" 65km from Adelaide, Moonta is a pretty town that is steeped in history. It was here in 1861 that Paddy Ryan found copper traces coming out of a wombats burrow. The wombat's burrow was on the pastoral lease of Walter Watson Hughes. Hughes formed the Tipara Mining Company, which later became the Moonta Mining Co. During this prosperous time in the late 1800's, Moonta had the largest urban population outside of Adelaide, with 12,000 people, including many Cornish miners and their families who brought with them their skills, and lifestyle. For this reason Moonta is known as 'Australia's Little Cornwall'. The name Moonta comes from the aboriginal words 'Moonta-Moonterra' meaning impenetrable scrub."
It was quaint - the museum reminded me a lot of what I still think of as the BC Forest Museum. A bunch of old mining equipment and some old buildings.. As you'll see from the photos, a pretty flat & dry land. Most of all the old buildngs and equipment have long since gone, just the occasional brick stucture or foundation scattered around the site of the old mines.
But - that is okay - because Moonta is on the coast (like every city it seems) so there was a nearby beach for us to stop and have lunch at. (see below) - you'd almost think that Lyn & I spend are weekends just driving from beach to beach... and you'd not be far from the truth!
-DK
No comments:
Post a Comment