Metal Detecting 1888 Mansion Ruins: Garrett GTI-2500.

We visit the site of former 'Coal King' and Parliamentarian Lewis Thomas' mansion which was constructed in 1888 and demolished in 1937. The mansion had three stories, its own electrical power generating plant, 49 rooms and it even incorporated an hydraulic lift (elevator), quite a rarity in an 1880s Australian country house! The house was serviced by a permanent staff of eight and was the focus of social activity for the large Welsh mining community who came to Australia to work the coal deposits in the area. Unfortunately, following the death of Mrs Ann Thomas in 1930 with no living heirs, the mansion was sold to a coal mining company in 1936. A series of subsidence events under the foundation in the old coal workings finally spelt the end for the structure and it was demolished in 1937. We hope you enjoy this historical outing and a bit of investigative bush archaeology. Thanks for watching and please take the time to visit our blog www.nqexplorers.com

[@Palifiox]

NQ, in 1966-67 and 67-68 I worked in the old shop just on the uphill side of the railway, the place now with 1887 on the facade. Delivered groceries to people all over eastern Ipswich, mostly to miner's families. In the big miner's strike of late 1940s the Trevis Bros who owned the shop gave credit to miners which was illegal under "emergency" law. The miners did not forget. I've seen the smoke coming up from ground cracks beside Thomas Street Never got up to the mansion site though.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment on our Mansion video Meplee36 - much appreciated. We always try and put some historical information on our videos to set a background for the hunt. Best of luck in the hobby and Happy Hunting!

[@farenheit1100]

What a shame that such a beautiful building had to be demolished. But it is nice that pieces still live on and serve today. The birds weren't laughing at you they were cheering you on. Great informative video. GL and HH

[@meplee36]

I like the way you put this video together. It was very interesting. I’m just getting started in the metal detecting world and it’s videos like this that really get me excited to get out and hunt. Thanks for taking the time to put this together and share it with the rest of the world. Great video, Happy hunting

[@Supradrew]

I just love the way you incorporate the Historical information into your Videos. I always like to check in and watch your new Videos. Have a Great day. :)

[@CoinGunnerTex]

It's sad that grand old house had to be demolished. I really enjoy how you add the history to your videos. I think I could watch them for that, even if I wasn't into metal detecting.

[@oldgold1100]

As usual Warren, a very interesting video. Great viewing for a friday night. Thanks for showing us around that cool old place. John.

[@caribourain1]

This is one of the best KZbin videos I have seen. I love metal detecting and by including history of this mansion is the best. The burning of the coal mines. Its the making of a movie if you ask me. Great job. Keep these videos coming.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Pete - apologies for slow reply. Appreciate you taking the time to have a look at our videos. All the best mate and HH! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@sscindercoop Coop, always appreciate comments on our videos from someone as accomplished as yourself mate. Best of luck and keep up the great hunt videos! GL and HH!

[@Blessings.429]

Today I found your site 😀👌🏻 do not know how many videos I have watched but it’s a lot. 🧐 I live in country WA but I adore FNQ I would live there in a heartbeat but I always miss WA and my children live here.😩 I also have family there in FNQ. Thank you for taking me to places I have visited before but seen through different eyes with your videos. So off I go to watch more.....

[@CoinageBritannia]

Love video Warren, glad to see your coping through the flooding, and are still able to hunt. HH Buddy

[@steveharris4958]

I love your videos. I'm just getting back into the hobby again and have a new AT Pro. Your videos get me excited to get at it, so thank you for taking the time to make them!! Cheers...

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and comment TheannoyingE - much appreicated - hope you do well on your island hunt - sounds like a fascinating spot! GL and HH!

[@gfdigger]

Great videa NQexplorers. Amazing to think of that massive mansion being mined under and destroyed; another oldie gone and all traces swallowed by the encroaching bush. Really interesting show with plenty of history included. Cheers gfdigger

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Manthorne - glad you enjoyed the video mate. Best wishes from Australia and Happy Hunting!

[@CrampoR]

thanks again , love the old homestead sites. great history lesson again. cheers crampo

[@TinaGsx1400]

very interesting and informative video, sad to see a lovely old building disappear, glad you found a couple of items from it. Hey that big hole was scary, you would think the health and safety people would have it fenced off!! Well done on the research and making of this excellent video,. Thanks for sharing Warren and good luck on your next hunt ... Tina

[@msjenjenp]

Your video was very interesting. I really enjoyed it. Such a shame to let such a beautiful place go to ruin and have it be demolished. The pictures, especially the bride on the steps were awesome! Good job.

