Smelters’ Home Burra - Heritage Cottage

23/07/2026

Only 4 more days to engage with the Take a Chair exhibition at the Burra Regional Art Gallery. I was thrilled to see the responses so far.

14/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19NUkW7Deb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

22/06/2026

This month, 181 years ago, two shepherds changed the future of South Australia.

In June and July 1845, shepherds William Streair and Thomas Pickett discovered rich copper outcrops near Burra Creek. What began as a chance find soon sparked one of Australia's first major mining booms and led to the creation of the town we now know as Burra.

At the time, South Australia was struggling financially. The discovery of copper injected new life into the young colony, helping restore confidence and driving economic growth across the state. For a period, Burra became one of the most important mining centres in the world, producing enormous amounts of copper and helping fund the development of agriculture and pastoral industries across South Australia.

From a few pieces of green copper-stained rock came a town, a mining company, and hundreds of stories that still echo through Burra today.

Want to follow in the footsteps of how Burra began?

Grab a Burra Heritage Passport and explore the historic sites that tell the story of the copper boom, then visit the Bon Accord Mining Museum to discover the people, machinery and remarkable history that helped shape the town.

19/06/2026

14/04/2026

The Chair Repair Workshops are back. Come along this Saturday between 9:30am - 1pm for this free community event.

Come along and join us in repairing a range of chairs. Resources provided.

31/03/2026

Here are the details for the next print making workshops being held at the Smelters' Home during the school holidays.

02/03/2026