david coombe history
SUMMARY: In April 1847 S.T. Gill sketched the Burra Burra Mine and its township Kooringa on behalf of the South Australian Mining Association (SAMA). He made seven views – three above-ground and four below-ground – for SAMA's board room. The pictures were well received and several SAMA proprietors ordered "copy" sets.
Article type: NARRATIVE, CATALOGUE & MAP
In this article ...
This is not a history of the Burra Burra Mine – that is thoroughly accomplished in Ian Auhl's The story of the 'Monster Mine' : the Burra Burra mine and its townships, 1845-1877 (see References below). I am dependent upon such authorities for much historical information. My main contribution through this article is to:
(Two other articles examine Gill's Burra views of 1845 and 1850 – links to these appear in this article.)
This map shows S.T. Gill's 1845, 1847 and 1850 pictures of the Burra Burra Mine and Township from their estimated viepoints. The map opens in another window and the reader may wish to have this at hand for reference.
In October 1845, painting for James Allen, S.T. Gill pictured the Burra Burra Mine at its beginning – S.T. Gill and James Allen, 1845 | Burra Burra Mine. The mine was worked from surface pits, in a natural and rural landscape, all manpower, no horsepower.
Less than two years later the mine owners, the South Australian Mining Association (SAMA), had transformed the Burra Burra Mine into an industrial scene and they commissioned Gill to show off the progress. He took seven views in April 1847:
The first three are above-ground views and the last four underground.
The first, "General View", is panoramic to the N.N.E. and shows the extent of mine workings. The hill featured in the 1845 picture is now denuded. The viewpoint is near the hillside dugout explosives store (featured in the image right foreground). Down the slope, at an angle to the viewer, is what appears to be the mine manager's building. Distant is a prominent two storey building which is SAMA's smelting house (later a store).1 These first smelting works were completed in April 1847 – the month of Gill's visit – but were abandoned by October. (Auhl 79)
The second, "Surface Operations", is a close-up of the first scene, but viewed from the opposite direction; the explosives store can be seen in the distance and the mine manager's building appears again as a locational anchor. A miner and a boss are engaged in conversation.
The third view is of SAMA's township of Kooringa, featuring the Burra Hotel, with "The Paddock" and garden opposite (Auhl 405), on Commercial Street (the road from Adelaide).
The remaining four scenes are the mine workings underground, highlighting the shafts named after SAMA's proprietors.
Gill's Burra excursion in April 1847 parallels that of a contemporary unidentified "visitor":
VISIT TO THE BURRA BURRA ... It would convey little information to strangers to name the different 'shafts;' I shall therefore omit them. The great mineral deposit, which induced the Company to purchase the land is situate at the North-western boundary of the twenty thousand acres, and is about eight miles from the Princess Royal mine which is at the southern extremity of the same Special Survey. In journeying thither, after leaving the 'Springs,' about 16 miles from the Burra, you cross a range of rather high hills, and proceed up a valley surrounded on every side by ranges of a very bare and bleak appearance, but of somewhat peculiar shape being all (more or less) pointed, peaked, or conical.
The productive workings are within a mile from the township (Cooringa), and all the shafts and workings might be included in a space of twenty acres, being principally situate in a contracted valley or basin. The visitor is at first surprised by the great heaps of ores of various colours and qualities awaiting removal (about 3000 tons when I was there). The blue carbonate and malachite, after being 'jigged' or sifted over water, are particularly bright and beautiful. These two ores vary much in consistence, some being friable while other specimens are as hard as flint. Near the principal shaft is to be seen a large pile of a dark red
copper ore as hard as granite. This is the produce of the 'Monster' lode, and the visitor may perceive the kibbles (worked by a single horse) giving motion
to a horizontal wheel of large diameter, successively rising and adding to the pile their contents, generally of the same variety of ore. From 200 to 250
men are employed either on the surface and in the mine, and a very busy company they appear to be.
