Hughes Enginehouse Moonta Mines, South Australia, Australia
By
Dazzatron on 18-May-10. Waypoint GA1865
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Traditional |
| Container: | Regular |
| Coordinates: | S34° 4.756' E137° 36.571' (WGS 84) |
| 53H 740790E 6225981N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 39 m |
| Local Government Area: | Copper Coast |
/137.609517,-34.079267,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
Historic Part of Moonta Mines
Hughes Enginehouse played a focal role in the operations of the Moonta Mine. Its function was to dewater the underground workings on the mine's largest orebodies. These orebodies, known as Elders and Elders West Lodes, were worked over a length of 1000 meters and to depths of more than 700 meters.
Around the enginehouse were several other important structures including Elders winding engine, Mechanical workshop, Stables and Stockyard and the engine pools.
At this location you can take a walk around what remains of these structures and find a bit about each of them and about mining life from back in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Please don't remove any of the rocks in the wall it is not hidden in there.
Hints
Oruvaq Jnyy Pbirerq ol Ebpx |
|
Decode |
Logs
after searching on a day before, today we were successful. Great hiding spot.
The cache container's lid has been broken though
The cache container's lid has been broken though
Enjoying a few hours wandering around the historic sites, noticed a nearby GCA and decided to have a look even though it had not been found since 2017, cache was found nicely protected from rain but the container has a hole in the base and the lid damaged, will need replacing soon, thanks for bringing us to this site
TFTC Dazzatron
TFTC Dazzatron
Rated: for Overall Experience
I had time for a quick wander around the old mine workings here this morning so took the opportunity to check out the Hughes engine house and find this cache 
It was a nice leisurely walk but it had to be a quick find as there appears to be a hive of bees that's set up home in the walls of the old engine house. Lots of flying in and out occurring!
Cheers & TFTH Dazzatron
It was a nice leisurely walk but it had to be a quick find as there appears to be a hive of bees that's set up home in the walls of the old engine house. Lots of flying in and out occurring! Cheers & TFTH Dazzatron
Exploring the area we made a quick find. Thanks Dazzatron for bringing us here. A lot of history in the area.
Rated: for Overall Experience
This was my first find. I chose to do one close to home. Didn't take anything, I left a butterfly. Everything inside is in good condition. Enjoyed the hunt and went home to plan my next search.
Rated: for Overall Experience
As our time in Wallaroo is rapidly coming to an end we decided to have one last day caching around some more of Yorkes. Today we chose to head to Arthurton and then across the Peninsula to Port Hughes and Moonta/Moonta Bay.
It's been nice to find a few GCA caches or trig points today
Many thanks for this one Dazzatron
It's been nice to find a few GCA caches or trig points today
Many thanks for this one Dazzatron
Rated: for Overall Experience
The iconic view of the Moonta Mines 
And hidden somewhere in that view was a cache to find
I didn't muck about, and was soon hot on the trail of the cache
Easy find in the end !!
And I still had a lot more wandering to do here before heading for the next cache
History doesn't come in bigger lumps than here !!
Unless you go overseas to somewhere like Rome
And hidden somewhere in that view was a cache to find
I didn't muck about, and was soon hot on the trail of the cache
Easy find in the end !!
And I still had a lot more wandering to do here before heading for the next cache
History doesn't come in bigger lumps than here !!
Unless you go overseas to somewhere like Rome
Rated: for Overall Experience
Firstly we love the fact that the Copper Coast has some GCA caches.
We arrived here and quickly found this hide before heading off to explore this interesting site. Was really surprised to see the lightning conductor on the top of the tower - didn't realise they had that technology way back then!
Because we are so far behind schedule we only picked a few caches to do here [the GCA ones having top priority]. We now wish we had spent less time in other areas and cached this area out.
Thanks heaps.
We arrived here and quickly found this hide before heading off to explore this interesting site. Was really surprised to see the lightning conductor on the top of the tower - didn't realise they had that technology way back then!
Because we are so far behind schedule we only picked a few caches to do here [the GCA ones having top priority]. We now wish we had spent less time in other areas and cached this area out.
Thanks heaps.
Rated: for Overall Experience
We had hoped to find this cache in daylight so that we could explore this historic location however like all geocaching plans things never go exactly as planned so we found ourselves in the car park with the tall chimney looming out of the darkness. As we started to head off to GZ some of the stacks residents setup a loud protest to our presence which they kept up until we left.We picked our way carefully to GZ where we made a quick find. The cache and contents were in excellent condition.
Thanks Dazzatron for bringing us to this very interesting historic area. We will certainly be returning in daylight to inspect these old treasures.
Thanks Dazzatron for bringing us to this very interesting historic area. We will certainly be returning in daylight to inspect these old treasures.
Touring Australia having left Perth in late February we are leisurely touring South Australia after having attended Oz Mega. 
