Wheal Hughes Copper Mine: Amber explores some Copper Coast mining history in the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia

The historic mine precinct at Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula is pretty tidy today compared to the 1870s when the Moonta Mining Company was one of the biggest copper mines in the world. Worked by thousands of tough Cornish miners, it helped stave off financial ruin in the early days of a struggling colony.

But Moonta's mining history isn't confined to the days of the Cousin Jacks and Jennies… no trip to Monte these days is complete without a trip underground into a Copper Mine that operated as recently as the 90s. It's a big hole and you can even go further underground. Wheal is the Cornish word for mine - and it's a pretty appropriate name for a huge pit with a road that winds its way down like a giant corkscrew.

Ned Knight, Mine Guide: "They mined copper here for 3 years. They took out 288-thousand tonne of ore and the reason why it closed down was the price of copper dropped to about 74 cents a pound - it just became unfeasible to keep going."

Since 1997 the mine has been a favourite tourist spot for those wanting to experience what it was like for those Cornish miners working deep underground. Former miner, Ned Knight, swapped his miners' ticket for a gig as a tour guide.

Open cut mining began here in 1990 but today, it's not massive dump trucks making the slow decent 65 metres down to the pit floor - but a specially designed tourist train loaded with sometimes-apprehensive tourists. In 1992 the mine went underground with a tunnel or decline following the lode of ore to a depth of 95 metres.

Ned Knight, Mine Guide: "This is the 35 metre level and we're 100 metres below the actual ground."

Before the mine was taken over by the local Copper Coast Council in 1996, all this was under water - flooded with seawater, which seeped in when the pumps were turned off.

Ned Knight, Mine Guide: "The green on the rocks is copper sulphate. Wen it rains in Moonta the water leaches through the ore body and brings all the colour, all the copper, salts and minerals out. So all the green stuff is called copper sulphate."

Trying to reassure us, Ned says the rock containing the copper ore is incredibly hard and that, combined with the specially installed rock bolts and mesh on the roof makes a roof collapse almost impossible.

Ned Knight, Mine Guide: "Ok this is the 55 metre level main ore body or main stoking area. This was all done by hand by hand. Probably about 25 to 30 thousand tons have been pulled out of here. High grade copper."

Ned saves the best lesson on how just how difficult it was till last.

Ned Knight, Mine Guide: "This is a modern miners light. It's got a run of about 60 odd metres from a halogen globe and it operates for about 12 hours. Of course the old fellows would have used a candle on their hard hat."

At this point, Ned turns out the lights and for a few seconds we stand in what he reckons is the blackest black you'll ever experience! It's just one of the highlights of an underground tour of the Wheal Hughes Copper Mine.

They operate on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays and every day during school holidays but you need to book at the Old Railway Station at Moonta. Call 8825 1891. Tours aren't suitable are not suitable for children under 6. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Wheal Hughes Copper Mine
Wallaroo Rd
Moonta
Bookings essential (08) 8825 1891 (not suitable for children under 6)

Published 27th September 2009