Opened in 1932, Maranoa Collieries was a major employer for the area and played a significant role in the development of the town. The possibility of coal was first reported in 1879, with a coal prospecting licence taken out many years later in 1913.
Test drilling started in 1922 with seams of coal found in 1926. In took another six years before drilling of tunnels began in 1932. The first removal of coal was in February, 1933, with up to 100 tons of coal a day was extracted by the miners and pit ponies.
The pit ponies were used to bring the skips to the top of the mine and then return the empties, until the late 1950s. A special cross between a pony and a draft horse, the pit ponies were well liked. There are stories of the four pit ponies at the Old Injune Mine, Toby, Ben, Ada, and Jenni.
The coal was used as coking coal for the locomotives on the Western Rail Line from Roma to Cunnamulla. With the reduced demand after the phasing out of steam trains, the last of the coal was drawn from the mine in 1963 and the mine closed in August of that year.
At the Old Injune Mine, there is a shelter with an information board depicting details and stories of the mine. A table with seats has various artifacts scattered on top with a visitor signing book. A mount sits beside it with a depiction of a miner leading one of the pit ponies pulling a cart along a track. You can climb up to the top of the mount for an elevated view over the area.