[@MacCunnyfunt]

Great video, liked the background story. It's nice to see someone who takes the time to look into the history. Such a shame that the old building had to be demolished. Strange that he allowed the mining to go on so close to the area where it stood, they must have known the dangers.

[@reddirtdigger4915]

That was fun...Could watch that one again!..& I think will.....Always top-notch,Mate....All the best..and congrats on the Digs....R.D.D.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching our video and taking the time to comment, yes it truly was a shame that the old place was demolished so long ago - I suppose these days they would have tried to save the foundation and we have the technology to do so - but post-great depression, not much money around and no-one was too concerned with preserving history! Best wishes and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and commenting on our video Catothewiser - much appreciated - best wishes and Happy Hunting!

[@owainmeurig]

I'm sitting in Wales and clicked a video I thought was about an American mansion and I get to hear about a Welshman in Australia in this really well made video, great.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Owain - the Welsh played a very large part in the development of 19th Century Australia - all the best mate and HH! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your comment TJ, that old mansion was a sad loss to our history - amazing how little of it remains! Best of luck and HH with your new detector! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment Spinfiex - all the best mate and HH! Warren.

[@thegoldrushguy]

NQE, Great story and well done on the relics mate

[@Rex46947]

Another outstanding video thank you so much for posting it, I really appreciate all of your research and the history lesson that comes with it and of coarse the finds are really great too. Keep up the awesome work !!!

[@ArcturanMegadonkey]

excellent video, keep them comming. GL&HH Paul

[@mongreljack]

I'm new to the detecting game and love what you do. I'm fascinated by the history behind your hunts as well - as an Ipswich boy this was of particular interest. Thanks for sharing some local history! 'Tis a tad sad that this structure no longer exists.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks very much for watching and commenting Wobblechops, much appreciated mate - GL and HH!

[@fluoridekid]

Fantastic intro to a wonderful piece of Australian social history. Shame that the big old mansion met its end in such a terrible way. I've heard that such coal mining fires can burn for decades, but in an area where water is scarce, they can't flood it to try to put it out. Congratulations on your finds and glad to see that you didn't wind up down that hole, ugh!! Your documentary video is as watchable as ever and very enjoyable. Cheers, Warren I've appreciated it. GL & HH for the next time :D

[@Aalling76]

it is awesome you tell the background of the Places.

[@NQExplorers]

@MrJohnson448 Thanks for watching Mr J, always appreciate your comments on our videos. Good luck on your next hunt mate!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment on the video. In regard to the coal seam - as I understand it the fire was from spontaneous combustion as the mining worked the seam - apparently it is very rich coal, the fire started around 1912 as far as I can determine. There are a number of those sink holes burning in the area of the old mansion grounds. Best wishes and Happy Hunting!

[@DeadOnArrival]

Amazing! I knew about Centralia, but not about Blackstone fires. What an amazing mansion site, it amazes me it was demolished, because as you say, buildings like this were not common in Australia back then.

[@MrVollenberg]

Great piece of history thanks for sharing it with us, magnificent place it could have been today. With all the people who have been there in the past must also be someone who has lost something, I would sure search again at the area where there was a garden.You have made a great video again I look forward to the next. With more than -20 C here, it is impossible to get out and search so I enjoy seeing the good weather with you.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching our video, much appreciated - GL and HH!

[@DetectorSmurf]

As usual NQ, A very entertaining and informative Video. A pleasure to watch.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment JimmyFarina97, the heat from the hole is from the burning coal seam. That seam has been burning underground for almost 100 years now. The mines are abandoned, there has been talk of trying to put the underground fires out but no-one wants to pay for it and the area has just been abandoned. Happy Hunting!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks very much for watching our videos - we love the Land Rover, and have been considering doing a video on how we have it set up for bush and detecting trips. Thanks for your comments, best wishes and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@1963Willo Thanks for your comments Willo, I always had a fascination for the tragic end of that old mansion. Only had a week in Brisbane and back home now, that was the only hunt I managed in the week, so no more "southern" videos for a while LOL. Thoroughly enjoying your goldfields videos - and look forward to the next. GL and HH mate.

