Burra Monster Mine
The open-cut Burra Burra copper mine that saved colonial SA - an open-air museum of engine houses, chimneys and powder magazine.
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#1
The Best Heritage Sites in the Clare Valley
Copper mines, slate villages and colonial mansions that tell the valley's story.
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The Best Things to Do in Burra
A copper-mining time capsule of mines, dugouts, a gaol and Cornish stone.
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#6
Best things to do in Clare Valley
Riesling, ridgetop lookouts and copper-mining heritage across South Australia's most characterful wine country.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · source: South Australia Tourism (southaustralia.com) - Burra Mine Site
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Burra Monster Mine - frequently asked questions
What is the Burra Monster Mine?
The Monster Mine is the historic Burra copper mine, opened in 1845. Its rich copper deposit was one of the most important in colonial Australia and helped rescue South Australia from early financial difficulty.
Can you visit the Burra Monster Mine?
Yes. The mine site is part of the Burra Heritage Passport self-drive trail, with an open-cut lookout, the restored Morphetts Enginehouse Museum and interpretive signage explaining the mining history.
Why was Burra important to South Australia?
The Burra copper mine was so profitable in the 1840s and 1850s that its exports helped stabilise the young colony of South Australia, earning Burra a reputation as the town that helped save the colony.
Sources
- South Australia Tourism (southaustralia.com) - Burra Mine Site (accessed August 2026)
- Wikipedia - Burra, South Australia (accessed August 2026)
Image credits
- Azurite, Burra Mine, South Australia.jpg by JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons