Patrick " Paddy " Ryan, a shepherd for pastoralist Sir Walter Hughes, discovered copper on Hughes' property at Moonta in May 1861. The Tiparra Mining Association commenced operations in 1862 after a legal battle over title to the claim. It proved extremely successful, with the Moonta deposits resulting in high yields. It saw a particular influx of miners from Cornwall in England. The government town of Moonta was surveyed in 1863, which resulted in a division between the professional classes in Moonta and a more informal township dominated by mining workers at Moonta Mines. The Moonta miners' undertook a major strike in 1864 over concerns about mining practices. By 1875, the success of the Moonta Mines and those in the surrounding area had made Moonta the second largest town in South Australia and the largest copper region in the British Empire; Moonta Mines itself had a population of 5,000 residents. In 1876, the Moonta Mining Company became the first mining company in Australia to pay out one million pounds in dividends. However, living conditions were poor and many lives were lost to disease during this time. Copper prices had begun to decline by the 1880s, and in 1889 forced the Moonta Mining Company to merge with the owners of Wallaroo Mines to form the Wallaroo and Moonta Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. The mine finally closed in 1923, after which the Moonta Mines locality sharply declined, although the cementation works continued in use until 1943. The Moonta Mines State Heritage Area was declared in 1984. The modern locality of Moonta Mines was established in January 1999, when boundaries were formalised for the long established name.
Industrial railway
A narrow gauge steam locomotive was used at the Moonta Mines on the gauge line between Taylor's Shaft and Richman's Plant. It had been built in Manchester by Beyer, Peacock & Co. was No. 3057 of 1889 and was later converted to gauge for operation on the mines' railway system. It was later sold around 1911 to Henry & Sons, sawmillers of Forrest, Victoria via Cameron & Sutherland, Melbourne dealers.
Moonta Mines today
The National Trust of South Australia has a substantial presence at Moonta Mines, operating seven properties as tourist attractions through its Moonta branch. These include the National Trust Museum in the former Moonta Mines Model School, the Moonta Mines Tourist Railway offering 50-minute guided tours of the former mining works, the Moonta Mines Sweet Shop in the former Moonta Mines Post Office building, a former miners' cottage and garden in Verco Street, the Hughes Enginehouse, Richmans Enginehouse and the Family History and Resource Centre in the former School of Mines. The historic Moonta Mines Uniting Church, which dates from 1865 when it opened as the Wesleyan Methodist church, remains in operation with weekly services. It also has open days during the week or on weekends, depending upon the time of year.
Heritage listings
Moonta Mines contains a number of individually heritage-listed sites, including:
