Shops in Moonta

Moonta SA 5558 (Pop 3 100)

Moonta is an historic former copper mining town on Yorke Peninsula’s Copper Coast. Together with neighbouring Kadina and Wallaroo, they form ‘Australia’s Little Cornwall’ due to all the Cornish mining migrants. Located 164 km n-w of Adelaide, Moonta’s original inhabitants, the Narrungga Aborigines, named the area ‘Moontera’ meaning ‘place of impenetrable scrub’. White settlement began in 1830s with copper discovered in 1861 by a shepherd named Paddy Ryan. Mining continued until 1923 although the Wheal Hughes Mine operated in 1980s. Today Moonta is an important agricultural service town with a growing tourist trade. Kernewek Lowender (Cornish festival) held with Wallaroo and Moonta (odd numbered years in May), Moonta Garden Fair (Oct) and Moonta Antiques & Collectible Fair (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic Moonta includes Moonta Hotel (1863), Cornwall & Royal Hotels (1860s), National Bank (1867), United Church (1870s), Freemasons Hall (1875).

Nearby:
Moonta Mines State Heritage Area (2 km s-e) comprises interesting Cornish displays and memorabilia at the Moonta Mines Museum, the Hughes Engine Pump House (1865), Wesley Methodist Church (1865) and the Miners Cottage and Heritage Garden.  Moonta Bay and Port Hughes (5 km west) for excellent jetty fishing, sailing, swimming and diving. 

Accommodation:
Moonta has 3 hotels, a motel, 2 B&Bs, several holiday apartments/cabins and 3 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Railway Station, Blanche Tce. Tel (08) 8825 1891.

Airports:
Port Pirie Aerodrome (PPI), off Port Pirie Rd. Tel (08) 8632 2261. (115 km north); Adelaide Airport (ADL), 1 James Schofield Dr, Adelaide Airport. Tel (08) 8308 9211. (170 km s-e).

Hospital:
Moonta Hospital, Majors Rd. Tel (08) 8825 2146.