Australian Cornish Mining Sites: Burra and Moonta welcome The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP to site
The Australian Cornish Mining Sites: Burra and Moonta (ACMS) Consortium was honoured to welcome the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water, and Senator the Hon Don Farrell, to Burra today as part of ongoing efforts to secure World Heritage status for these internationally significant sites.
Minister Plibersek’s visit follows the landmark inclusion of the ACMS on Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 3 September 2024, a major step towards international recognition of the region’s rich Cornish mining heritage. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase key heritage assets, including Morphett’s Enginehouse, and discuss the next steps in the nomination process.
During her visit, Minister Plibersek toured Burra’s iconic mine site and met with representatives from the ACMS Consortium, with discussions focussing on progressing a ‘Preliminary Assessment’ for submission to UNESCO by September 2025 and the importance of continued collaboration between State and Commonwealth governments, First Nations groups, and the local community. The Minister’s verbal commitment to securing a Preliminary Assessment slot in 2025 was the next critical step towards a full UNESCO World Heritage nomination, which the Consortium will be seeking in 2028.
The Minister also announced funding support of $128,000 through the Australian Heritage Grants Program Round 7 for the Enhancing Accessibility to Morphett’s Enginehouse and Burra Mine Shafts project. This investment will continue to protect, conserve and transmit the outstanding national heritage value of the Burra Mine Site and improve interpretation and public access to key heritage features.
“It is fantastic to receive funding to ensure that future generations will continue to learn from and enjoy the rich history of our National Heritage Sites. As we progress towards World Heritage recognition, these works are critical to protect and enhance our significant heritage” said Bill Gebhardt, Mayor Regional Council Goyder.
The ACMS Consortium, with guidance from World Heritage expert Barry Gamble, will finalise its Preliminary Assessment for endorsement by Consortium entities comprising Regional Council Goyder, Copper Coast Council and National Trust SA in May 2025. This will be followed by final comment from our First Nations, State and Commonwealth stakeholders, with the final version due to UNESCO by 15 September 2025.
“The Burra and Moonta mining sites tell an important story of Australia’s industrial heritage and the contribution of Cornish miners to our nation’s history. This is value added by other key attributes and features in both Burra and Moonta that also tell the cultural story of Cornish communities. The opportunities to tell these stories will be transformational for our local communities on a regional scale” Millie Nicholls, President, National Trust SA.
Chair of the ACMS Consortium, Mayor Talbot welcomed Minister Plibersek’s visit and ongoing support:
“Having Minister Plibersek on-site today and committing to our proposed timeline for preliminary assessment shows a firm understanding of the significance of Australian Cornish Mining Sites: Burra and Moonta on an international scale. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Australian Government to advance our World Heritage nomination and secure the recognition these sites deserve.”
Enquiries:
Holly Cowan
Economic Development and Community Engagement Coordinator
Copper Coast Council
Ph: 8828 1200