Quick Answer
Blackwater Mine is one of the largest and longest-running open-cut coal mines in Queensland, based near the town of Blackwater in the southern Bowen Basin. Key facts:
- Operator: Whitehaven Coal (acquired from BMA in 2024 as part of the Daunia/Blackwater deal)
- Location: ~3km north of Blackwater, QLD
- Product: coking and thermal coal, railed via the Blackwater rail system to Gladstone (RG Tanna / WICET)
- Blackwater is one of Australia's oldest export coal mines, in production since the 1960s
- The Blackwater Workers Club is a landmark community venue for locals and mine workers
Where Blackwater Mine is located
Blackwater Mine is around 3km north of the town of Blackwater in Queensland's Central Highlands region, in the southern Bowen Basin. It sits along the Capricorn Highway between Emerald and Rockhampton.
A short history of Blackwater Mine
Blackwater has been in production since the 1960s and is one of the earliest large-scale export coal mines in Australia. It was long operated by BMA (BHP Mitsubishi Alliance) as part of its Bowen Basin portfolio. In 2024, BMA divested Blackwater (together with Daunia) to Whitehaven Coal in a major transaction.
New operator: Whitehaven Coal
Since 2024, Blackwater is owned and operated by Whitehaven Coal, giving Whitehaven a much larger metallurgical coal footprint in Queensland alongside its NSW operations. This ownership change has reshaped contractor relationships and vendor systems on-site.
What Blackwater Mine produces
Blackwater produces a mix of hard coking coal and thermal coal. Coal is processed on-site, then railed via the Blackwater rail system to the Port of Gladstone (RG Tanna Coal Terminal and Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal).
Blackwater Workers Club and community
The Blackwater Workers Club is a local landmark and social hub for mine workers and the broader Blackwater community. The town itself supports a large residential mining workforce along with FIFO/DIDO contractors from Emerald, Rockhampton and Mackay.
Contractor access at Blackwater
Contractors now go through Whitehaven's vendor onboarding (typically Avetta / Rapid Global), site-specific inductions, standard 11, coal board medical and role-relevant tickets. Handover from BMA to Whitehaven-standard systems is a live topic — contractors should confirm current requirements with the Blackwater procurement team.
Related reading: Whitehaven Coal contractor guide · BMA contractor guide · Burton Coal Mine guide · Bowen Basin mines map · Peabody Energy guide.
