Yelta, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yelta South Australia
Yelta Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5558
LGA(s)	Copper Coast Council
State electorate(s)	Goyder
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Localities around Yelta: Cross Roads Paramatta Paramatta Moonta Yelta North Yelta Moonta Mines Moonta Mines East Moonta East Moonta
Footnotes	Coordinates

Yelta is a small country area in South Australia. It is located at the top end of the Yorke Peninsula. Yelta is like a small village next to the town of Moonta.

This area is famous for the old Yelta Mine. The official name and borders for Yelta were set in January 1999. It is part of the Copper Coast Council.

What is Yelta Used For?

The land in Yelta has two main uses. One part is for protecting old buildings and history. This is called cultural heritage conservation. The other part is for farming, known as primary production.

Protecting History

The western side of Yelta is part of a special historic site. This area is called the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area. Here, people must make sure that any new buildings or changes keep the area's old look and feel. It is important to protect its "historic character and cultural significance."

The old Yelta Smelter Ruins are also very important. They are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means they are officially protected because of their history. The bigger area around the smelter and mine was also listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Farming and Agriculture

The eastern side of Yelta is mostly used for farming. This means growing crops and raising animals like sheep or cattle. The farms in this area are usually quite large.

History of Yelta Mine

The Yelta Mine was a very important copper mine. It was worked at different times in history. The mine is located near the border with North Yelta.

Early Mining Days

Mining at Yelta started in 1864. A man named Henry Richard Hancock began small mining operations. The main copper deposit was found in 1868.

The Yelta Mining Company was started in 1864. By 1877, the mine had produced 1,700 tonnes of copper. It closed for a while because copper prices went down.

Reopening and Challenges

The mine reopened in 1903. A French company called Paramatta Copper Mines Ltd. took over. They thought the mine would be very successful. They made the mine and smelting plant better. They also connected the Yelta and Paramatta mines to the Balaklava-Moonta railway line.

However, the mine closed again in 1907. This might have been because copper prices dropped again that year.

Government Ownership

In 1910, the state government bought the mine. The government was led by John Verran. Many people hoped the mine would do well under government control. But it was not successful.

The mine closed for good in 1913. The mining machines were sold off in 1915 and 1920. Over its whole history, the Yelta Mine produced about 4,300 tonnes of copper.

Other Mining in Yelta

The state government also ran another smaller mine in eastern Yelta. This mine operated from 1906 to 1916.

Later, private groups worked this mine. It was called the Black Dog Mine from 1924 to 1929. It was also part of the Moonta Mining Scheme from 1929 to 1938. This mine produced an extra 1,920 tonnes of copper.