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The surface operations at the Burra Mine
Title : The surface operations at the Burra Mine The surface operations at the Burra Mine
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Creator : Gill, S.T. (Samuel Thomas), 1818-1880, artist
Date of creation : 1848
Format : Artwork
Dimensions : 220 x 100 mm
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
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Description :

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.

Subjects
Related names :

Gill, Samuel Thomas, 1818-1880

Burra (S. Aust.)

Coverage year : 1848
Period : 1836-1851
Place : Burra (S. Aust.)
Region : Mid North
Further reading :
Appleyard, Ron. S.T. Gill, the South Australian years 1839-1852, Adelaide: Art Gallery of South Australia, 1986

Auhl, Ian. The story of the 'Monster Mine': the Burra Burra mine and its townships, 1845-1877, Burra, S. Aust.: District Council of Burra Burra, 1986

Drew, GJ. Discovering historic Burra, South Australia, Adelaide: Dept. of Mines and Energy and the National Trust of S.A. (Burra Branch), 1988

Treloar, Frank. The Burra mine: reminiscences of its rise and fall, 1845-1877, Burra, S. Aust.: Printed at the Burra Record Office, 1929

Internet links :
The history of Burra [Burra History Group]

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