Mining Chimneys - Who Made them?
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 12:29
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Hi Everyone
Seeing we can not have Doug's Sunday History any more, here is a bit of history that some may or may not be aware of.
Two posts below, Eugene asked what the symbol was on the EO Topo maps. There were a number of replies and he now knows that it is to do my our mining history, as shown with a screen shot of the historic town of
Burra, less than a 30 minute drive from our
home here in
Clare.
EO Topo screen shot of Burra, shown the Chimney Icon.
With the discovery of copper back in 1845, this saved the new Colony of South Australia from financial ruin.
Miners came from thousands of kilometres away to make a living from this new discovery, and two unique styles of chimneys were built and can still be seen today.
Many or most people will never take any notice of them, and this applies not just to
Burra, but other important mining areas around Australia.
The round Chimneys that were built were unique to the Cornish Stonemasons and the square Chimneys were unique to the Welsh Stonemasons.
So next time you visit an old mining site, impress yours friends and tell them who made those unique chimneys.
Cheers
Stephen
Round Cornish Chimney in Burra.
The unique Welsh square style Chimney
A unique Cornish round Chimney in Moonta, South Australia.
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 15:47
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 15:47
.
G'day Stephen,
Being a 4th generation South Australian, I
well knew of the cultural
heritage of
the chimneys in the 'Copper Triangle' area of SA.
But I was not aware of the significance of square versus round chimneys.
Ya' learn somethin' new every day. Thanks Stephen.
AnswerID:
611976
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 17:20
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 17:20
Hi Allan
It is not just the Copper Triangle. For me, and for some stupid reason I did not include the image, but will now, is the intact
ruins at Nuccaleena in the
Flinders Ranges.
The
ruins there are unreal and to think that the
mine life there was around 2 years. I always think how did they get their supplies into this remote region, and set about to building all the
infrastructure.
I bet it is nice and warm up your way, not like the frosts every morning down here.....lol.
Cheers to to and Roz.
Stephen
Nuccaleena Ruins, Flinders Ranges
Nuccaleena Ruins, Flinders Ranges
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 17:41
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 17:41
.
Yep Stephen, 14min 24max today. Bit hard to take these winter temps!
Cheers
(Hello Fiona)
Al
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - David M (SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 18:25
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 18:25
Top photo's Stephen. Something rings a bell about the
Powder Magazine on site being the first in South Australia / Australia. Any thoughts.
Cheers,Dave.
PS. Think I prefer the Welsh construction. Looks a bit more professional. :)
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 20:02
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 20:02
Hi Dave
Yes indeed the
Burra Powder Magazine is Australia's oldest mining building ever built and was completed in November 1847.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers
Stephen
Burra Powder Magazine - Australia's oldest mining building
Burra Powder Magazine - constructed in 1847
This plaque is on the Burra Powder Magazine
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 21:20
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 21:20
.
There's no doubt about you Stephen.
Mention a feature and you will promptly put up a photo of it.
I wish my photos were as extensive and as
well catalogued.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 21:51
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 21:51
Hi Allan
I bet your photo library is very
well organised. It was when I put this post up, I knew where to put my hand straigh on the images I needed.
As for your weather, it sound just perfect, and half your luck.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: DiggZ - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 16:05
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 16:05
Did a welshman start the top one. ;)
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 17:23
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 17:23
Hi DiggZ
That is a very good question, and one that I can not answer.
The ones up the Flinders ( see my reply to Allan ) and the ones at
Moonta all have a round base, so it does make you wonder.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Member - Andrew L1 (SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 18:05
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 18:05
Mt Rose
Mount Rose copper
mine up in the northern Flinders
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 20:03
Sunday, Jun 18, 2017 at 20:03
Hi Andrew
Cheers for that image, and by all accounts, the Welsh were busy up that way.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: Genny - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 01:35
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 01:35
Old copper smelter chimneys exist at Glassford Creek, near
Many Peaks. I guess they were Welsh .. :)
Glassford Creek
AnswerID:
611983
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 14:27
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 14:27
Hi Genny
Thanks for that and from I have found, the square chimneys were unique for the Welsh Stonemasons.
Thanks your your time to include that very interesting link.
Cheers
Stephen
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Reply By: 9900Eagle - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 04:41
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 04:41
Stephen, now you have to tell us who designed the Mt
Morgan stack which is octagonal. Was it a collaboration between the welsh and the cornish.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 09:26
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 09:26
No Eagle, it was built by the Octogenarians. LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 14:33
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 14:33
Hi Eagle
The only information I could find out about
Mount Morgan is that they started mining in 1882 and the Welsh stonemason were active in the construction of facilities in the area.
