Copper was discovered at Nuccaleena by William Finke in the mid 1850’s. After the raising of finances from England, the Nuccaleena
Mine became partly operational in early 1860, when 100 tons of copper ore were mined in five weeks by only sixteen men. By March 1861, eighty six men were employed and working at the
mine site, including thirty six miners, five masons, four sawyers, two cooks and a medical officer. When these were built over 150 years ago, there was no modern machinery to lift these heavy stones into place.
The Great Northern Mining Company built a small town around the
mine site, where the miners and mechanics of the company resided. The township also boasted the Bushman’s Hotel, built by Charles Faulkner, as
well as a Mechanics/Mines Institute.
By 1863 JB Austin reported that apart from the above buildings, there were also the Captains apartments, office, stone stables, a goods store, smith’s
shop, a workshop,
general store, doctor’s house and about 20 good huts for the miners.
By 1866, the Nuccaleena
Mine had produced only £13,000 worth of copper ore, after the enterprise had expended £57,000 on the enterprise. Soon after, the
mine was abandoned as an enormous financial failure.
Camping
There is only one location for this trip where camping is permitted, and that is at the designated
camping area near the
Nuccaleena Mine Ruins. As you approach the "One Way"
sign and proceed up the incline, the
camping area is on your immediate right at the top of the
hill, as indicated by the camping
sign. There are no facilities here and if you intend to
camp here, you will have to bring your own water and other requirements. This is a
free camp site, with no fees payable. The only other locations where
bush camping is permitted is once back on the
Parachilna Gorge Road, there are dozens on magnificent locations to choose from.