Joanna Tucker, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

After years of hard work, the Moonta Mines Cornish mining sites have been added to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, along with mine sites at Burra.

This listing was announced on September 6 and is a significant step towards achieving World Heritage protection for the two historic areas.

Next, a 300-page dossier will need to be completed by August, 2025 to support the official nomination for World Heritage.

In 2017, Moonta and Burra were both given National Heritage status, but will now have to pass UNESCO’s selection process.

If approved, both mining sites will be the second and third places in South Australia to receive World Heritage status.

This follows a lengthy process  by Copper Coast Council, the National Trust of South Australia and the Regional Council of Goyder.

NTSA Moonta branch’s Graham Hancock has been involved in the process since its inception in 2009.

“This is by far the most exciting step that has to be made,” he said.

“On a personal level, I am overwhelmed and overjoyed.”

Mr Hancock said the wider community would reap the benefits of the tentative listing.

The next steps for bid proponents would include looking at potential grants to continue to improve the historic sites.

“There is an immense amount of work being done at the Moonta Mines Museum for instance, both inside and out, so it further suits the interpretation for World Heritage Listing,” Mr Hancock said.

“It has been a pleasure to work with our council towards this common goal.

CCC mayor Roslyn Talbot said she was grateful to the community and Federal Government for their support of the Moonta Mines World Heritage bid.

“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,” mayor Talbot said.

“We are grateful to all the arms of community and government that have rallied around this World Heritage bid.”

Regional Council of Goyder mayor Bill Gebhardt said achieving World Heritage listing would be a game changer.

“Tentative listing will undoubtedly draw visitors from near and far, eager to explore the rich history and cultural significance of these sites,” Mr Gebhardt said.

“These two historic sites provide an unparalleled glimpse into the past and are the finest examples of Cornish mining and Welsh smelting technology as it spread across the world in the 1840s.

“Achieving a World Heritage listing for Australian Cornish mining sites at Burra and Moonta would help secure and preserve these iconic locations.”

Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek said the Moonta and Burra mining sites showcased Australia’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 (at Naracoorte) in South Australia,” she said.

“Burra and Moonta were at the forefront of deep mining practices, especially the creative application of steam power.

“A World Heritage listing would help preserve and protect these precious sites, to be enjoyed by our kids and grandkids.”

State environment minister Susan Close said she was delighted to see the iconic mining sites getting the recognition they deserve.

“As a result of these mines, Cornish culture, language and literature has remained throughout the region, and we are proud to preserve and protect Burra and Moonta — ‘Australia’s Little Cornwall’.”

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 10 September 2024.