Great quantities of logs are piled up for timbering the shafts and levels wherever required; the timber being felled at and brought from a wood twenty-five miles distant. I descended by means of a ladder, in one of the smaller shafts; and after a two hours' ramble underground, returned by the same means. The most sinking object below is what is called 'the great lode.' It is about twenty fathoms deep at present ... The drainage water is operated upon at about twenty-five fathoms from the surface, and is so limited in quantity as to be sufficiently kept under by an apparatus and a pair of bullocks working two 'water barrels' of the size of beer hogsheads, alternately ascending and descending. The height of the workings above the natural drainage is such, that no great influx of water is likely to occur at the deepest levels at present operated on. The explorations beneath the surface are made by driving levels about six feet by three, and by following any lode that is met with... The whole of the levels and workings near the principal lode may be visited from either shaft, as they are all connected, but it is difficult for a stranger to know which way to turn, for I suppose one might walk a mile and-a-quarter or more underground. Many of the old workings have been filled up, and some have fallen in. The main lode is all blasted with powder.
The smelting-house is complete, but not yet in operation... A number of stores and well-constructed, roomy, and lofty cottages form the Mining Association's township of Cooringa, where one may see the walls of the most spacious hotel yet undertaken in this province; and, I am pleased to add, a Wesleyan chapel is also building, to which are to be attached the requisite premises for a day and Sabbath school, to be conducted by one who is every way qualified for this useful and important office.2
Gill sketched Burra Burra on 12 April 1847 (according to the decorative watercolour labels that adorned his images). Back in Adelaide, he would have taken some time to finish the set for SAMA – seven watercolours, each with the title in a fancy label below the image, and possibly framed. By August SAMA had the first set hanging in their Waterhouse building office in Adelaide.
Mr Gill the artist has made seven interesting drawings at the Burra Burra Mines; two being surface views of the chief mining locality, one a view of the Association's township of Cooringa, and four sketches of the subterranean excavations, and the mining operations therein. The drawings form very appropriate adornments for the walls of the Directors' Room, and have been so much admired for their truthfulness and the artistical talent displayed, that several sets of copies have been ordered from the artist by the Burra Burra proprietors.3
SAMA paid Gill £15 8s. that month (Shute) which, if full payment for the seven picture series, was "a miserly sum even by 1847 standards".4 However there was further demand for "several sets of copies".
To make copies and retain the admired "truthfulness", Gill varied just the mobile elements – people, animals and vehicles. In the "General View" and "Kooringa" the prominent group of Aboriginal people is shown in differing numbers, activity and dress (animal skin cloaks, Government issued blankets or colonist shirts). In "Surface Operations" the miner and boss converse in different spots.
Apart from one picture dated 1848 all of the dated views note "(12) April 1847". As for a timeline, 12 April 1847 was likely the date of Gill's visit, though it would seem a mighty achievement to sketch all seven scenes in one day.
J.B. Graham, SAMA's largest shareholder, was one who obtained a "copy" set from Gill. He left South Australia for England at the beginning of 1848,5 presumably taking his watercolour set with him.
Another near-complete Burra set was exhibited by Gill at the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures in Adelaide (below is verbatim from Wilson and Borrow, Appendix M):
As these works are unlikely to have been Graham's, nor from SAMA's Directors' Room, the Exhibition suggest the existence of at least a third set. Despite this, only one version is known of "Neales's Stopes" and "Penny's Stopes", both of which belonged to Graham.)
Burra Burra Copper Mine | SLSA B 69728/1After reaching England J.B. Graham showed his pictures to the Illustrated London News which reproduced four on 2 December 1848: the views of Kooringa, the surface operations, Penny's Stopes and Neales's Stopes.6
Ongoing construction at the Burra Burra Mine led to a return visit by Gill in two and a half years. New developments dominated the landscape: the Patent Copper Company's smelting works and Roach's engine-house with its Cornish beam engine. Steam replaced horsepower. Gill returned to capture the progress: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1850.
Each of the above-ground views is represented in collections by five or six versions; but the underground views by just one or two versions. The positively identified clients are SAMA and J.B. Graham. SAMA Secretary Henry Ayers is also known to have owned a Burra series7 and some of the listed works may have originally belonged to him. If Montague Fetherstonhaugh was one of Gill's customers, his set may have disappeared below the waves in 1852 along with more than 2,000 ounces of gold! (See S.T. Gill, Penman & Co., Heads of the People.)
