An Australian sub-bituminous coal was effectively liquefied under high temperature short contact time conditions at about 30 kg/cm2 using 1,2,3,3a-tetrahydrofluoranthene (4HFL) as the solvent. The yields of the oil and asphaltene, the target products, were as high as 54 and 16%, respectively, for a reaction at 560 °C with zero contact time. 4HFL was principally converted into fluoranthene together with some undefined four ring aromatic compounds. The efficacy of the present liquefaction procedures is introduced.