"The primary objective of the authors'trip to Australia was to obtain, first hand, information regarding the equipment and methods used by National Oil Proprietary, Ltd., at Glen Davis, New South Wales, in mining oil shale, extracting oil from it, and refining the shale oil. This company was operating the only oil shale plant that had been active in Australia since 1945. The plant comprised an oil shale mine, 104 modified Pumherston (Fell) retorts in 2 batteries, a shale oil refinery, and a 3-inch gasoline pipeline to the railroad loading terminal at Newnes Junction, 30 miles away. There were also, the usual and necessary auxiliary facilities, such as a power house, mechanical shops, offices, and laboratories. This account describes the equipment and operations of National Oil Proprietary, Ltd., for mining and retorting oil shale and refining oil shale."