Copper Coast facts for kids
*This article is about a region in Australia. For the coast of County Waterford, Ireland, see Copper Coast (Ireland).
The Copper Coast is a unique region in South Australia. It is located on the northern part of the Yorke Peninsula. This area includes the towns of Wallaroo, Kadina, Moonta, Paskeville, and Port Hughes.
The towns of Wallaroo, Kadina, and Moonta are often called the Copper Triangle. This name comes from the large amount of copper that was mined here. Mining copper was very important for South Australia's economy in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Many Cornish miners and their families settled in these three towns. Because of this, the area is sometimes called "Little Cornwall." The Kernewek Lowender is a huge Cornish festival held here every two years. It celebrates Cornish culture and is the biggest of its kind in the world.
Today, the Copper Coast still helps South Australia's economy. It is a major producer of grains, especially barley and wheat.
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History of the Copper Coast
The Copper Coast became important for mining in 1861. A man named Paddy Ryan found traces of copper near a wombat's burrow. This land was leased by Walter Watson Hughes. Hughes then started the Tipara Mining Company, which later became the Moonta Mining Company.
By the late 1800s, Moonta was a very busy town. It had about 12,000 people, making it the largest town outside of Adelaide. Many of these people were Cornish miners and their families. They brought their mining skills and way of life to the area. A local cartoonist, Oswald Pryor, captured much of this period's character.
After the mining boom, farming became more important. From the 1880s onwards, agriculture grew in the region. The area is good for farming because it is below the Goyder's Line, which means it gets enough rainfall.
Local Economy and Tourism
The towns of Kadina, Wallaroo, and Moonta are the main shopping areas for the Yorke Peninsula. In recent years, more people have moved to the Copper Coast. New housing areas have been built, like Patrick's Cove and The Dunes at Port Hughes. The Dunes even has a golf course designed by famous golfer Greg Norman. Wallaroo Shores Estate is also being built and will be a large beachfront community.
The coastal towns are popular places for tourists. Many visitors come from Adelaide and other parts of South Australia. They enjoy exploring the old mine sites. You can see the ruins of the copper smelter at Wallaroo and the old Moonta mines.
Fishing is also a favorite activity here. There are several jetties and boat ramps for launching boats. The Kernewek Lowender festival is a big event that attracts many tourists every two years in May. Besides tourism, the main industry is growing grain. Wallaroo has a large facility for exporting grain.
Local Government and Community
The local government for the area is the Copper Coast Council. It was formed in 1997 when two smaller councils joined together. The main office for the council is in Kadina. There are also smaller offices in Moonta and Wallaroo.
Historic Sites and Museums to Visit
You can still see many signs of the Cornish mining history. There are old stone cottages built by the miners. You can also see the remains of mine sites, like Hughes' Engine House.
For more information on walks and drives, you can visit the Copper Coast Visitor Information Centre in Kadina. There are also tourist outlets in Moonta and Wallaroo. Several museums help to keep the local history alive:
- The Farm Shed Museum: This museum is in Kadina. It is built around Matta Matta House, which was once the home of a mine manager. The museum shows how dry land farming developed in the area. It also tells the story of local agriculture, including the invention of the stump-jump plough.
- Wallaroo Mines: This is a historical site of the old copper mines, just southeast of Kadina.
- Moonta Mines Museum: This museum is in the old Moonta Mines Model School, which opened in 1878.
