Much of northern NSW was underdeveloped when the management of a London-registered company known as the Sulphide Corporation (Ashcroft’s Process) Limited set their sights on establishing an industry in 1895. They were confident they could make a commercial success of the electrolytic zinc process developed by Edgar Ashcroft.
Although the first industrial use of the Cockle Creek site failed after just two years, it left behind two important legacies. First, it advanced the electrolytic process significantly, paving the way for successful electrolytic zinc plants like the EZ Plant in Hobart (now Pasminco Hobart Smelter). Secondly, it began a remarkable period of industrial activity at the Cockle Creek site, which spanned more than a century.
The site has been through enormous change in its 106 year history – World Wars, the Great Depression, population growth, market fluctuations, changes in process, a myriad of different products, and most recently, community and environmental concerns. It grew to be one of the Hunter’s largest employers (at one time employing more than 800 people) and an important economic contributor (in its last year of operation, it contributed more than $80 million to the local economy).
| 1895 | Sulphide Corporation chooses Cockle Creek site for electrolytic zinc plant |
| March 1897 | Plant operations commence |
| July 1897 | Electrolytic process abandoned – decision taken to convert plant to an orthodox lead smelter |
| 1902 | First of five zinc distillation plants commissioned |
| 1911 | Establishment of Sulphide Employees’ Union |
| 1912 | State-of-the-art Dwight and Lloyd sintering machines installed |
| 1913 | Sulphuric Acid and Superphosphate Plants commissioned |
| 1917 | Full-scale lead refinery constructed and commissioned |
| 1922 | Smelting section of the plant closed due to low metal prices |
| 1923 | Expansion of acid and fertilizer production |
| 1923 | Six Barrier Roasters erected to roast zinc concentrates – gases converted into acid in Chamber units, calcines shipped to EZ in Tasmania |
| 1925 | Sulphide Corporation entered its cement production phase |
| 1931 | Company directors and salaried staff agree to 20 % wages cut to minimize costs in the wake of the Great Depression |
| 1942 | *censored*le Creek works declared a “protected industry” freeing the Corporation from wartime restrictions |
| 1947 | Industrial unrest in coalmining, transport and power industries leads Corporation to seek permission to begin coalmining on its own property |
| Sept 1949 | $3 million upgrade announced to double sulphuric acid production and to enable zinc production by the ISF (Imperial Smelting Furnace) process |
| 1950 | Sulphide Corporation Limited enters voluntary liquidation, and a new company is formed - Sulphide Corporation Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Zinc Corporation Ltd. |
| 1957 | Plans announced for an $8 million upgrade to re-establish zinc smelting operations, and expand sulphuric acid and superphosphate plants |
| Aug 1961 | New zinc-lead smelter commissioned at Cokle Creek, ushering in new era of employment, export revenue for both the company and the Port, and 40 % boost in Australia’s zinc-lead smelting capacity |
| 1962 | Conzinc Riotinto takes 75% control of Sulphide Corporation |
| 1964 | Corporation founds a subsidiary, Greenleaf Fertilisers Ltd, to manage fertilizer production at the plant |
| 1965 | Greenleaf begins construction of a $16 million high-analysis fertilizer plant at Kooragang Island ( the first manufacturing plant on Kooragang) |
| 1968 | Refinery added to zinc smelter, adding four new products to plant output |
| 1970 | Sulphide sells its interest in Greenleaf to Australian Fertilisers Ltd, ending 56 years of involvement in the industry |
| 1972 | Employee blood testing implemented |
| 1972 | Corporation announces plans for a $3.5 million upgrade of capital plant and $3 million environmental program |
| 1973 | Systematic noise reduction program begun, along with regular monitoring of effluents and emissions |
| 1974 | Corporation celebrates the production of one million tonnes of zinc and lead – the first ISF in the world to achieve this |
| 1975 | Sludge treatment plant commissioned to help remove heavy metals from liquid effluent |
| 1978 | $3.25 million investment announced in Lead Dross Leaching Plant – the only one of its type in the world |
| 1980 | The Sulphide Corporation Employees’ Union is amalgamated with the Federated Ironworkers Association |
| 1985 | Corporation spends $3.1 million on improved technology to increase blast furnace zinc output and place a continuous tapper on the furnace |
| 1988 | Pasminco formed with merger of lead and zinc assets of North Broken Hill Holdings Lt and CRA Ltd. $50 capital investment program announced for the *censored*le Creek site including $12 million of new environmental measures |
| 1991 | Community health survey reveals widespread soil and dust contamination and elevated blood lead levels |
| 1992 | Company announces plans to develop a buffer zone around the plant to ensure the site could meet current and future lead-in-air goals |
| 1993 | NSW Government grants development consent for the company’s expansion and improvement program but sets operating conditions among the toughest in the world |
| 1993 | Capacity of ISF increased to 90,000 tonnes of zinc per year, automatic zinc slab stacking and strapping introduced, along with improved gas cleaning in the acid plant |
| 1997 | $8 million Tail Gas Scrubber constructed, significantly reducing sulphur dioxide emissions |
| 2001 | Business Improvement process (BOOM) introduced to Pasminco smelting sites as part of a company wide effort to deliver $100 million in cash savings in a 12 month period |
| 2002 | Despite significant improvements, Pasminco announces closure of the site between 2006 and 2008 due to long-standing marginal performance |
| 2003 | Closure is brought forward to September 2003 because of the negative movement in key external factors since the original announcement |
From: ‘One Last Look – Memories of Pasminco Smelter’
Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association
http://www.niha.org.au/staticpages/index.php/2005102700292200
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