Coaltown Museum

Westport is a town built on coal extraction from wild and remote places like Denniston, Stockton and Millerton where daily life was a struggle and comfort a luxury.

There was only one practical way to get the “black gold” away from the coast for sale to the world's industries and that was through the port at Westport.

Coaltown Museum displays

The various displays focus on the formation of coal, maritime history, unionism, the communities, transport and the men underground.

It is a colourful and modern museum that brings the past to life and links the past to the present.

On display we have a huge “Q” Wagon used on the world-famous Denniston Incline.

This large 8-ton coal wagon is perched at 450 showing the grade of the steepest part of the Incline.

We also have a 20-ton brake drum used to slow the wagons as they raced down the Incline. A simulated underground mine will give you an insight into the working conditions of the miners.