This is Plate 31 of 60 coloured lithographs found in the 1847 edition of South Australia illustrated by colonial artist George French Angas, accompanied by a descriptive passage for each. The lithograph was created by J.W. Giles from Angas' original painting. The date assigned is assumed to be approximately when the lithographs were created; the original paintings were done in earlier years.

The Kapunda Copper Mine. Part of the text accompanying the illustration reads;

The annexed plate represents the Kapunda Copper Mine, as it appeared in March 1845; since that period the works have been greatly extended. Operations have been going on at this mine for a little more than two years ....

Kapunda was established when copper was discovered there in 1843. It lies approximately 77 km north of Adelaide near the Barossa Valley. Copper was mined from there from 1843 until 1879. There are also quarries near the town which provide fine marble ranging from dark blue to white.

Artist George French Angas painted some of the earliest views of South Australia. Arriving in Adelaide in January 1844, he rapidly set about an extensive series of journeys to the Murray Lakes, Barossa Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula and the South East, capturing his impressions of the young colony-its landscapes, its inhabitants and the flora and fauna.

After a trip to New Zealand he returned to South Australia in 1845 and travelled to Port Lincoln. With his impressive portfolio of water colours he then sailed for London and in 1847 published the magnificent folio South Australia illustrated, which has served ever since as a glowing snapshot of South Australia in 1844. The book contains 60 plates with accompanying text.

George French Angas (born 25 April 1822) was the eldest son of George Fife Angas, one of the men behind the establishment of the new colony of South Australia. However, the young Angas repudiated his father's world of commerce and determined upon a life involving art and nature, studying natural history art and lithography before embarking on his travels.Angas was in Sydney when gold was discovered near Bathurst. He travelled there to record the diggings and executed a number of drawings of the scene. These were published in Sydney and subsequently in London. For a number of years he was the Secretary of the Australian Museum in Sydney and a noted conchologist. He returned to South Australia in 1860, but ended his years in England where he published several books on Australia and Polynesia as well as illustrating accounts of exploration by John McDouall Stuart and John Forrest. He died in 1886.

Many of George French Angas's original watercolours are held in South Australian institutions: Art Gallery of South Australia; University of Adelaide; South Australian Museum; and Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.

Angas, George Fife, 1789-1879

Angas, George French, 1822-1886

Angas, G.F. South Australia illustrated London : Thomas M'Lean, 1847

Colwell, M and Alan Naylor. Adelaide: an illustrated history, [Joslin, S. Aust.]: McP, 1981

Insights into South Australian history, volume 2: South Australia's German history and heritage, Harmstorf, Ian A. ed, Adelaide: Historical Society of South Australia, 1992-

Kwan, Elizabeth. Living in South Australia: a social history, Netley, S. Aust.: South Australian Government Printer, 1987

Migration Museum. From many places: the history and cultural traditions of South Australian people, Kent Town, S. Aust.: Migration Museum (History Trust of S.A.) in association with Wakefield Press, 1995

Whitley, Gilbert P. Conchologists of the past. 2, George French Angas. [Melbourne?: Malacological Society of Australia?, 1969?]

Tregenza, John. George French Angas, artist, traveller and naturalist, 1822-1886. Adelaide: Art Gallery Board of South Australia, 1980

Kapunda South Australia Wikipedia