|
|
|
South Australia (Yorke Peninsula) |
| Wallaroo | |
| In
Aboriginal dialect, its name stemmed from Wadlu Waru, meaning wallaby's
urine. The squatters shortened that to Wall Waroo. The practicalities of
stencilling names on wool bales meant it was shortened to Wallaroo.
Copper was discovered here in 1859 by a shepherd and the mines, near the present site of Kadina, proved immensely rich. A smelter was built and during the peak of the mine's production life in the 1880s the ore extracted yielded an incredible 30% copper. |
|
| When
the mines stopped production in the 1920s, the main industry of the town
became the Wallaroo - Mount Lyell Fertilizer Company's operations.
Today, Wallaroo is the economic epicentre of the copper triangle towns, and has many fine examples of colonial architecture. Guided tours through the town's streets are available, with guides from the Wallaroo Museum available on weekends, alternatively a copy of the guide sheet is available from the museum for visitors who prefer to see the town at their own pace. The Wallaroo Mines site is also open for a sign-posted walking tour. KERNEWEK LOWENDER (May 2001) |
|
| Every
two years the townships of Kadina, Moonta
and Wallaroo, which form an area known as the copper triangle on northern
Yorke Peninsula, honour their Cornish heritage by holding the Kernewek-
Lowender Cornish Festival. Events are held in each of the towns and
include a village green fair and furry dance at Kadina, Celtic games,
caber tossing and putting the slag stone at Wallaroo and a procession and
carnival to round off the celebrations in Moonta. Cornish pasties and the
famous local brew "Swanky" are in abundance.
WALLAROO NAUTICAL MUSEUM |
|
| This National Trust museum is divided into sections depicting 'Wallaroo's long and colourful history. The main building contains extensive displays of the famous copper smelting era (1860-1923). It was built in 1865 as the towns's first post office and contains displays of postal, telephone and municipal history. The maritime complex outlines the entire history of the port. | |
|
|