I haven't been able to personally view the AGSA and Burra RAG works to examine them, their backs or any decorative labels below the image. Some works I've only seen from book reproduction. I have relied on Appleyard and the institution catalogues for further information such as provenance. I particularly acknowledge the assistance of AGSA library with information on works which at the time of writing were not yet accessible from its online public catalogue.
To see these works, with accompanying notes, just scroll down or jump to the List of Works.
Appleyard, Ron. & Fargher, Barbara. & Radford, Ron. & Art Gallery of South Australia. (1986). S.T. Gill : the South Australian years, 1839-1852. Adelaide : Art Gallery of South Australia
Auhl, Ian. and Burra Burra (S.A.). Council. The story of the 'Monster Mine' : the Burra Burra mine and its townships, 1845-1877 / by Ian Auhl District Council of Burra Burra Burra, S. Aust 1986
Gill, Samuel Thomas. and Auhl, Ian. and Marfleet, Denis. Australia's earliest mining era, South Australia 1841-1851 / Paintings by S.T. Gill ; by Ian Auhl and Denis Marfleet Rigby Adelaide 1975
Gill, S. T. and Ratcliffe, Julian. and Burra History Group. and Burra Regional Art Gallery. The S.T. Gill Collection, the Burra Regional Art Gallery Burra History Group, Burra, S. Aust. 2010.
Government of South Australia. Location SA Map Viewer [showing Burra area heritage places] <https://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=138.92559565&y=-33.67956351&z=18&uids=95,102,180> Accessed 13 April 2022.
Shute, Jason (2013). "When is a Store not a Store? When it's a Smelting House" By Jason Shute, Flinders University / Journal of Australasian Mining History, Vol. 11, October 2013 <http://www.samininghistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/shute-2014.pdf>
Wilson, S. C. and Borrow, K. T. The bridge over the ocean : Thomas Wilson (1787-1863), art collector and mayor of Adelaide / [by] S. C. Wilson and K. T. Borrow S. C. Wilson and K. T. Borrow Adelaide 1973.
McDougall, Katrina. [Heritage] Register Research Programme 1981/82 : Former Smeltsyard and Store, Burra Environment SA 1982<http://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Content/Publications/10989_Research.pdf>
Mines and Energy South Australia. Burra Mine (pamphlet) Kitchener Press 1995. <https://www.walkingsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/burra-mine-broch.pdf> Accessed 13 April 2022.
1. "The building on the far right is the Mining Association's storehouse and storeman's residence. This building is still occupied." (Auhl & Marfleet, 76.) In his thorough and detailed 2013 article, Shute convincingly argues the store building was SAMA's early smelting house and cites a 26 August 1848 letter from SAMA Secretary, Henry Ayers, to mine superintendent, Thomas Burr: "The Directors intend having the Smelting House fitted out for a store of which you will receive particular instructions".
2. South Australian Register, 9 June 1847: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48543724>
3. South Australian Register, 14 August 1847: 3. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48546049>
4. Auhl & Marfleet, 82.
5. South Australian Register, 12 January 1848: 2. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48728746>
6. "The Illustrated London News." Illustrated London News, 2 Dec. 1848, p. [337]. The Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 1842-2003, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/HN3100020608/ILN?u=nla&sid=ILN&xid=81320d90. Accessed 9 June 2020. (The images appear on the newspaper's numbered page 340.)
7. South Australian Register, 28 December 1886: 6. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45854161>
You can scroll down to see all pictures along with detailed notes or click a link to jump to a specific work from the list.
A General View of the Burra Burra Mine, looking N.N.E., April 12th 1847 (SLSA B 6820) | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.651
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-07~ | Appleyard cat. 60.1 | 42.3(H) x 76.2(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: General Mine View NNE 1847
The picture is dominated in the centre by a denuded domed hill. The area around the base of the hill is crowded with surface mine workings, bullock drays and mine buildings. Explosives were stored in a temporary hillside dugout (right foreground) until a new hill top powder magazine was ready in December 1847 (Auhl 286). Down the slope, at an angle to the viewer, is what appears to be the mine manager's building. The two storey building (middle ground right) is the SA Mining Association storehouse. A group of Aboriginal people is prominent in the foreground.
This was the only one of the seven views not shown at the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures.
The link and image are to an SLSA photograph (B 6820) of the original work AGSA 0.651.
