18/3 Burra

 

    

    Leaving Lake Bonney , it was overcast but no rain , which was good . The drive was interesting , we've always said we'd like to see this area when it's green , but it's always been dry and parched when we've come through previously . The countryside was turning green , large open spaces were green , there was water laying around in places and all the vegetation looked like it wanted to be here , just what we've wanted to see . Arriving in Burra , we made our way to the showgrounds to stay for a couple of nights . You can see how much rain they've had here , water still lying around and mud from previous vehicles . 

   Next day I got the bike out to get some exercise . Burra is a funny town , seemingly split into 2 sections . I rode around , checking out the beautiful old stone buildings and pubs .  

    The stonework in these buildings is quite impressive .

    A lot of these buildings were for the copper mine that was just over the hill in this photo .

Another great example of the stonework .

  Here's one of the old smoke stacks from the mine .

    The mine looked to be an interesting place , so I rode up the hill and into the old mine precinct . Some parts have been preserved , others , well not so much .

    This is the section of Burra we are in .

   And this is the other side of town , where most of the shops are .

    This preserved building - Morphetts Engine House - is also a museum , you can get a passport at the visitor information centre , that gives you a key to access inside here as well as other places around town - I had forgotten about that , and it was a bit late to go and get one - I just rode around the old mine site instead . The engine house has been rebuilt , as a fire did a lot of damage to the old one .

The stone work is still intact , the timbers are slowly disappearing .

Powder magazines are always interesting , the lengths they had to go to to make sure the were no sparks , and limited access was amazing . The stonework here impeccable still !

These are some of the old building remains perched on the side of the open pit .

    This is the side of the museum building that the key gives you access to , through the locked gate and door.

                                     Beside this building is an old smelter flue tunnel 

    Another view of the Powder Magazine on top of the hill and various levels of buildings beside the pit .  

   The weather looked like closing in again , so I did a tactical retreat back to the van , another day down in our trek back west . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1oW2oaa5Y0yXbuMp642FGKYIKZkG6VQA&usp=sharing