Caricature of Daniel Ludwig, owner of Clutha mines, and members of the New South Wales Government, 1971 / Tom Thompson

SV/250

fonds

1971

Graphic Materials, Prints

910278

1 screenprint - black ink - 39 x 28 cm

In June 1971 a mass combined protest was launched against the planned $200 million Clutha coal development on the NSW South Coast. Protesters included the National Trust, the Council for Civil Liberties, the NSW Labor Council, surf clubs, anti-pollution bodies, student groups, historical societies and a couple of trade unions. The protesters were opposed to a plan by Clutha Development Pty Ltd, owned by American multi-millionaire Daniel K. Ludwig, to develop its coal leases in the Burragorang Valley and haul the coal 40 miles to the coast. In 1970 the NSW Parliament had passed a special Act allowing Clutha to build a private railway and a huge coal dump at Coalcliff, near Wollongong. The Act was criticised for giving Clutha special powers to avoid usual controls, and for allowing the company to make a profit of $90 million a year. Clutha abandoned the project in February 1972.

References:
Sydney Morning Herald (and Sun-Herald) Archive 1955-1995, The war against Clutha, The Sun Herald, 27 June 1971, and, Clutha drops coal loading project, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 1972 (accessed via State Library of New South Wales electronic resources, 28 November, 2012)

Caricature of Ludwig sunning himself under a beach umbrella with the words Clutha emblazoned on it and doling out money to fawning figures '& other members of the N.S.W. Government' who are rushing to pay homage to him.

Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of creator plus 70 years
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.5246 as part of the eRecords Project 2012-13

Signed and dated in black ballpoint pen on lower left: Tom Thompson '71