Version: This is the original version for SA Mining Association. Provenance: SAMA 1914. Includes decorative label below image: "A General View of the Burra Burra Mine, looking N.N.E., April 12th 1847".
361
A General View of the Burra Burra Mine, April 12th 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.1351
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 60 | 40.5(H) x 74.7(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: General Mine View NNE 1847 (AGSA 0.651).
Version: This version was for J.B. Graham. Provenance: Graham family, 1947.
Appleyard: Inscribed reverse: "J.B. Graham, Esq." Includes decorative label below image in watercolour: "A General View of the Burra Burra Mine, looking N.N.E., Apr'l 12th 1847".
228
A Panorama of the Burra Burra Mine, April 1847 | Burra Regional Art Gallery
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | (H) x (W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: General Mine View NNE 1847 (AGSA 0.651).
Provenance: Essington Lewis (son of John Lewis) 1944.
154
A general view of the Burra Burra Mine, looking N.N.E. | State Library of New South Wales XV*/Sp Coll/Gill/2
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 34.5(H) x 69(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: General Mine View NNE 1847 - this description is duplicated from AGSA 0.651.
The picture is dominated in the centre by a denuded domed hill. The area around the base of the hill is crowded with surface mine workings, bullock drays and mine buildings. Explosives were stored in a temporary hillside dugout (right foreground) until a new hill top powder magazine was ready in December 1847 (Auhl 286). Down the slope, at an angle to the viewer, is what appears to be the mine manager's building. The two storey building (middle ground right) is the SA Mining Association storehouse. A group of Aboriginal people is prominent in the foreground.
This was the only one of the seven views not shown at the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures.
Version and provenance not ascertained. Includes decorative label below image.
Map | S. T. Gill - Burra
538
A General View of the Burra Burra Mine | Art Gallery of South Australia 20063P12
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 31(H) x 44(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: General Mine View NNE 1847 (AGSA 0.651).
This work is squarer than the others of this view, resulting in a compression of this scene.
Provenance: Ian Howard Lloyd 2006. A family connection suggests this version may have belonged originally to Henry Ayers. Provenance family of Ayers (Source: World of Antiques & Art, The, No. 74, Feb-Aug 2008: 168-169).
"In 1914 Mr. Lloyd was appointed liquidator of the [South Australian Mining] association. On the walls of his office are interesting sketches by S. T. Gill, an early day artist of note, in 1847." (The Advertiser, 19 February 1936: 21. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74158159>.)
229
General view of the Burra Burra Mine, Apr. 12, 1847 | State Library of New South Wales XV*/Sp Coll/Gill/12
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 37(H) x 70(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: General Mine View NNE 1847 (AGSA 0.651).
Version and provenance not ascertained. Includes decorative label below image.
537
Burra Burra mines, 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.1903
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04~/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 43.2(H) x 74.9(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Mine Surface Operations 1847
View of the main portion of the surface operations of the mine. This is a close-up of the NNE scene, but from the opposite direction, making this approximately a SSW view. Half way up the far hill (background) is the temporary powder store dug into the slope; and the mine manager's building appears again as a locational anchor. A miner and a boss are engged in conversation. The mining activity is framed by many timber logs in the foreground. There are two horse-whims (middle ground), the first being erected in early 1847. The whims raised ore at night and water during the day.
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 21. View of the Principal Workings, Burra Burra.
Version not ascertained.
420
Burra Burra Mine, Showing main portion of the Surface Operations, April 12th 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.1355
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 61 | 40.5(H) x 74.6(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Mine Surface Operations 1847 (AGSA 0.1903).
Includes decorative label below image in watercolour: "Burra Burra Mine, Showing main portion of the Surface Operations, April 12th 1847". (Appleyard)
Version: This version was for J.B. Graham. Inscribed (reverse): "J.B. Graham, Esq.". Provenance: Graham family, 1947.Graham supplied this work for reproduction in the "Illustrated London News", 2 December 1848, p.340.
227
Burra Burra Mine, Panorama of Surface Operations, April 12th 1847 | Burra Regional Art Gallery
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | (H) x (W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Mine Surface Operations 1847 (AGSA 0.1903).
Provenance: H. Dingle 1939.
