Top Coal

A4, 36 pages, 42 maps, diagrams and photos. Full page duo-tone photo on front and back covers.

The Great Western Coal Mining Coy was established in Colac during 1897, with the first coal being extracted that year from the mine site at Grass Creek, near Deans Marsh. The Deans Marsh Tramway Co was formed in 1898, to connect the mine with the Forrest railway. The tramway was broad gauge and was operated with locomotives acquired from the Victorian railways. An incline tramway was used to lift coal from the mine up to the tramway.