South Australia 17 May 2023

 Wed 17 May

This was a day of 'dressing of the Graves'. This link is for the 2025 dressing. It is about honouring ancestors buried in the cemeteries.

10am was dressing of graves at Kadina cemetery. FindAGrave for Kadina Cemetery. None of those honoured this year were my relatives (that I know).

Built 1876

Our host with the local school children's choir behind

It's a very flat cemetery, but has some interesting headstones

The crowd respectfully listening. Many people were dressed in historical garb for the event.

The delightful choir

My 2nd great-uncle and his wife

Charles and Mary Kessell

Top right my 3rd great grandmother Mary Ann KESSELL (nee HARRIS) 
and a 2nd great-uncle and his wife Alfred & Fanny KESSELL

1st cousin 3 times removed, Joseph BRAY & his wife Ada in the photo below.

We had lunch then went to Moonta in the afternoon, at pm dressing of the graves at Moonta cemetery. FindAGrave for Moonta Cemetery. I have nearly 70 known relatives buried here. Some of those are back on 15 May

After we did the self-guided driving tour around Moonta, visiting various historic sites and mining areas.

The cottages today are National Trust listed.

The main sign and a view of Moonta Mine around 1900

A path cobbled with rocks where the copper is showing

Shafts were everywhere on this old Moonta mining site

A survey mark

Hughes Boilerhouse is one of the major landmarks still standing

It looks impressive against the sky

But it's too dangerous to go inside

I guess this is some sort of ventilation shaft beside Darryl

Moonta Mines Uniting Church "Wesleyan Methodist" founded 1865

Moonta Mines Museum is currently undergoing renovations

Across the road is this cute Sweet Shop

This is the location of the wombat burrow where green stones were found that led to the discovery of copper, and the beginning of mining in the Copper Triangle.

Ryan's Tailing Heap - we walked up and along it

The tailings heap eroded at one end

A short drive away was Richmond's concentrating plant

A shaft in the foreground with Richmond's building and heap in the background

View of the ruin from the top of the heap

Carefully climbing down

Former Methodist Church at Cross Roads

Primitive Methodist Church at Cross Roads

Church Ruin, Deeble Street, Moonta