The old South Australian copper mining town of Burra boasts one of the best-preserved Victorian-era streetscapes in the country and has become a major draw for history-loving grey nomads.
But it is not just the stone architecture, grand civic buildings, and superb museums – all of which offer a fascinating glimpse into an affluent past – that this friendly community has got going for it. Burra is also a thoroughly modern service centre with shops, cafes, a great selection of camping options, and it also sits in the stunning Clare Valley.
Located 160 kilometres or so north of Adelaide, it was established as a single-company mining township following the discovery of copper here in the mid-19th century, and then grew into a collection of settlements that became known as ‘The Burra’.
The region has a history of mining. PIC: South Australia Tourism Commission
The area drew miners from around the world – particularly from Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Germany – and the Monster Mine was once the largest metals mine in Australia, reportedly producing some 50,000 tonnes of copper from 1845 to 1877.
Today, evidence of those boom times is everywhere. A lot of the original private residences have benefitted from continual occupation, and many of the mine structures and chimneys, as well as public buildings, are also extraordinarily well preserved.
Among the many, many highlights are the Monster Mine Site; Morphett’s Engine House; Burra Market Square Museum; Redruth Gaol; the old miners’ dugout cottages in the creek bank; the Unicorn Brewery Cellars which date back to 1873; the Bon Accord Mining Museum; the Burra Town Hall; and the restored railway station which was built in 1870 and now also houses a very impressive Diprotodon display.
Perhaps the most famous historical site though is the old Cobb & Co. depot located a few kilometres out of town that famously featured on the cover of Midnight Oil’s 1987 ‘Diesel and Dust’ album. The best way to get to grips with it all is to buy the Burra Heritage Passport from the visitor centre. Costing $30 for adults and $25 for concessions, it allows access to locked National Heritage-listed sites.
Burra’s historic buildings and landscapes are a photographer’s dream. PIC: Pamela Inverarity / South Australia Tourism Commission
Also well worth a look is the Burra Regional Art Gallery. As previously mentioned, there are some fascinating shops and excellent places to eat and drink in and around Burra, including the Bon Accord Hotel which was built in 1874.
The pub allows free unpowered camping out the back with the purchase of a meal, and it offers powered sites for $35.
For a small town, Burra is blessed with plenty of grey nomad camping choices. Options include the Burra Caravan Park, the Burra Showgrounds, the Booborowie Recreation Ground which is about 20 minutes north west of town, and Duncan Park at Farrell Flat which is about 20 minutes to the south west. A little further afield, there’s the Hallett Recreation & Camping Ground and Eudunda Caravan Park.
Also known as an agricultural centre, Burra is situated in the magnificent Clare Valley with its fantastic wineries, walking trails, superb drives, incredible lookouts, and numerous historic villages.
And one of the richest megafauna sites in Australia, at Red Banks Conservation Park, is also on the doorstep. Here, visitors can take the fascinating ‘Landscapes of Change’ interpretive walking trail which follows the path of the diprotodons, which lived here until about 65,000 years ago.
In other words, Burra’s got the lot!
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