16th May 2014
The mining company advertised in Britain for workers to emigrate to SA. They not only wanted miners, but also stone masons, engineers, blacksmiths and other skilled trades. A man and his wife received passage at no cost, but they had to pay for children between the ages of 1 and 15 years. The mining company was also after 'young ladies over 15 years of good character' who could travel free if accompanied by a relative.
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| Open cast mine pit as it was left in 1981 |
Boys started work at 8 years old and were down the mine by age 12. The men and boys worked in dangerous and dirty conditions with only a candle attached to their tin hat for light. Payment was made according to the quantity and quality of the copper ore they extracted.
Water flooding the mine was a major problem and many pumps were installed to remove it. These were all made in Cornwall and shipped to Adelaide. The huge equipment was then dragged by bullock teams on the 100 mile journey to Burra. Morphett's engine house was one of the installations.
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| Morphett's Enginehouse 1858 |
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| Ore dressing Tower |
The ore was crushed, graded and assayed at the mine site and then taken to the valley for smelting. All the resulting copper ingots were shipped to England, none of it was ever used in Australia.
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