 Permission to mine from the Department of Mines was granted in 1894 with another parcel of land between Rose Bay and Vaucluse also applied for in 1895.Sydney Harbour Collieries (Limited) start the mine, however the company was wound up in 1896; and the mine was bought by the Harbour Collieries Co.

Two shafts, named Birthday and Jubilee, were sunk between 1897 and 1902.The mine produced coal from 1897 until 1931 and natural gas until 1945.