Copper was discovered by shepherds in the Burra area in 1845. By the late 1840s, Burra with its 'Monster Mine' had become established as one of the major copper producing centres in the world. The mine made a significant contribution to South Australia's early prosperity, and boosted the struggling economy of the new colony. It attracted investment, and immigrants-Cornish miners in particular-to South Australia. By 1851, 'The Burra' and associated townships formed Australia's largest inland settlement.

Samuel Thomas Gill was commissioned by the South Australian Mining Association to paint scenes of the Burra mine and townships. In 1840, Gill had established a studio in Adelaide and advertised for those 'desirous of obtaining correct likenesses of themselves, families or friends', animals, local scenery and residences, to contact him. He captured detailed scenes of colonial life in the streets of Adelaide and Melbourne, in the South Australian countryside and on the Victorian gold fields.

Gill, S.T. (Samuel Thomas), 1818-1880