Special Council Meeting - City of Burnside

Landmarks of Burnside
Silver lead mining
Silver lead ore was discovered in the 1840’s on
various properties at Glen Osmond, the boundaries
of which became separate mines, the most famous
being Wheal Gawler, Wheal Watkins and Wheal
Glen Osmond.
Historically the Glen Osmond mines are of national
significance. Wheal Gawler was Australia’s first
metal mine and in April 1841 produced the first
mineral exports from this country, when 40 boxes of
galena (metal ore) were shipped to England.
The area is also the site of one of the earliest
smelters in Australia and the smelting chimney is
the oldest remaining mine chimney
in our state and possibly Australia.
Constructed in the late 1840’s, the
smelter was only in operation for two
years due to an exodus of miners to
the Victorian goldfields.
Although the discovery of copper at Kapunda (1842)
and Burra (1845) diminished the importance of this
area, the mines attracted Cornish miners as settlers
to South Australia. Reflected in this is the use of the
name Wheal, which is Cornish for mine.
Like the adjoining mines, Wheal Watkins ceased
operations in 1851. About 1,000 tonnes of ore were
produced, averaging 73% lead and 18 oz of silver
per tonne. The mine was reopened in 1888 and the
main shaft deepened from 91 metres to 128 metres
but was not found to be economically viable.
45
Preparing chimney for demolition, 1970
Mining at Glen Osmond c1845