152
Burra Burra Mine showing main portion of Surface Operations | State Library of New South Wales XV*/Sp Coll/Gill/1
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 34.9(H) x 67.3(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Mine Surface Operations 1847 - this description is duplicated from AGSA 0.1903.
View of the main portion of the surface operations of the mine. This is a close-up of the NNE scene, but from the opposite direction, making this approximately a SSW view. Half way up the far hill (background) is the temporary powder store dug into the slope; and the mine manager's building appears again as a locational anchor. A miner and a boss are engged in conversation. The mining activity is framed by many timber logs in the foreground. There are two horse-whims (middle ground), the first being erected in early 1847. The whims raised ore at night and water during the day.
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 21. View of the Principal Workings, Burra Burra.
Version and provenance not ascertained. Includes decorative label below image.
Map | S. T. Gill - Burra
536
The Burra Burra Mine, 1847 | State Library of New South Wales V*/Sp Coll/Gill/15
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 34.9(H) x 72.5(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Mine Surface Operations 1847 (AGSA 0.1903).
Gill always includes Aboriginal people in this scene, however in this version they are only just visible (distance, lower left).
Version and provenance not ascertained.
235
Kooringa, the Burra Burra Township, 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.652
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-07~ | Appleyard cat. 59.1 | 42.3(H) x 77(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Kooringa Township 1847 (AGSA 0.1353).
Version: This is the original version for SA Mining Association. Provenance: SAMA 1914.
1
Kooringa, the Burra Burra Township, April 12th 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.1353
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 59 | 40.3(H) x 73.8(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Kooringa Township 1847
View about ESE to the Burra Hotel (middle right) and Kooringa (the township, centre). Behind the hotel is Birrell's brewery. Near to the right are stock- and stable- yards and a stable. The road from Adelaide (Commercial Street) enters from lower right. Across the road from the hotel is its paddock and nascent garden. The mining area is out of picture to the left. (The hospital now stands on the former Burra Hotel site.)
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 15. Township of Burra Burra.
Version: This version was for J.B. Graham. Provenance: Graham family, 1947. Graham supplied it for reproduction in the "Illustrated London News", 2 December 1848, p.340.
Appleyard: Inscribed reverse: "J.B. Graham, Esq." Includes decorative label below image, "Kooringa, the Burra Burra Township, April 12th 1847". Sheet: 40.3 x 73.8 cm. Image: 33 x 68.4 cm.
Map | S. T. Gill - Burra
225
A Panorama of the Township of Kooringa, April 1847 | Burra Regional Art Gallery
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | (H) x (W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Kooringa Township 1847 (AGSA 0.1353).
Provenance: Essington Lewis (son of John Lewis) 1944.
153
Kooringa, the Burra Burra Township | Art Gallery of South Australia 20063P14
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 31(H) x 44(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Kooringa Township 1847 (AGSA 0.1353).
This work is squarer than the others of this view, resulting in a compression of this scene. The front light of the hotel is present in this version but it is out of proportion to the building.
Provenance: Ian Howard Lloyd 2006. A family connection suggests this version may have belonged originally to Henry Ayers. Provenance family of Ayers (Source: World of Antiques & Art, The, No. 74, Feb-Aug 2008: 168-169).
"In 1914 Mr. Lloyd was appointed liquidator of the [South Australian Mining] association. On the walls of his office are interesting sketches by S. T. Gill, an early day artist of note, in 1847." (The Advertiser, 19 February 1936: 21. <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74158159>.)
232
Kooringa, the Burra Burra Township, 1847 | State Library of New South Wales XV*/Sp Coll/Gill/3
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 36.2(H) x 69.1(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Kooringa Township 1847 (AGSA 0.1353).
The front light of the hotel is unexpectedly missing from this version.
Version and provenance not ascertained.
397
Kooringa, the Burra Burra townshp [i.e. township] Aprl. 7th, 1848 | National Library of Australia NK155
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1848~ | Appleyard cat. n/a | 44.5(H) x 80.4(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Kooringa Township 1847 (AGSA 0.1353).
The front light of the hotel is unexpectedly missing from this version. The foreground bullock is branded "SAMA". Unique to this widest version is a horse in a yard behind which appears to be a cutting in the hill at right of picture above the stock- and stable- yards and stable.
