Kapunda Information
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The town of Kapunda, is the location of the first significant copper mine in Australia's history. In 1838 when a sheep farmer stumbled over some 'moss- coloured stones' on land he didn't own, it turned out to be a 'gold mine' for South Australia, or more correctly, a copper mine. Incredibly, Dutton and his partner, Bagot, had to keep their find a secret for two years while the assay results confirming it as copper ore returned by sea from Wales. In fact, to this day it stands as the highest grade found anywhere in the world. So they then bought the land around Kapunda, announced their discovery, and built Australia's first mining town. It is said that the million pounds worth of copper it produced saved South Australia from bankruptcy.
The Kapunda Heritage Trail leads you on a 10 kilometre tour through the history and development of Kapunda. Walk through the old mine area, past tunnels, open cuts, and miners' cottages. Don't miss the fascinating two-storey folk museum - regarded as the finest in Australia. It has an extensive display of agricultural machinery and a motor pavilion. Among other motoring memorabilia, the pavilion features Kapunda's old fire engine and ambulance. Bagot's Fortune is a brilliant interpretive display of the mining history with a working-scale model of Kapunda's original Cornish Bull Pumping Engine.
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On the southern edge of town, visit 'Map Kernow', an eight-metre high bronze statue constructed as a tribute to the miners. Admire the many buildings adorned with magnificent 'Kapunda lacework', and discover the history of the mining and pastoral empires centred on and near the town. Anlaby Station, originally settled by the Dutton family, is a magnificent example of the latter.
Kapunda is also renowned as once being the home to Australia's 'Cattle King', Sir Sidney Kidman, for more than 40 years. His presence has been etched in the Kapunda community in many ways. From holding horse sales, reputed to be the largest such sales in the world, to the benevolent donation of his family home to the Education Department for use as a high school.
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