Glen Davis Shale works ruins tours
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  • 1954 GD Auction Sale Catalogue
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  • GLEN DAVIS SHALE WORKS TOURS
  • Go back in time, way back in time!
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  • 1934 Newnes Investigation report.
  • Historical Videos and Photos
  • History of the Glen Davis Shale works Ruins
  • Deb Mina and Cheryl Rutherford – Glen Davis
  • GLEN DAVIS SHALE WORKS RUINS SATURDAY TOURS.
  • Glen Davis Shale works Ruins Introduction.
  • Tour Pictures.

Capertee Valley.

Sunrise in the Capertee Valley, the early morning rays reflecting of the sandstone cliffs of Genowlan Mountain. Farm in the foreground with a cement water tank and some cattle feeding.Low undulating green hills in the foreground.
History of the Capertee Valley.
Formation of the Capertee Valley gave rise to this project.
Click here to find out how the shale was created!
Brown cover of the Newnes Investigation Committee report, courtesy of Scott Agnew. The cover has a brown double line frame around the edge of the cover. The book is printed with the following text “1934 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. NEWNES INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE REPORT to Senator The Honourable A. J. McLachlan Minister in Control of Development for the Commonwealth of Australia and to The Honourable R. S. Vincent, M.L.A., Minister for Mines of the State of New South Wales on the NEWNES – CAPERTEE OIL PROJECT TOGETHER WITH SELECTED APPENDICES. Printed under No. 1 report from the Printing Committee, 3 May 1934 At the bottom it has the words “Sydney Government Printer 1934.”
1934 Newnes Investigation Report.
This report gave the go ahead to the Lyons Government to start the Glen Davis Shale works ruins. More information about this report will be added over the coming months.

Click here to find out more!
Glen Davis equipment up for sale.
1952 Equipment Auction Catalogue.

What was for sale when the Federal Government auctioned off the equipment on the site?

Coming Soon
A screenshot of the front cover of National Oil Pty Ltd, auction sale book. It is brown cover with a single black line border. It is headed up with Federal Government coat of arms. Following this are the words under instructions of A. C. Joyce Esq. C.B.E. As receiver appointed by the Commonwealth of Australia. In the matter of National Oil Pty Ltd. Auction sale of Buildings Office Furniture etc. on the site of Glen Davis N.S.W. on Monday the 11th January, 1954 at 11a.m. F. R. Strange Pty Ltd, Auctioneers, 57 North George Street, Sydney. B.W. 6129 – 6902 Telegrams: Strangelim Sydney
1954 Building Auction Catalogue.

What was for sale when the Federal Government auctioned off the buildings on the site?

Click here to view auction catalogue!
The logo that Glen Davis petrol was marketed under with the words
Pictorial Journey the Glen Davis Shale works.
A pictorial description of the rise and fall of Glen Davis Shale Works.
Click here to see the video on the Shale works History!
1914012674 B0 specification John fell shale patent header
The patented design by John Fell.
For those of you who’ve joined my Glen Davis tour, you’ll remember the story I often share—how Walter Sheeler rejected the patented design by John Fell of heating shale in the retort bench. By dismissing this innovation, not only was petrol output significantly reduced, but the decision also had tragic consequences. The flawed process led to the fatal incident that claimed the life of John Wightman. This moment is a poignant reminder of how choices made in industry echo far beyond the boardroom, leaving lasting marks on people’s lives and history itself.
Click here to view the video!
George Wilson giving his well renowned talks about the history of Glen Davis Town and Shale works. This talk was at the 2025 Back to Glen Davis Weekend.
Historical session by George Wilson 2025.
Here the historical accounts of Glen Davis By George Wilson 2025.
Click here to find out more!
sketch of Candy Sore performance in Glen Davis Shale Mine MP1.
New Theatre group.
As part of the public awareness campaign to draw attention to the closure of the works in 1952, the New Theatre group peformed the show "The Candy Store" in the mine. 
Click here to view video!
3 walkers from the Bush Explorers group behind the Pipeline track sign at Glen Davis NSW.
Pipeline track.
Pipeline track created by Commonwealth Oil Corporation.
Click here to find out more!

Brief Shale mining History.

  • Lots of refining history with Scots.

  • Shale oil was employing 1 of 1000 Australians by 1880 very substantial part of our economy at the time.

  • Used in heating, candles, machinery.

  • Retorting (heating) oil shale found in the mountains at Joadja, Hartley Vale, Torbane(near Mt Airly), Newnes and Timor near Murrarrundi plus other area around Australia.

  • Oil shale discovered in Capertee Valley in 1865.

  •  Why Shale mining for Petrol?

  • The Great depression.

  • European Migration policy.

  • World War II.

  • Increasing Popularity overseas.
Birds eye view of Glen Davis town. circa 1952
The Town.

  •  11 substantial brick houses for staff, 
  • a staff hostel made of brick accommodating 30 junior   staff, 
  • 100 permanent and 50 'war-type' individually owned residences. 
  • a group of barracks   with accommodation and boarding for 120 single men, 
  • a commercial hotel with 25 rooms,   
  • 'Bag Town' of 250 mostly sub-standard dwellings (tents made of hessian bags), 
  • The school   had 260 pupils and 7 teachers. 
  • There was a post office, a bank and a police station, 
  • a   doctor, a pharmacist, 
  • three churches,
  •  a community centre, 
  • golf course, 
  • bowling green,  
  •  childrens’ playground, 
  • tennis courts, 
  • two general stores, 
  • a pharmacy, 
  • a garage, a 'saloon' (a   bar separate from the hotel), a barber shop, a hotel, 
  • a motion-picture theatre in the 'Bag   Town' and a bakery. 
At its peak, the population reached approximately 2000 with an   ambulance station, for two ambulances, that had been funded by the people of the town.

Crown lands Auction sale sign for Glen Davis on Saturday, 12th March 1940. Auctioneers Richardson and Wrench. It had notes and terms of sale displayed on the sign. It also displayed Glen Davis town plan, designed by A Cooke of the State Works and Local Government department.