This impressive 1878 stone edifice was once the Moonta Mines Model School and had 1100 students. These days it's the centrepiece of the sprawling Moonta Heritage Site, and captures mining life – at work and at home – in intimately preserved detail. A little tourist train chugs out of the museum car park at 2pm on Wednesday, and 1pm, 2pm and 3pm on weekends (adult/child $12/5; daily during school holidays).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Miner's Cottage

0.41 MILES

This fully restored 1870 mud-and-grass miner's cottage and garden is part of the sprawling Moonta Heritage Site, 1.5km east of town. It's typical of the…

2. Farm Shed Museum

9.16 MILES

Behind the Copper Coast Visitor Information Centre is this curious collection of old farming, mining and domestic bits and pieces. Well worth an hour or…

3. Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum

10.12 MILES

Down by the water, the stoic 1865 post office now houses the Wallaroo Heritage & Nautical Museum. There are several of these little National Trust museums…

4. Barley Stacks Wines

27 MILES

Around 14km south of Maitland, Barley Stacks is further proof that you can make great wine pretty much anywhere in South Australia (below a certain…