Really if you are single and can be tight with your money, a mate of mine who has been workin in the blair athol mine, central qld, he has been workin there for 3 yrs and has about $150k saved up in the bank, he's going to try to retire in 3 years with ~$500k, buy several houses and live off them.
But yeah no life and have to deal with other miners, who are normally drunks, no offense!