[@MrJohnson448]

GREAT HISTORICAL VIDEO. AMAZING HOW THINGS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS. ITS A SHAME FOR THE SITE. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO KEEP IT ALIVE. THAT BURNING COAL MINE WAS AMAZING. AGAIN GREAT FILM AND KEEP UP THE GOLD WORK. GL ON YOUR NEXT AND HH

[@NQExplorers]

@PlugMartian Thanks very much for watching Mars! The mine was abandoned in 1912 due to roof instability and fires - and they have been burning ever since. The entrance was sealed, but sink holes and subsidence on the surface far above have kept the coal burning - the whole area is pretty much doomed to stay that way - the hill would be too unstable for any sort of development. GL and HH mate

[@NQExplorers]

@crampoable Thanks Crampo, we hope to revisit this site during the year as there is plenty of area to cover and research is revealing more historical information that may help in the hunt. Happy prospecting mate!

[@panzer2669]

Great Video. I really enjoy your videos as they're a great balance of research, photos, and on-the-ground detecting. I'm pretty new to the game, buying my AT Pro just to find evidence of the US 41st Division here in Vic. It's come up trumps already and I'm definitely hooked. Keep up the great work mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@gfdigger Thanks for you comment gfdigger, unfortunately this happens to too much of our historical sites as you know, even the little old farmhouses have a character all of their own. Appreciate you watching - GL and HH mate!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching the video and your great stories about life around the coal mines. I suppose in the 1930s there wasn't much interest in preserving old places - but even if it had been left in ruins and a park established around it Brynhyfryd would still have been an interesting place. Some of those colliery holes up there are very dangerous - so its watch your step up there! Thanks again and all the best - Warren.

[@ghostrider9978]

Anniversary upload bought me here ,, really interesting again.

[@NQExplorers]

@magpie307 Thanks for watching and commenting Magpie, such a shame the old mansion was so comprehensively demolished, although I suppose many of the sites we see you hunting have very little visible remains from the past too - best of luck to both you and Desasta on your next outing. HH mate!

[@NQExplorers]

@SuperJammygit Thanks for you comments SJG, always appreciate your feedback and thoughts mate. Best of luck and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@OLDGOLD1100 Thanks for your comments John, alway appreciated mate - glad we provided a small slice of Friday night entertainment LOL. HH mate, hope to see you out soon! Best of luck!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Supradrew - all the best mate and Happy Hunting! Warren.

[@finestfisher]

WoW What a great piece of history. Love your vid, just getting into M/D, Well done !

[@edwardsmith7363]

I enjoy all your videos. My name is Ed Smith from Trenton, New Jersey, USA.

[@hellsmetaldetecting]

Thats was a nice video! It is exiting to see other land`s history and i realy like your videos. Its a shame they did not manage to save the mansion, but also great that you could detect there! I wish you best of luck on your next time out detecting frenzy! Happy Hunting :-)

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Jason - I think those Blackstone fires were spontaneous, and they have now been burning for just over 100 years! A lot of coal has gone to waste for sure - thanks for the interesting info on the Centralia fires. All the best mate and HH! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Caribourain - much appreciated! The story of the old mansion, should indeed be a movie of some sort - there is a really eerie feel about the place now when you consider what was once there and that it was the centre of social life for the whole area - nothing but bush now! All the best and HH! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@farenheit1100 Thanks for watching Hugh, I agree, this is such a poignant tragedy, Lewis Thomas died in 1913, his only daughter Mary (from the wedding photos) died in 1922 when she was only in her early forties, and his wife Ann in 1930. With no heirs to the estate, it was up for sale - all the furniture and fittings were auctioned, and a coal company purchased the property and promptly knocked it down. A sad loss, and really a victim of the Great Depression. GL and HH mate.

[@wobblechopps]

really enjoyed that history lesson and loved exploring with you , just about to subscribe and check out your other vids a big hello from Dorset in the uk :)

[@NQExplorers]

@ArcturanMegadonkey Thanks for commenting Paul, much appreciated mate! GL and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@GemQ1 Thanks GemQ, appreciate you watching mate. GL and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@jbhcurtis Thanks for watching and commenting on our videos JBH, much appreciated! Good luck and happy hunting mate!

[@yeahnahmate1685]

we used to ride our dirtbikes around up there 20 years ago , went up there couple of weeks ago detecting with the AT pro just found bullet cases and lots of molten lead , it was bulldozed recently to make way for new mountain bike trails . we covered a lot of ground best find was an old brass door knob

[@austinmetaldetectors]

Your videos are so entertaining. Excellent!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and comment Mick - HH mate! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

Detecting on private property is pretty much the same everywhere - you need permission - but a lot of these old sites have reverted to 'Crown' Land, so it is public property. If in doubt, a visit to the local Council will always give good advice on landowners, and often contact details too. HH, look forward to your island hunt!

