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Visiting Moonta Mines State Heritage Area

The Moonta Mines State Heritage Area showcases the history and remnant features of South Australia's largest copper mining enterprise, and of the associated settlement of Moonta Mines. It is one of Yorke Peninsula's major tourist attractions and offers a number of visitor experiences, managed largely by the Moonta Branch of the National Trust.

View from Richman's Tailings Heap, Moonta Mines
View from Richman's Tailings Heap, Moonta Mines

The Railway Station is now a Visitor Information Centre, and is an ideal 'gateway' to the State Heritage Area. The former Moonta Mines Model School is an acclaimed National Trust Museum, and a nearby cottage offers a glimpse into the lives of the early mining families. Visitors can opt for a guided tour of the Wheal Hughes Mine or hop aboard the tourist railway that links many of the old mining and processing sites.

This State Heritage Area can also be explored independently, following maps or a booklet available from the Information Centre. There are numerous interpretive panels at key sites, and the spectacular view from the lookout at Richman's Tailings Heap offers a panorama of the mine site. A drive around the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area is easily a whole-day activity.

Accommodation and dining options are not provided within the State Heritage Area, but are readily available in Moonta or other nearby towns.

View detailed information about the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area.

Virtual Tour

  State Heritage Area boundary Moonta Mines State Heritage Area boundary
Arrow symbol Click on the arrows to see the photograph of each view or access links below

Map of Moonta Mines State Heritage Area Visitor information is available from the National Trust office at the former Moonta Railway Station Former Moonta Railway Station Moonta Mines Tourist Railway passing beneath the disused broad gauge line View south along the Tourist Railway through Ryan's Tailings Heap Memorial plaque and windlass at Ryan's Shaft Ore Floor near Ryan's Shaft Tourist Railway approaching Ryan's Tailings Heap Rear section of the old Miner's Cottage in Verco Street Schoolmaster's cottage of the former Moonta Mines Model School Museum (former Moonta Mines Model School) Sweet Shop Tourist Railway Station and Office View from the top of Richman's Tailings Heap looking north-west towards Spencer Gulf View from the top of the Richman's Tailing Heap looking south towards Hughes Pump House and Chimney Tourist lookout at the top of the Richman's Tailing Heap Richman's Engine House ruins Ruins of the Moonta Mines Model Sunday School Moonta Mines Uniting (former Weslyan Methodist) Church, Sunday School Building and Fence, Milne Street Ruins of the Engine Pool associated with Hughes Pump House Former Hughes Pump House and Chimney Interpretation panels at Hughes Pump House site, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area Moonta Mines State Heritage Area sign on Gunliffe to Moonta Road

NB. This map is a diagrammatical representation of the Moonta Mines State Heritage Area.

  1. Visitor information is available from the National Trust office at the former Moonta Railway Station, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  2. Former Moonta Railway Station, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  3. Moonta Mines Tourist Railway passing beneath the disused broad gauge line, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  4. View south along the Tourist Railway through Ryan's Tailings Heap, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  5. Memorial plaque and windlass at Ryan's Shaft, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  6. Ore Floor near Ryan's Shaft, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  7. Tourist Railway approaching Ryan's Tailings Heap, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  8. Rear section of the old Miner's Cottage in Verco Street, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  9. Schoolmaster's cottage of the former Moonta Mines Model School, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  10. Museum (former Moonta Mines Model School), Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  11. Sweet Shop, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  12. Tourist Railway Station and Office, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  13. View from the top of Richman's Tailings Heap looking north-west towards Spencer Gulf, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  14. View from the top of the Richman's Tailing Heap looking south towards Hughes Pump House and Chimney, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  15. Tourist lookout at the top of the Richman's Tailing Heap, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  16. Richman's Engine House ruins, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  17. Ruins of the Moonta Mines Model Sunday School, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area - note the tailings heap in the background
  18. Moonta Mines Uniting (former Weslyan Methodist) Church, Sunday School Building and Fence, Milne Street, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  19. Ruins of the Engine Pool associated with Hughes Pump House, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  20. Former Hughes Pump House and Chimney, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  21. Interpretation panels at Hughes Pump House site, Moonta Mines State Heritage Area
  22. Moonta Mines State Heritage Area sign on Gunliffe to Moonta Road - note Hughes Pump house and Chimney in the distance