Reinterpretation of the discovery of Captain Bagot’s Mine, Kapunda
Greg Drew presented on 20 March 2018 'Reinterpretation of the discovery of Captain Bagot’s Mine, Kapunda'
The Kapunda Mine, about 80 km north of Adelaide, commenced operations in January 1844, just seven years after the British colony of South Australia was proclaimed. It was to be the first successful mine in Australia, predating the much larger Burra Mine by almost two years. Its principal owner was Captain Charles Bagot, formerly of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who had immigrated to South Australia, due to social unrest in Ireland in the 1830s. His aim was to become a sheep farmer, but within three years of arrival he was a well-known mine owner and manager.
Bagot took possession of his survey in 1841 and began establishing a pastoral property, but in in late 1842, his youngest son made a chance discovery nearby of brightly coloured copper carbonate mineralisation. He had the land surveyed and subsequently purchased the property at auction, which gave him the mineral rights. The mine was rich from the outset, and was the first copper ore from Australia to be seen on the ore floors at Swansea, along with similar ores from Chile and Cuba.
The talk drew on the research from Greg's book 'Captain Bagot’s Mine: Kapunda Mine 1844-1916'
This free public lecture was part of the History Trust of South Australia's Talking History series. For upcoming events visit: history.sa.gov.au/whats-on/events/
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free