MOONTA Moonta is the first of the towns that make up the ‘copper triangle’ Moonta extends to the coast at Port Hughes that now includes recreational water sports. Moonta is very much a heritage town with dozens of buildings carrying heritage listing. It is thought that the name "Moonta" is derived from Moontera, an (Indigenous) Narungga word meaning 'impenetrable scrub' British settlers arrived in the Moonta area in the 1840's, as pastoralists, but there was no significant development until the 1860's, primarily because of the lack of water. Large and rich deposits of copper were discovered at Moonta in 1861 by shepherds from Walter Watson Hughes' sheep farm. This became a prosperous mine, named Wheal Hughes, with other mines soon to follow. The town was laid out in 1863 and a horse drawn tramway to Wallaroo was established in 1863. The mines at Moonta proved to be the richest mines in the whole of South Australia by 1917. The churches in Moonta are cathedral in design. Grand buildings and all nearly 150 years old. The hotels in Moonta likewise are all well over 100 years oldBe sure to visit the Royal. You may even catch up with these two happy guys The Moonta War Memorial is located within the bowling club grounds. The Moonta Museum is housed in the old school building near the historic Wesley Church. Moonta is one place you will need to stopover to get the best out of place. Heritage diary