Copper was discovered at Moonta in 1861 by Patrick Ryan and the Moonta Mining Company began operations a year later. The ore mined here was different from that at the nearby Wallaroo Mine at Kadina. The Wallaroo Mine is in softer rock and the ore contained about 11% copper compared to 20-30% from the Moonta ores.

At Moonta, within about 800 metres (half a mile) there are five significant lodes: Elder's lode with Taylor's, Stuckey's and other shafts was the richest. At the southern end of this and to the west was Beddome's and Green's, also considered highly productive. There were other valuable deposits adjacent to these as well. The mine offices, stables and mine captain's house are in the middle of this site. Underground there was a maze of levels and tunnels where the ore was worked. Taylor's shaft was the deepest descending to 762 metres (2,500 feet). It is estimated these tunnels could have reached to Adelaide 160 kilometres away. 5,000 tons of ore valued at 67,000 pounds was mined at Moonta in the first year.

In 1889 as world copper prices fell Moonta Mining and Wallaroo Mines merged to form the Wallaroo and Moonta Mining and Smelting Company. At the time of the merger 5.6 million pounds value of ore had been mined from the Moonta Mines alone and by the time the mines closed in 1923, 6.25 million tonnes had been mined.

State heritage areas of South Australia: Moonta Mines State heritage Area

Postcards: Moonta: in Australia's Little Cornwall

South Australia: Yorke Peninsula. Moonta