Map the Miner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Map the Miner |
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| Artist | Ben van Zetten |
| Year | 1986 |
| Medium | Fiberglass |
| Dimensions | 7 m (280 in) |
| Condition | Destroyed |
| Location | Kapunda, South Australia |
| Owner | Client: John Davidson and the Kapunda Rotary Club |
| Map the Miner | |
|---|---|
The rebuilt statue in 2007
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| Artist | Ben van Zetten; Lawry Love Grima |
| Year | 2007 |
| Medium | Bronze (current) |
| Dimensions | 7 m (280 in) |
| Location | Kapunda, South Australia |
Map the Miner, also called Map Kernow or the Son of Cornwall, is a huge 7-meter (about 23-foot) statue. It stands in Kapunda, South Australia. This statue celebrates the history of Cornish miners in the town. It was built by Ben van Zetten and is known as one of Australia's Big Things. The original statue was sadly destroyed by fire in 2006. But don't worry, it was rebuilt and put back up just one year later!
Contents
The Story of Map the Miner
Mining History in Kapunda
The copper mine in Kapunda was very important. It operated from 1844 to 1878. This was the first metal mine in Australia to become successful. It produced a lot of copper ore, worth over £1 million. Many Cornish immigrants came to Australia to work in this mine. They played a big part in Kapunda's early days.
How the Statue Came to Be
In 1986, a local person named John Davidson had an idea. He wanted to build a memorial to honor the Cornish miners. They had helped Kapunda and South Australia grow so much. He looked for money during South Australia's 150th birthday celebrations. He didn't get the funding he hoped for. However, he met Ben van Zetten, an artist from the Netherlands. Ben van Zetten agreed to design and build the statue.
John Davidson then asked the local Rotary Club for help. The club started a successful fundraising campaign. The community worked together to collect the money needed.
Unveiling the Original Statue
The statue was built on Gawler Road, at the southern entrance to Kapunda. It took about three months to finish. The original Map the Miner was officially opened in 1988. This was during Australia's Bicentenary celebrations. The South Australian Minister for Mines and Energy, Ron Payne, was there. People celebrated with saffron cake and clotted cream. They also played a song called Trelawny.
The Fire and Rebuilding
The first statue stood tall until June 1, 2006. On that day, it was damaged by fire. A local teenager caused the fire, which spread to the statue's leg. The fire caused a lot of damage, and the statue had to be taken down.
Luckily, the statue was insured. The original artist, Ben van Zetten, agreed to rebuild it. He got help from another artist, Lawry Love Grima. The new statue was put back up on June 3, 2007. This was just over a year after the first one was destroyed. The new Map the Miner was built to be much stronger. The artist also said it looked even better than before!
What the Statue Looks Like
The original Map the Miner statue had a steel frame inside. This frame was connected to a strong concrete base. The artist then added layers of fiberglass over the frame. He used special tools to shape the statue's look. This whole process took about three months.
The statue is 7 meters (23 feet) tall. It shows a miner from the mid-1800s. He wears a felt hat and holds a mallet in one hand. He also has a pick over his shoulder. You can see a candle attached to his hat. He also wears spare candles around his neck. The new statue looks exactly the same. However, it is made using a special bronze material.
