Burra - 21 to 24 June 2009

We drove to Burra on 21 June. Burra is an historical Copper mining town. Mining began in 1845 and saved the new state of South Australia from possible bankruptcy, a familiar story even today - with different mines and including some other states.

There were a few smaller mines but the big mine was the Monster Mine which averaged returns of 400% per annum over its productive life. Burra was settled by the Cornish diaspora.

The National Trust here rents you a key and you can let yourself into the historic sites. This frees you from time constraints although some sites are still only open at certain times. The first day we rode our bikes and saw the Bon Accord Mine and various historical sites including Redruth Gaol, which became a reformatory for girls and is now used as a function centre. Is a gaol the best place for a wedding?

 

The second day visited the Monster Mine site and the tower built to house the steam pump which kept water out of the mine. Cornishmen were the techo's of their era, doing a lot to perfect the steam engine and mine engineering. The copper was below the level of the Great Artesian Basin and over 3,000,000 gallons of water had to be pumped out every day.

The Monster Mine closed in 1877 . It was re opened in 1981 as an open cut mine when the price of copper rose but is closed at present . Now the refining capacity is used to recycle copper.

  

  The town is full of historic buildings. Cornish cottages and the cellars of the old Unicorn brewery.

 

It even has its share of historic people - like this local in his 1913 Newton Bennet - which he learned to drive  in 1936. Condition of the car and driver - both original.