BHP did not reveal financial details of the bid and Whitehaven did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The decision furthers BHP's push to exit its coal operations in Queensland, after the world's largest listed miner sold out of the South Walker Creek and Poitrel coal mines last year.
Whitehaven had earlier said it was participating in a sale process initiated by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance for a couple of coking coal mines.
Both the mines are owned by BHP in partnership with Japan's Mitsubishi Development Corporation.
The proposed acquisitions come as Whitehaven faces questions from minority shareholder Bell Rock around its paused share buyback programme.
"The board will make a decision regarding resumption of the share buyback at the appropriate time," the coal miner said in September while confirming its interest in the two mines.