Today was set aside for touring Moonta and Wallaroo. Well we had a long list and after a sleep in and problems loading the GPSr had us not even starting till 0900hrs.
We had a great day and saw lots of historic places and learnt lots about the area. The list was only just started and we never left Moonta till after dark so Wallaroo will have to be tomorrow.
Couldn't work out why I couldn't find this cache on the website. Duh wrong website.
All sorted. Thanks for bringing us to this location.
TFTC
Today was set aside for touring Moonta and Wallaroo. Well we had a long list and after a sleep in and problems loading the GPSr had us not even starting till 0900hrs.
We had a great day and saw lots of historic places and learnt lots about the area. The list was only just started and we never left Moonta till after dark so Wallaroo will have to be tomorrow.
Couldn't work out why I couldn't find this cache on the website. Duh wrong website.
All sorted. Thanks for bringing us to this location. TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with touring the Yorke Peninsula with FelixII
We really enjoyed this cache, the history and the location kept us enthralled. Thanks Dazzatron.
We really enjoyed this cache, the history and the location kept us enthralled. Thanks Dazzatron.
Rated: for Overall Experience
South Australia 2013 with Sol de Lune. We headed off on 12/4 and arrived home on 28/4. The trip was to visit the SA series so more time could be spent at the Mega itself next year. We did a huge variety of caching around Murray Bridge, the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula and Whyalla Region. Apart from one wet night and two wet days we were able to spend heaps of time caching.
Thanks.
Albida
Thanks.
Albida
Found while on a 2 week trip through SA with Albida.
Very intereesting and informative walking around this area.
Thanks for bringing us here....
Very intereesting and informative walking around this area.
Thanks for bringing us here....
Rated: for Overall Experience
Always wandered why there wasn't a cache he, there was just had to look on Geocaching Australia.
TFTC
TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found while doing the Copper Coast Caching Event. The kids were not all that happy with me doing 'real' caches instead of the Event ones.
Few muggles but found while taking a photo. TFTC.
Few muggles but found while taking a photo. TFTC.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with the assistance of the clue during the JLWE event. Labchick injured herself on the box thorns. From memory, I think there is a GA cache she can claim for that! This is such a great spot Dazzatron, thanks for adding to the enjoyment of our visit!
This is such a great spot Dazzatron, thanks for adding to the enjoyment of our visit!Rated: for Overall Experience
Lovely old history - worth to visit this area. Signed the log. Thanks Dazz.
Rated: for Overall Experience
We had a look for this a while back and somehow missed it. As we knew we were in the right area, we decided to wander back tonight for another look (as we do - A LOT - it seems) and grabbed and signed for it. Then spent a considerable amount of time trying to find the cache to log it on geocaching.com. Glad I finally figured out it was on here - thought I was going mad!
Thanks for the cache
Thanks for the cache
On way to Adelaide from Minalton for 3 nights
Interesting place to visit
Stop in this beautiful small town Moonta for lunch.
Interesting place to visit
Stop in this beautiful small town Moonta for lunch.
Rated: for Overall Experience
136. One of the best GCA caches I've done and a great advertisement for finding them. It was pretty dark and the bushes at GZ appeared prickly. Which I'm glad they weren't as I got in amongst them. The owls on the way back were cool too.
TFTC and the power.
TFTC and the power.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found with McPhan as one of the last few for 100 for the day. Quite dark when we got here and found by torchlight. Watched an owl come in to land next to its mate on the top of the smoke stack, but we must have blinded it with our torches as it made a near miss and went around again - sorry owl! Thanks Dazzatron.
It's easy when you know how! Got it on the second try - had the Smurf this time and no dog! TNLN SL TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
First try at my new hobby so I thought I'd go for something close to home. Had a good look around the site, bit muddy, cold but the exercise warmed me up. Finally worked some of the GPS out (that's a first for me too!) got within 2m of the objective and then the dog decided to go feral and the light was fading quick so we'll give it a try another day, and maybe the Smurf can make it too.
Always worth stopping in Moonta!
Always worth stopping in Moonta!
Rated: for Overall Experience
This should have been found at about 8:45 AM, but I was in a hurry and hadn't read the description properly or looked at the hint. Set off after work with Mrs J and spotted it without even turning the Garmin on!
The enginehouse looked awesome with the sunset illuminating it against the background. I've always been amazed that no cache has been placed here before.
Happy anniversary, Geocaching in Australia!
Thanks Dazzatron, great cache.
The enginehouse looked awesome with the sunset illuminating it against the background. I've always been amazed that no cache has been placed here before.
Happy anniversary, Geocaching in Australia!
Thanks Dazzatron, great cache.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Another Anniversary placed cache hidden in the mines area around Moonta... It is always good to see these areas and their history...
Thanks Dazzatron...
Thanks Dazzatron...
