Blinman Mine experience: Lisa takes a trip underground in the Outback region of South Australia
The countryside around Blinman looks like a lunar landscape and that's probably how it seemed to the miners who first ventured this far north in the 1850s. They came to Blinman in the Flinders Ranges to mine cooper after a one-legged shepherd, name Robert 'Peg Leg' Blinman discovered an exposed outcrop while tending his sheep.
Before long, the biggest mine in the Flinders Ranges was operating here and a town, named after 'Peg Leg' Blinman sprang up. At its peak, 1500 people lived and worked here.
When you arrive in town today, you can be pretty sure you'll be noticed. The local population has dwindled to about 30… but they're a friendly lot and only too happy to show you around. A stroll along the main street with local, Grant Reschke, or 'Pud' as he's known gives a glimpse into Blinman's boom times. The quaint Memorial Hall dates back to 1896 and signaled big plans for this remote town. Quaint pug and pine dwellings like the renovated Rose Cottage on the hill were common.
The old public schoolhouse is now the Wild Lime Café and Gallery now but most of the locals have a connection to it as a school.
Grant 'Pud' Reschke, Blinman Local: "I came to school here in about 1969. From memory there were about 28 of us back then and probably about 13 of those came from one family. It was quite a large family.
The lonely Blinman cemetery is a reminder of just how dangerous life was for the early miners. The records show, that in a brief two-year period back in the 1870s 18 people died at the Blinman Copper Mine.
To get a true perspective on what they were up against, the locals have re-opened part of the original mine. The mine was opened in 1862 and became the biggest and longest operating mine in the Flinders Ranges. In its heyday up to 300 mainly Cornish miners worked here - and it must have been tough, dirty work with the ore dug by hand.
This is what they were after - high quality copper ore. 200,000 tonnes of it yielding 10,000 tonnes of copper. For 40 years they inched their way along a 160 metre seam. At the end of the adit we come to a spectacular chasm - the miners called it 'The Chapel'.
Grant 'Pud' Reschke, Blinman Local: "The main shaft goes straight down 146 metres. They put that down first and they put tunnels out from it chasing the ore body in the main ore body system. Then they'd use rails and carts to bring it back to that main tunnel and it was all taken out through that main shaft up to the top to the surface to be processed."
Eventually falling ore quality, fluctuating copper prices and the tyranny of distance meant the shafts were abandoned and the mine closed in 1907.
Grant 'Pud' Reschke: "Blinman was one of the most successful mines in the Flinders Ranges. Copper proved very good for Blinman and it's still got the township going today."
After the underground tour - it's almost compulsory to visit Blinman's other landmark - the local pub. First licenced in 1869, it's been open continuously ever since and as you admire its novel collection of business cards on the wall, you'll be doing so 600 metres above sea level - making it the highest gazetted hotel in state.
Blinman is an hour's drive north of Wilpena. The North Blinman Hotel offers meals and a range of accommodation. Bookings for a mine tour can be made on 8648 4782. More questions? email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Blinman Hotel
Flinders Ranges
Ph 8648 4867Blinman Mine Tour
Bookings 8648 4782Published 8th May 2011
