Australian Cornish Mining sites at Burra and Moonta added to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Australian Cornish Mining Sites; Burra and Moonta have been added to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Being added to the Tentative List is the first step towards a World Heritage nomination. This marks an important milestone to further preserve and protect these sites for future generations.

Roslyn Talbot, Copper Coast Council, Mayor shared her excitement at the news, “We know there is still lots of work to be done but this announcement fills us all with hope that the future of these sites is secure, and that we are headed towards a World Heritage listing.”

In order to attain a UNESCO World Heritage Listing, sites must show they are of “outstanding universal value”, according to a variety of selection criteria. Talbot said the sites’ outstanding universal value related to the “transference of Cornish technological skills, and their mining skills, and their culture and how that has migrated from Cornwall here to Australia”.

The sites show the first major transfer of Cornish hard-rock mining and Welsh smelting technology in the 1840s. The distinctive high-pressure steam engine houses are icons of Cornish mining. The listing will support protection and preservation of the historic mines. Burra and Moonta accounted for 10% of the industrial metal’s total global production at one time. Both mines were important in the progress of mining in Australia and around the world

Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water. The Australian Cornish Mining Sites of Burra and Moonta showcase our country’s industrial history. I want to see them added to the World Heritage List alongside our other precious places like the Great Barrier Reef, and the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Naracoorte) in South Australia.”

The tentative listing is the result of years of work by the Regional Council of Goyder, National Trust SA and Copper Coast Council, which together partnered to establish the Australian Cornish Mining Sites World Heritage Consortium in May 2023. The bid must remain for at least 12 months before the government can nominate them for a world heritage listing.

Bill Gebhardt, Regional Council of Goyder, Mayor commented, “Achieving a World Heritage listing would be a game changer from a cultural, and economic perspective in Goyder, I’m sure our partners on the Copper Coast will echo that sentiment.”

Heritage SA Manager Beverley Voigt said it was wonderful to see the sites recognised, “The Burra and Moonta Cornish mine sites are two incredible examples of early deep mining practices and the use of steam power,” Ms Voigt said. “These mines help to showcase our state’s industrial history and a World Heritage listing would help to protect and preserve the sites for generations to come.”

Mining on traditional land had a large impact on the Ngadjuri people around Burra and the Narungga people on the Yorke Peninsula. Today, distinct beliefs, cultural practices, and languages are actively sustained. This listing will help to tell this important story of these lands and its peoples.

Throughout the nomination process, we will continue to work alongside:

• The South Australian Government.
• The Australian Government.
• Traditional Owner Groups.
• State & National heritage groups.

Enquiries:

Holly Cowan
Economic Development and Community Engagement Coordinator
Copper Coast Council
Ph: 8828 1200

Barb Button
Community Development Manager
Regional Council of Goyder
Ph: 8892 0100