Commonwealth Oil Corporation

Commonwealth Oil Corporation Limited was an English-owned Australian company associated with the production and refining of petroleum products derived from oil shale, during the early years of the 20th century.[1] It is associated with Newnes, Hartley Vale, and Torbane, all in New South Wales. it should not be confused with Commonwealth Oil Refineries, which was a completely separate company, established in 1920, that refined imported crude oil after 1924.[2]

For the Australian oil refining company, see Commonwealth Oil Refineries. For the Puerto Rican oil refining company, see Commonwealth Oil Refining Company.

In April 1906, Commonwealth Oil Corporation acquired the existing assets of New South Wales Shale & Oil Company, a company that was producing shale oil at Torbane and Hartley Vale.[3]

Main article: Newnes, New South Wales

Commonwealth Oil Corporation made a major investment in the production of shale oil at a site in the Wolgan Valley that they named named Newnes, after Sir George Newnes a director and chairman of the company. A large amount of English capital—around £1,500,000—was invested to create a vast industrial complex, in what previously had been a near wilderness. They built a railway into the valley, and a sizable mining village grew in the valley.

Although the oil shale at Newnes had a very high oil content, its seam thickness and depth dictated that it was mined using relatively-costly, conventional, underground mining techniques. There was also a coal seam that could be mined to fuel the processing the shale and crude oil. The coal was of good quality and was also used to make coke.

Construction of the plant had begun in 1906, but the retorts only began working in June 1911. The company encountered technical difficulties with its process and, as well, was subject to numerous and protracted industrial disputes with its workforce, particularly its miners. Retort operation was partially suspended in February 1912 and ceased altogether in March 1913. The retorts had operated for less than two years, and COC was soon in receivership.

Main article: John Fell (industrialist)

The business was administered by John Fell, as its Managing Director, from 1914. Fell changed the design of the retorts and resumed production at both Newnes and Torbane. Ultimately, the high cost of mining and the availability of cheap conventional crude oil, from Borneo, was the cause of the final closure of Newnes in 1923.[4][5][6]

References
  1. "COMMONWEALTH OIL CORPORATION". Sydney Morning Herald. 1911-07-18. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  2. "A History of Altona and Laverton: Industrial Development". Altona and Laverton Historical Society. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  3. "COMMONWEALTH OIL CORPORATION". Sydney Morning Herald. 1906-12-18. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  4. "TO WORK AGAIN". Sydney Morning Herald. 1914-12-16. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  5. "SHALE OIL EXTRACTION". Lithgow Mercury. 1926-08-06. p. 3. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  6. "OIL FROM BORNEO". Lithgow Mercury. 1925-03-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
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