Local history has been preserved after the replacement of a historical plaque, which was stolen from its cairn last year.
The replica plaque was unveiled at a ceremony held on the spot shepherd James Boor discovered copper on Monday, October 2023, exactly 100 years since the closure of the Wallaroo Mines.
The plaque was unveiled by Copper Coast Council mayor Roslyn Talbot and local history volunteer Ken Rudd following a donation from the Apex Club of Kadina to fund its replacement.
The original Cairn was unveiled by Sir Walter Duncan MLC on October 8, 1960 to celebrate the centenary of copper discovery in the region.
Mrs Talbot said the discovery was incredibly significant to the establishment of the surrounding area and congratulated Mr Rudd on his dedication to ensuring local history was maintained.
“The discovery of copper led to lots of developments here on the Wallaroo Mines and I’ve been fortunate enough to read Keith Bailey’s book title James Boor’s Bonanza,” Mrs Talbot said. “There were lots of stories out here but I think what was brought home for me was the community and the communities which were established – everyone helped each other and worked together. That is what we still do and it is why the Copper Coast is still as as strong and as great a place as it is. With the mines being such a significant part of our heritage, it is really improtant those stories are kept alive. Monuments and books, like the one Mr Bailey has written, are all part of those stories and (the unveiling of the new plaque) will be another piece wich helps to keep the story of Wallaroo Mines alive.”
Mr Rudd, a former Department of Environment and Water employee, thanked supporters of the project for their assitance in restoring the plaque in time for the centenary of the mine’s closure. “It was actually the World Heritage Listing process of Moonta Mines which got me out here and is how I originally noticed the plaque had gone missing,” Mr Rudd said. “I came to check on a few biological control sites of pest plats out here (at the mine site) before I went along to a meeting at Moonta. I thought I better make sure I had stocks so I came out only to see the area was all overgrown by the bushes and, lo and behold, the plaque was missing.”
Article used with permission from Michael Ellis, Managing Director of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Article: “Ceremony marks centenary of mine closure,” Will Hunter, Tuesday 24 October 2023
Image: “Copper Coast Council mayor Roslyn Talbot with local history volunteer Ken Rudd at the unveiling of a replacement plaque which marks the spot shepherd James Boor discovered copper.” Provided my the Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Read the article online here https://www.ypct.com.au/news/ceremony-marks-centenary-of-mine-closure
