Copper Mining in Tasmania

Tasmanian mining will always be known for one mine - Mt Lyell. The early prospectors were looking for gold, which they found in the Linda Valley. Access was difficult and so activity was limited. The first copper mining company was formed in 1886 and the owners included J. Crotty.

In 1892 two Adelaide financiers, Kelly and Orr, recognising the amount of rich copper being washed down the river from the sluice boxes, purchased the mine. By 1893 the main rich orebody had been exposed. Profits from the rich copper and silver deposit provided the capital for the building of the railway to Macquarie Harbour from Queenstown which opened in 1896.

In 1895 a German metallurgist, Robert Sticht arrived. He had experienced at the massive copper works at Butte Montana USA. At Queenstown, he perfected pyritic smelting.

After another rich ore body was discovered at North Mt Lyell and after a disagreement with the other directors, Crotty departed taking with him the lease to North Mt Lyell. Crotty established the North Mt Lyell Co. A major works was constructed to work the rich ore body. However, the failure of the smelters and death of Crotty saw the over capitalised works merged with the Mt Lyell Company, whose own ore body was rapidly being depleted both in quality and quantity.

Further advances saw the establishment of a hydro-electric plant at Mt Margaret in 1914 and electrolytic refining in 1928. By 1969 the smelters had closed and output was reduced. At the time of writing the price of copper was too low to justify continued working.