The Heritage of Burra Preserved
The Burra History Group
maintains a fascinating and comprehensive website with many old photos
and articles. The history of Burra, its pioneers, and their
beginnings in this old copper mining town, make absorbing reading.
...interested parties resolved into two groups: the 'Nobs' and the 'Snobs'
The story of the mine began in 1845 with the chance discovery of copper ore by a shepherd near Burra Creek. Soon after, a similar find was made by another shepherd further to the north. News of the discovery reached Adelaide, a town already infected with mining mania because of the success of the recently opened Kapunda mine. The struggle for possession of this new copper bearing land quickly followed.
The interested parties resolved into two groups: the 'Nobs' and the 'Snobs'. The Nobs were capitalists and included the owners of Kapunda mine. The Snobs were shopkeepers and merchants from Rundle and Hindley Streets in Adelaide.
To read more about the Burra Burra Mine - known as "The Monster Mine" - go to the History Group's main page link given above and choose Burra Mine from the menu (unfortunately there is no direct link to this article).
Burra was declared a State Heritage Area in 1993.
From the Visitors' Book...
“We really enjoyed staying in your wonderful house. What a history!
We live in a copper mining town also. I enjoyed your books on Aussie
plants! ”