[@NQExplorers]

@PacificTreasureHunt Thanks for watching PTH, that coal mine sink hole sure was dangerous, and there are more around dotted through the bush, so you can't go barging through the long grass. Much of the terraced gardens area is thick lantana, and there are more sink holes in the area as you can seen the coal smoke rising from the ground in a few places! GL and HH mate!

[@NQExplorers]

@GrizzlyGroundswell Thanks for watching Chad, Kookaburras are always laughing at us so that doesn't phase us at all LOL. Appreciate your comments mate, GL and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Bugsby - all the best and HH! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@TinaGsx1400 Always appreciate your opinion and comments Tina, fully agree that beautiful old place was a terrible loss. Thanks for watching.

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

That was great.... very interesting video.... thanks for sharing

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and comment Finestfisher - all the best mate and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@hellsmetaldetecting Thanks for your comments from frozen Norway - we always appreciate your feedback and comments, and look forward to you getting back out into the fields! GL and HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment mate - and HH! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment - much appreciated mate! Happy Hunting! Warren.

[@dapappacn]

As always informative and entertaining..Ty, sir

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching Hernan, and g'day from Australia! HH - Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and commenting Noah - all the best and Happy Hunting! Warren.

[@hsvgash]

thanks again good to watch

[@NQExplorers]

@CoinageBritannia Thanks for the thoughts CB, the flooding is south of us here, but the wet season is only beginning! GL and HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@MrDreamlandboy Thanks for watching our video MrDreamlandboy, we always appreciate you comments. GL and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@88schwyptrlcar Thanks for your comments 88, I agree, such a tragic loss that beautiful old home, that was much admired in its day. The mine was abandoned in 1912 due to roof instability and fires - and they have been burning ever since. The entrance was sealed, but sink holes and subsidence on the surface far above have kept the coal burning - the whole area is pretty much doomed to stay that way - the hill would be too unstable for any sort of development. GL and HH mate

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for your great comment Tex, and that old place was a real loss when it was demolished all those years ago - all the best and HH mate! Warren.

[@MetaldetectingagencyCoUk]

Great vid! Very enjoyable!

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching our video and subscribing - HH mate! Warren.

[@NQExplorers]

@MercGhostrider Thanks for watching MG, that decorative piece of metal remains a mystery unfortunately, will definitely be making a return visit in the future. GL and HH mate!

[@NQExplorers]

@icollectstuffdude Thank you for your comment! GL and Happy Collecting!

[@texaswader]

Very interesting and informative video; I enjoyed it and appreciate you taking the time to post it. What started the coal burning underground?

[@1963Willo]

NQ - another very informative and interesting video a long way away from home from those signs! Love the history for some reason the place reminded me of Paranella Park where one visionary achieved so much. Its a real shame the mansion was demolished although for very good reasons! Thanks very much for taking us on the journey are you doing some other "southern sites as well?"

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching Brianher677, yes this mansion is a sad loss - unfortunately the coal company that purchased the property on the death of the family, had no interest in the real estate - just the coal beneath, hence the grand old lady was torn down. HH mate!

[@NQExplorers]

@bigted1955 Thanks for watching and commenting BigTed! GL and HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

@fluoridekid Thanks for your great comment Rich, I agree, such a tragic loss that beautiful old home. The mine was abandoned in 1912 due to roof instability and fires - and they have been burning ever since. The entrance was sealed, but sink holes and subsidence on the surface far above have kept the coal burning - the whole area is pretty much doomed to stay that way - the hill would be too unstable for any sort of development. GL and HH mate.

[@NQExplorers]

Thankyou for watching and commenting and I am glad you enjoyed it. I love the history of the places. best wishes.

[@NQExplorers]

@panzer2669 Thanks for watching Panzer, looking forward to your first MD video mate! GL and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@DetectorSmurf Much appreciated Smurf, thanks for watching. GL and HH mate!

[@NQExplorers]

@Ringo853 Thanks Ringo, always appreciate your comments. GL and HH!

[@NQExplorers]

@MrVollenberg Thanks for your comments Ole, -20 C - wow, that is a real contrast to our summer LOL, 34 C and 90 percent humidity! Stay warm mate, keep planning your next historical outing in the Spring! GL and HH.

[@NQExplorers]

Thanks for watching and commenting Ross - HH mate! Warren.

[@Yulelah]

Awesome video ! Congrats on all your finds and good luck on your next hunt ! I have two questions for you . Why is that coal burning still in the ground ? What denomination was the church ?