New Hope Group
An Australian coal-mining and coal-handling group operating mines and export infrastructure in Queensland.
Last updated October 23, 2026
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Overview
New Hope Group is an Australian thermal-coal company headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland. Its history is rooted in the coalfields around Ipswich, where the business was established in 1952. Over time it developed from a regional mining operator into an exporter with interests spanning open-cut coal mines, mining projects and coal-handling infrastructure. The company became closely associated with the shift in Queensland coal from domestic supply toward export markets. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, it pursued overseas sales and was among the early companies to test Ipswich coal in Japan. Its first recorded export shipment, comprising 17,332 tonnes of Bundamba coal, departed from Pinkenba in September 1980. Growing export volumes contributed to the development of Queensland Bulk Handling at Fisherman Islands in the Port of Brisbane. New Hope holds a 50% interest in that facility, with the remaining interest held by Patrick Corporation. At its peak in the mid-1980s, the Ipswich region supported numerous underground and open-cut mines associated with New Hope and other operators. Changes in power-station demand, weaker domestic requirements and the economics of competing in international markets drove a long-term restructuring toward open-cut mining. The last underground mines in the district closed by the middle of the 1990s, while river coal-barging operations ended in 1998. The group's current and recent portfolio has included the New Acland Mine near Toowoomba, the Bengalla Mine and Queensland Bulk Handling. New Acland became a major strategic focus, including the construction of a 14-kilometre access road in 2001 and later proposals to expand production. The company also pursued the Colton project near Maryborough and formerly held the New Saraji Coal Project in the Bowen Basin. New Hope Corporation was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in September 2003, while Soul Patts remained a major shareholder. The company has faced regulatory and environmental scrutiny over mine expansions and proposed new developments, particularly the New Acland stage-three project and the potential water-discharge effects of the Colton mine. Its business remains centered on thermal-coal production, logistics and export infrastructure in Queensland.
History
New Hope was established in Ipswich, Queensland, in 1952. Its early development took place within the coal industry of the Ipswich region, where both underground and open-cut mines supplied domestic customers and, later, overseas markets. In the 1970s the business was acquired by Soul Patts, which became its principal corporate shareholder. A major transition began in the late 1970s and early 1980s as New Hope sought to establish export markets for Ipswich coal. The company was one of the first operators to obtain trials for Ipswich coal in Japan. Its first export shipment consisted of 17,332 tonnes of Bundamba coal carried by MV Floret from the Maynegrain grain terminal at Pinkenba on 10 September 1980. Increasing exports created demand for dedicated handling infrastructure, leading New Hope and TNT Shipping and Development to form a joint venture to develop a coal-loading facility at the Port of Brisbane. Queensland Bulk Handling was commissioned at Fisherman Islands in 1983; New Hope retained a 50% interest, with Patrick Corporation holding the balance. The scale of the Ipswich operation was substantial during the 1980s. In 1984, 13 underground mines and eight open-cut mines were operating in the region, employing just over 1,000 people and producing 2.9 million tonnes. By 1986 the sales mix had shifted to roughly 90% exports and 10% domestic sales. Although exports through Queensland Bulk Handling reached about 1.6 million tonnes, lower demand from Swanbank Power Station and the end of supplies to Brisbane power stations reduced regional production. Westfalen and Box Flat closed after their power-station supply agreements ended. International competition and the cost structure of underground extraction accelerated the move toward open-cut operations. By the beginning of the 1990s, only about 230 underground miners remained in the relevant Ipswich mines. The last underground mines in the district closed by mid-1997, leaving three companies operating four open-cut pits. Further pressure from declining export conditions and the Australian dollar led to another restructuring at the end of the century. One consequence was the end of coal barging on the Bremer and Brisbane Rivers, with the final barge operating on 30 April 1998. New Hope subsequently focused on larger and more commercially competitive assets. To support New Acland Mine, New Hope Coal financed and built a 14-kilometre road between Jondaryan and Acland in 2001. New Hope Corporation became an ASX-listed company in September 2003, although Soul Patts initially retained a 64% interest. By 2023 that holding had reportedly declined to 39%. The company expanded its project portfolio through acquisitions and divestments. In July 2008 it agreed to sell the New Saraji Coal Project near Dysart to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. The project was reported to contain more than 690 million tonnes of identified coal resources, and the proceeds were intended to support expansion at New Acland and further development of Queensland Bulk Handling. New Acland production subsequently exceeded four million tonnes per year, while the company sought approval to raise annual output to 10 million tonnes. Transport and regulatory issues affected the business. Damage to the Western railway line during the 2010–2011 Queensland floods prevented rail movement of coal from New Acland, requiring trucks instead. By 2011, approximately 65% of the company's coal was exported and 35% was sold domestically. In 2012 New Hope abandoned an attempted sale after failing to find a buyer. New Acland's proposed stage-three expansion became a prominent regulatory and political issue. The Queensland Government approved the project on 19 December 2014. The decision was controversial because it was made shortly before an election period and followed reported political donations totaling $650,000 from New Hope Coal to the Liberal National Party of Queensland over the preceding three years. In February 2015 the federal Environment Minister placed the approval on hold. New Hope has also planned the Colton mine approximately eight kilometres from Maryborough. The proposed project drew environmental concern because of its projected discharge of 985 million litres into the Mary River. The group's reported operating and development portfolio has included New Acland, Bengalla, Queensland Bulk Handling and other Queensland coal interests.