This is signed l.l. STG in brown ink, beside which is "Apr 9th 1848" in black / brown ink – all by Gill. It is the exact same township scene as others dated ((12) April) 1847 with the exception of a few more buildings fronting Commercial Road and the fruit and vegetable garden which is now productive! The country also looks greener. Gill would not have undertaken a Burra trip in April 1848 for a better vegetable patch and there are other more likely explanations for the 1848 date. The date may may have been added by Gill later but in error. Perhaps the most convincing explanation is that Gill did paint this in 1848 for a client who'd missed out earlier and the slight scene changes are to indicate a little progress. This may the version exhibited in February 1848.
Version and provenance not ascertained. Includes decorative label below image: "Kooringa, the Burra Burra town'shp".
212
Penny's Stopes, Burra Burra Mine, April 12th 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.649
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-07~ | Appleyard cat. 62 | 26.7(H) x 36(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Penny's Stopes.
Underground. On the floor is blue-green copper ore. In the background is a rope and bucket from the shaft above.
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 35. Penny's Stopes, Burra Burra Mine.
Version: This is the original version for SA Mining Association. Provenance: SAMA 1914.
Appleyard: Includes decorative label below image: "Penny's Stopes, B.B. Mine, April 12th, 1847". 26.7(H) x 36.0(W) on paper.
Map | S. T. Gill - Burra
230
Pennys stopes, B.B. [i.e Burra Burra] Mine, April 12th, '47 | National Library of Australia NK1411/C
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 62.1 | 27(H) x 39.6(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Penny's Stopes (AGSA 0.649).
Version: This version was probably for J.B. Graham.
Includes decorative label below image.
422
Neales's Stopes, Burra Burra Mine, April 12th 1847 | Art Gallery of South Australia 0.650
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-07~ | Appleyard cat. 63 | 26.7(H) x 37.4(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Neales' Stopes
Underground. Gill has portrayed himself sketching as one of the central figures. Neales's shaft was "only five fathoms from Penny's". (South Australian, 8 June 1847: 2.)
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 32. Neales's Stopes, Burra Burra Mine.
Version: This is the original version for SA Mining Association. Provenance: SAMA 1914.
Appleyard: Includes decorative label below image: "Neales's Stopes, B.B. Mine, April 12th 1847". 26.7(H) x 37.4(W) on paper.
231
Neales's stopes, B.B. [i.e Burra Burra] Mine, April 12th '47 | National Library of Australia NK1411/B
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 63.1 | 27.2(H) x 40.2(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
For description see VIEW: Neales' Stopes(AGSA 0.650).
Version: This version was probably for J.B. Graham. A version of this scene was supplied by Graham and reproduced in the 'Illustrated London News', 2 December 1848, p.340 where it was wrongly labelled 'Opening of Lode in Stock's Air-Hole, in the Mine'.
Includes decorative label below image.
423
The Opening of Lode in Stocks's Air-hole from top of N.W. entrance, April 12th, 1847 | National Library of Australia NK1411/A
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 64 | 27.5(H) x 40(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Stocks' Air-hole
Underground.
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 10. Stock's Air-hole, Burra Burra.
Version: This version was probably for J.B. Graham. A version of this scene was supplied by Graham and reproduced in the 'Illustrated London News', 2 December 1848, p.340 where it was labelled simply 'Interior of the Mine'.
Includes decorative label below image.
Map | S. T. Gill - Burra
237
Leading from Stocks to Paxton's lode, B.B. [i.e. Burra Burra] Mine, Aprl. 12th, 1847 | National Library of Australia NK1411/D
Artist: Gill, S.T. | Date: 1847-04/1847-12~ | Appleyard cat. 65 | 26.8(H) x 39.5(W) cm
Catalogue: S.T. Gill and Burra Burra Mine 1847
VIEW: Stocks' Lode
Underground. The Stocks and Paxton shafts were near each other.
One version of this view was shown in the February 1848 Exhibition of Pictures as no. 07. Stock's Lode, Burra Burra.
Version: This version was probably for J.B. Graham.
Includes decorative label below image.
Map | S. T. Gill - Burra
236
David Coombe, May 2022. Updated 21 November 2023. Formatted 14 February 2024. | text copyright (except where indicated)
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