Founded in 2005, Mining Life began as a small initiative by Robert Hargrove, a third-generation coal miner with a passion for preserving the rich cultural heritage of mining communities. What started as a personal archive of family mining memorabilia and recorded interviews with fellow miners quickly grew into a comprehensive documentation project covering the history and lives of miners across Australia and beyond.

After partnering with mining historian Dr. Elizabeth Chen in 2008, Mining Life expanded its scope to include detailed research into gold mining rushes, the evolution of coal extraction technologies, and the complex history of uranium mining. By 2012, our organization had established its headquarters in Sydney and began offering educational programs, museum exhibitions, and consultation services for historical preservation projects.

Today, Mining Life stands as Australia's premier resource for mining heritage preservation, connecting generations through the shared stories of those who shaped the industry. Our archives contain over 10,000 photographs, 2,500 recorded interviews, and extensive collections of mining equipment, documents, and artifacts that tell the comprehensive story of humanity's relationship with mineral extraction across centuries.