Blast Furnace Cradle

BHP (Broken Hill Propriety) began mining silver, lead and zinc at Broken Hill NSW in 1885. It was described as one of the most lucrative deposits in the world at that time. In 1899 BHP leased an iron ore mine at Iron Knob in South Australia. In 1915 BHP ventured into steel making and commissioned a steelworks to be opened at Newcastle. It made huge profits during World War 1 making steel for ships, ammunition and guns. Since that time, it has employed generations of steelworkers who have remained working for the company all their working lives. It was predominantly men’s work. Many workers speak of their fear and revulsion when first confronted by the heat and dirt of the steelworks and the real dangers faced with working there. This was only balanced by their relief at having a job. But by 1987 the old steel rolling mills were losing money and could no longer be world competitive. As one worker said, for the past five years he had been 'putting patches on patches’.
In 1999 the Newcastle Steelworks closed down, with the *retrenchment of 2000 workers and 1000 contractors.
A significant employer, and a part of the local community, was suddenly gone.
The above was cut and pasted from a local newspaper 20 years ago.
I was employed at BHP otherwise known as Bloody Hot Place or Big Harry's Place in the Number 2 Merchant Mill a hot stinky place for about 12 months until I came to my senses and studied nursing. The above blip is a cradle for huge crucibles that melted raw ingredients to form iron, this was done in huge coke ovens the gas which then was captured and onsold to energy providers.