Friday 27th Feb 2015 - Moonta

This morning Maree & I went shopping and checked out the local "Booteeks", a couple of bargains so pretty happy about that. After lunch we went for a drive up to Wallaroo to have a look around as we leave here tomorrow. Wallaroo was first surveyed in late 1860 and named after Walter Watson Hughes' Wallaroo Station, located east of the smelting works site. The smelting area was set up in 1861 following the discovery of copper ore at nearby Wallaroo Mine (Kadina) and Moonta. The first jetty was constructed in 1861 as part of the contract to build a tramway to the Wallaroo Mine. It soon became one of the busiest ports in the state and continues that role today with the export of grain. On the way back to the caravan park we stopped to have a look at the old Moonta Railway Station. The Old Railway Station was built and opened in 1909, replacing the original timber and iron station that was built in 1878. In 1985 the Station became part of the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area. It is a stately and very special part of Moonta’s history.  When we got back to the caravan park we went over to the pier and had a swim in the caged off area.  Apparently it is caged off to keep out sharks and sting rays.  Happy about that.....Todays temp is up around 37 degrees.
Barry & Paul are going fishing for squid tonight so maybe there will be some more pictures to add to today's blog.

At Wallaroo

The towns of Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo form the 'Copper Coast' or 'Little Cornwall', so called because of abundant copper finds and the significant Cornish population. Like so many other copper discoveries in South Australia, Moonta's was made by a local shepherd – in this case, Paddy Ryan in 1861. It was to prove a fortunate find: Moonta Mining Company paid over £1 million in dividends. Thousands of miners, including experienced labourers from Cornwall, flocked to the area. The mines were abandoned in the 1920s because of the slump in copper prices and rising labour costs. Moonta has survived as an agricultural service town with an increasing tourist trade.