Mining Tales and Mateship
Some places are made better by the company you keep, and Moonta was one of those stops. We pulled into the donation camp right in town to meet up with some great mates we’d crossed paths with earlier in our travels. A few laughs, shared meals, and a spot under the gums — the kind of nights that remind us how special road friendships can be.
Moonta itself is a town with real character. Beautiful old sandstone buildings line the streets, echoing its proud Cornish heritage. There's a sense of history that lingers, especially around the old copper mine precinct. We spent an afternoon exploring the Moonta Mines, wandering through what’s left of a once-bustling industrial hub. The most striking detail? The old slime pits — enormous pools where leftover mining sludge was stored — which are still so toxic that they don’t support life, even today.
It’s sobering stuff, but fascinating, too. The interpretive signs and displays helped us piece together the lives of miners and families who shaped this place.
Moonta left a strong impression — a mix of history, community, and a reminder of how good the road can be when you’ve got mates beside you.
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