On 31st July 1902 an explosion in the Mount Kembla coal mine killed 95 workers, with another dying later of his injuries. It remains Australia's worst ever industrial accident.
The cemetery contains the graves of 32 victims of the disaster, amongst others. Another 33 were buried in Windy Gully Cemetery, 24 in Wollongong Cemetery and the remaining 5 were buried elsewhere. A monument at the front of the church commemorates the miners who died (see images below).