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Story: Coal and coal mining

Mt Somers mine

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Mt Somers mine

A small mining operation briefly sprang up in the 1930s at Mt Somers in Mid-Canterbury. There had been a coal mine in the area in the 19th century, but the revival did not last long, and today only the remains of the mountain railway can still be seen.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Jock Phillips

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How to cite this page

Alan Sherwood and Jock Phillips, Coal and coal mining – The 20th century, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9361/mt-somers-mine (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Alan Sherwood and Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.