Moonta Mines
State heritage area at the heart of Little Cornwall.
A vast state heritage precinct of engine houses, cottages and a museum recalling Australia's richest copper mine.
The Moonta Mines State Heritage Area preserves the relics of what was once Australia's richest copper mine, worked largely by Cornish immigrants from the 1860s. Roaming the site you'll find towering Cornish engine houses, the restored Miner's Cottage, a sweet little museum in the old school and chimney stacks. It is the centrepiece of "Little Cornwall" and a moving window into 19th-century mining life.
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Last verified 8 August 2026 · source: Wikipedia - Moonta Mines, South Australia
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Moonta Mines - frequently asked questions
When was copper discovered at Moonta?
Copper was discovered at Moonta in May 1861 by a shepherd working for pastoralist Sir Walter Hughes. The find triggered one of colonial South Australia's greatest mining booms.
Why were the Moonta Mines so significant?
The Moonta Mining Company became one of the richest copper mines in Australia and in 1876 was the first Australian mining company to pay out one million pounds in dividends. By the 1870s Moonta was the second-largest town in South Australia.
What can you see at Moonta Mines today?
The Moonta Mines State Heritage Area includes the National Trust museum in the former Moonta Mines Model School, a restored miner's cottage and garden, the sweet shop and the ruined Hughes and Richman enginehouses.
Is Moonta part of "Little Cornwall"?
Yes. Moonta, along with Kadina and Wallaroo, forms the Copper Triangle known as "Little Cornwall", settled largely by Cornish miners whose heritage is still celebrated at the Kernewek Lowender festival.
Sources
- Wikipedia - Moonta Mines, South Australia (accessed August 2026)
Image credits
- MoontaSchoolOfMines.JPG by Mattinbgn , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons