Pay Office Mural

The town of Pelaw Main grew from 'Baron' John Brown's establishment of his Pelaw Main Colliery in 1900. It was often claimed that this was the most profitable coal mine ever developed in Australia. The coal yielded was a rich, low ash coal, and as a result found a ready market in India.

Near the entrance to the Pelaw Main Mine stood the Colliery Office which was a fairly large cottage-style brick building. This building included the Paymaster's Office as shown in this mural. Here miners with a sugar bag slung over their shoulders, carrying their pit clothes, would queue to collect their pay each week. Pelaw Main Colliery ceased mining operations in February 1961.

The artwork is accessible from the Masonic Lodge's garden as the hedges have overgrown.