I hope this helps
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: 9900Eagle - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 15:20
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 15:20
Stephen, if you ever get the chance have a look through Mt
Morgan as it is an upside down
Lark Quarry, dinosaur prints are visible in the roof where they mined fire clay. I don't know if the guides can take you in anymore as I did here the department of mines closed the cavin due to a couple of
rock falls.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:12
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:12
Hi Eagle
The site looks unreal when I read about it at lunchtime on dear mr Google.
Cheers
Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:28
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:28
Hi Eagle
That
old mine site at
Mount Morgan got me thinking, as I was sure I had seen that type of
chimney or stack before, so I started looking through my photos.
Have a look at the two styles that they used at
Chillagoe Site up in Queensland.
Cheers
Stephen
The Chillagoe Mine site
The usually round one at the top of the hill
Then this one at the bottom of the site - and looks very similar to the one at Mount Morgan
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - TonyV - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 13:12
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 13:12
Strange that something I was told many years ago as a west country boy in the UK clicks the old memory button into rewind...
In the 70's I went to do some HVAC work in a
mine and asked an old fella why the stacks were round, as the area I came from
Gloucester had a mixture of round an square.
He told me:
Round stacks building labour cost more than twice as much to build as square chimneys per 1000 bricks.
Square stacks are cheap to build, but because the way that smoke swirls in the
chimney, a square
chimney must be higher to get the draw to get the coal fire hot.
There was an abundance of coal in Wales so inefficient stacks made little operating cost difference.
Square chimneys also are less suited to high wing areas.
Cornwall, unlike Wales had to ship its coal from
Derby or Wales for smelting, that became costly, so the more efficient round 'Cornish' round
chimney were built and they could be shorter and stronger in coastal areas where there is high winds. Have you ever seen a square light house?
I didn't ask why the forge and office was square, but out of respect I left it, I did also find out that the Tin Miners also built stacks to vent the mines, there was no gas like coal but good fresh air cooled the
mine and got rid of much of the dust.
Cornish Tin Mine
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 14:00
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 14:00
.
........."Have you ever seen a square light house?"........
Err, yes Tony.
Cape Borda lighthouse, Flinders Chase,
Kangaroo Island.
Admittedly, not very tall, but square.
But what you said made sense.
Cape Borda lighthouse, KI
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyV - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 15:43
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 15:43
Allan, maybe built by the Welsh...
His rhetorical question regarding light houses was in reality quite
well founded. No such thing as Google in the 70's.
There is many, many square light houses, but few tall ones.
Ironically there was a 75mtr tall square light house only about 60
miles east of where we stood talkin at Gribben or Gribbin Head.
Like my late father many UK country folk, except for WWII, never travelled much, so I doubt he knew it was even there, which is a little sad.
Gribbin or Gribben Light house Cornwall
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Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 17:10
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 17:10
And if we were to forget about the 'cost' even way back then schoolboy physics told them a Circle is stronger than a Square .....
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:10
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:10
Hi Tony
Thanks for that very interesting reply and those images look great.
One thing that is strange was the value per 1,000 bricks.
Like that great image from Cornwall of the
old mine site,
the chimneys that I have seen in
Burra,
Moonta and the Flinders Rangers do not consist of bricks, but local stone that was quarried on site and then hand cut to shape, so the cost of bricks would have nothing to do with the cost of production.
I marvel at the sheer beauty of the work of those stonemason and it was a real art for sure.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
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Reply By: cruza25 - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 17:16
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 17:16
In Cornwall they are called Stacks not chimneys.
A
mine usually had 3 stacks, pumping, hauling and stamping.
Chimneys are on houses .
The round shape is more efficient that's why the Cornish used it because they had no coal of their own and had to transport it all in.
In Wales they had lots of coal so just built square ones as they were cheaper to build.
Cheers
Mike
AnswerID:
611991
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:14
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:14
Hi Mike
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers
Stephen
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882059
Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:12
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:12
Thanks Stephen, you might end up getting a new job!
Stack at Mt Mulligan Mine, North Qld.
Beehive Kiln(?), also at Mt Mulligan. North Qld.
Took these photos about 2 years ago. Mt Mulligan is the site of a 1921
mine disaster when 75 miners lost their lives in a coal dust explosion. Sombre sort of place these days but
well worth a visit if you're in the area.
The
mine started in 1913, was worked until 1921, then re-opened in 1923, and worked by the State Government till 1957.
Looks like the Cornish built this stack?
Bob
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:19
Monday, Jun 19, 2017 at 20:19
Hi Bob
Thanks for that and thanks for your reply.
Old mining site are always of interest to me and have spent many hours looking through some old sites.
Cheers
Stephen
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