, Cadia Creek, formerly Rodd's Creek.[7] The first phase of copper mining ended in 1868, resuming again at 'Iron Duke,' the hill also known as 'Big Cadia', between 1882 and 1898.[8]

From around the start of new copper mining activity, in 1905, the centre of settlement at Cadia moved northward and uphill, toward the underground copper mine workings, at the location known 'Iron Duke', and closer to the road to Orange. Chillcott Street became its main street.[6][9] From 1905 to 1917, 5,000 tons of copper metal were obtained from 100,000 tons of ore mined at Cadia.[10]

Cadia - Copper smelter with village in the background c.1907.[9]

Cadia iron ore quarry operations c.1923. The quarry is on the hill. The incline tramway (centre) and aerial ropeway (left of centre at front) can be seen.

From 1918 to 1929, 1,682,000 tons of iron ore was mined at Cadia from a surface deposit at 'Iron Duke'. The ore was shipped over a privately operated railway branch line that joined the main line at Spring Hill.[10][11] The railway line ended on the eastern side of the creek. Iron ore was carried downhill in skips via an inclined tramway, then across the valley by an aerial ropeway to bins, where it was loaded into rail wagons and sent to Lithgow.[12][13] Iron ore mining at Cadia ended soon after the relocation of blast furnace operations from Lithgow to Port Kembla in late 1928.[14][15][16]The iron ore mine was the site of a disastrous accident on 10 March 1921 in which nine miners were killed in an explosion.[17][18]

The 1920s saw the town at its greatest population and extent. In 1925, the population reached 300. However, once the iron mine closed in 1929, its decline was rapid.[6][19] Cadia Public School, which had opened in December 1865, closed in May 1930.[20] Cadia Post Office, which opened on 1 August 1864, closed on 29 March 1935.[21] By 1940, just the old school building and two residences survived.[22]

When the 'Iron Duke' iron ore mine was re-opened in late 1942, during the Second World War,[10] new staff housing had to be built and a temporary 'tent city' established for the workers.[23] In 1945, mining ceased and Cadia was abandoned. Cadia Public School, which had reopened in January 1943, closed permanently in May 1945.[20] In June 1945, forty buildings at the site were auctioned.[24] All buildings in Cadia subsequently were removed or destroyed; the entire village reverted to paddocks. Old Cadia Road still follows the alignment of Chilcott Street, the old main street.[6]

Although mining had taken place in the vicinity for well over a century, it was not until 1992 that the porphyry gold-copper potential of the district was recognised by geologists of Newcrest Mining Limited. Enormous tonnages of ore-grade mineralisation were identified, resulting in the huge open-cut mine and two nearby underground mines now in operation.[25]

The enormous scale of the modern mines has led to the relocation of some artifacts of Cadia's history and cultural heritage, including a scarred tree[4]and the former village's cemetery.[26]

Cadia has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Cadia Engine House[27]

• Cadia Mine railway line
• Cadia-Ridgeway Mine

• Cadia Valley Heritage - The History & Archaeology of Cadia Valley
• Cadia Valley Operations - Heritage Walking Tour
• Cadia Heritage - Photograph Gallery
• Wikimedia Commons: Media in category; Cadia, New South Wales