- 2015
Federal hold on New Acland approval
[1]The federal Environment Minister places the expansion approval on hold amid political and regulatory controversy.
- 2014
New Acland stage-three approval
[1]The Queensland Government approves the proposed stage-three expansion of New Acland Mine.
- 2008
New Saraji sale agreement
[1]New Hope agrees to sell the New Saraji Coal Project to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance.
- 2003
New Hope Corporation is listed
[1]New Hope Corporation is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in September.
- 2001
New Acland access road is completed
[1]New Hope Coal finances and constructs a 14-kilometre road linking Jondaryan and Acland to support New Acland Mine.
- 1997
Ipswich underground mining ends
[1]The last underground mines in the Ipswich district close, completing the area's long shift toward open-cut extraction.
- 1983
Queensland Bulk Handling is commissioned
[1]The coal-loading facility at Fisherman Islands in the Port of Brisbane enters service.
- 1980
First recorded coal export shipment
[1]A shipment of 17,332 tonnes of Bundamba coal sails from Pinkenba for export.
- 1952
New Hope is established in Ipswich
[1]The company begins operations in the Ipswich coal region of Queensland.
Products and positioning
An Australian thermal-coal producer and exporter with integrated Queensland mining and bulk-handling interests.
Thermal coal mine
New Acland Mine
A Queensland thermal-coal mine near Toowoomba and one of New Hope's principal operating assets. The company developed supporting infrastructure, including a road between Jondaryan and Acland, and later pursued a stage-three expansion intended to increase annual production substantially. The expansion became subject to significant environmental, political and federal regulatory scrutiny.
Thermal coal mine
Bengalla Mine
A thermal-coal mining operation included among New Hope Group's principal assets. The available reference identifies Bengalla as part of the group's operations but does not provide detailed ownership, production or launch information.
Coal export terminal · 1983
Queensland Bulk Handling
A coal-loading and bulk-handling facility at Fisherman Islands in the Port of Brisbane. It was commissioned in 1983 after New Hope and TNT Shipping and Development formed a development joint venture. New Hope holds a 50% interest, with the balance held by Patrick Corporation.
Coal-development project
New Saraji Coal Project
A former New Hope development project near Dysart in Queensland's Bowen Basin. New Hope reported more than 690 million tonnes of identified coal in the project area before agreeing in 2008 to sell the project to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. The sale was intended to release value and help fund New Acland and Queensland Bulk Handling development.
Thermal coal project
Colton mine
A proposed mine approximately eight kilometres from Maryborough, Queensland. The project attracted environmental concern because of its expected discharge into the Mary River. The available reference does not establish whether the mine entered production.
Controversies
2020
New Acland coalmine fined for repeated noise-limit violations
Queensland authorities fined the New Acland coalmine $9,461 after it exceeded noise limits 34 times over 10 weeks. The Department of Environment and Science decided against pursuing a more serious penalty; the article reports that the department considered the facts indisputable and the miner's actions intentional.
2014
Controversy over New Acland expansion approval
Queensland approved the stage-three New Acland expansion in December 2014. The decision drew criticism because of its timing before an election and reports that New Hope Coal had donated $650,000 to the Liberal National Party of Queensland during the preceding three years.
Brand decisions
2014
Pursuit of New Acland stage-three expansionStrategyBackground
New Hope sought to increase New Acland output from more than four million tonnes per year toward a proposed 10-million-tonne annual capacity.
Action taken
The company pursued regulatory approval for the stage-three expansion, which Queensland approved in December 2014.
Aftermath
The approval became controversial and was placed on hold by the federal Environment Minister in February 2015.
2012
Abandonment of attempted saleOtherBackground
New Hope attempted to sell an asset or the relevant business interest but did not find a buyer.
Action taken
The company abandoned the sale process.
Aftermath
The available reference does not identify the proposed buyer or provide further transaction details.
2008
Sale of New Saraji Coal ProjectM&ABackground
New Hope sought to realize value from the New Saraji project while concentrating capital on New Acland and Queensland Bulk Handling.
Action taken
The company agreed to sell New Saraji to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance.
Aftermath
The transaction was described as supporting expansion of New Acland and further development of the Brisbane coal-handling facility.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
New Acland coalmine fined for repeated noise-limit violations[2]
Reported:
Queensland authorities fined the New Acland coalmine $9,461 after it exceeded noise limits 34 times over 10 weeks. The Department of Environment and Science decided against pursuing a more serious penalty; the article reports that the department considered the facts indisputable and the miner’s actions intentional.
Sources2 sources
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