Map the miner

I am going to end the visit to Kapunda with a photo of Map Kernow (son of Cornwall), an 8 metre statue that you see on your right as you head out of town on the way back to Adelaide. It is a symbol of the workers that put this place on the map a century and a half ago.

Kapunda mine chimney

This 14 metre (45 foot) chimney was built by Cornish miners in about 1848 as an air shaft. It stands tall on a hill overlooking the old mine site at Kapunda.

Exploring the mine

In between showers some of our cycling group toured the town and the mine site; oh what fun getting along the muddy track into the open cut! We marvelled at the beauty of the rockwall; such rich and vibrant colours. We also thought about the men and boys who would have chipped away in this quarry over a hundred years ago to extract the copper.

Kapunda copper mining

Copper was discovered in Kapunda in 1942, and mining commenced two years later after analysis of the ore samples was done in England. Kapunda became the first copper mining town in Australia, and by 1851 there were 2000 people living there.

The photos shows the old open cut mine; much of the mining was also done underground. Mining and treatment of copper lasted here for about thirty years; the mine finally closed in 1878.