The Hunter Valley-born Nathan Tinkler has created a group that spans mining, property development and sports sectors both in Australia and overseas.
The Tinkler Group has secured and developed key mining assets and properties, while having created Australia’s leading, locally owned, thoroughbred breeding and racing operation in Patinack Farm. Tinkler Group has also acquired the Newcastle Knights (NRL) & Newcastle Jets football teams and key shareholdings in a range of mines, property investment and infrastructure projects.
Nathan Tinkler is personally committed to long term investment in a vast range of community and charity projects, with the interests of the Hunter Valley uppermost in his mind. The Tinkler Group team is well known for its entrepreneurial skills and now has a significant track record of successful investment in both new and established projects and companies. It now has a significant presence in the world coal industry and is executing a plan to expand into complementary sectors, including the proposed coal terminal in Newcastle and its rail infrastructure across the Hunter Valley.
Nathan Tinkler
Nathan commenced his mining career in the Hunter Valley coal mines as an electrical technician commissioning, maintaining and upgrading a diverse range of equipment. His roles included a key position in the construction and commissioning of a dragline for the Bengalla Mining Company and the subsequent audit and commission of the Bengalla coal handling and preparation plant. Nathan established his own contracting company in 2003 where he offered technical services to the mining industry.
In 2006, Custom Mining Limited was established by Nathan to acquire and develop greenfield coal mines. After carrying out a number of feasibility studies on greenfield projects, Nathan secured the rights to buy the Middlemount coal tenement, MDL282, in November 2006.
Following a capital raising process Nathan undertook a drilling program to provide the necessary coal quality data to underpin the feasibility of the project. Nathan sought a joint venture partner in order to fund the acquisition and development of the project. In April 2007 Nathan was successful in securing the Noble Group Limited, a Hong Kong-based listed trading company, as a partner for the project. In June 2007, the coal tenements were acquired and strategic alliances with Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd and Sedgman Limited were formed for the mining operations and construction and operation of the coal handling and preparation plant respectively. In December 2007 Nathan and the minority shareholders agreed to sell Custom Mining to Macarthur Coal Limited for A$275m. Nathan established Aston Resources in January 2008.
