The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships (company, private, and government-owned) collectively known as “The Burra”.
The Burra mines supplied 89% of South Australia’s and 5% of the world’s copper for 15 years and the settlement has been credited (along with the mines at Kapunda) with saving the economy of the struggling new colony of South Australia.
Burra’s law enforcement history reflects the town’s growth during the copper mining boom of the mid-19th century. These sites—police station, lockup, courthouse, and gaol—are integral to understanding colonial justice and community life in South Australia.
Burra Police Station and Lockup
The original Burra Police Lockup and Stables were erected in 1847 at the rear of the first police station. These cells served as a temporary gaol until the construction of Redruth Gaol in 1856.
Redruth Gaol (Burra Jail)
Built in 1856, Redruth Gaol was the first prison in South Australia constructed outside Adelaide. Initially, it served as a local prison but faced issues like overcrowding by the 1870s. By 1894, it was closed due to low usage and high maintenance costs.
It reopened as a girls’ reformatory in 1897, which operated until 1922. After closure, the building fell into disrepair but was restored in the late 1980s as part of the Australian Bicentenary project.
Burra Courthouse
The courthouse is a prominent historic building located near the police lockup. It was added during later expansions of the police complex and remains a notable example of Victorian-era architecture in Burra.
The Former Jail
The Former Courthouse and Police Lockup
The Former Police Station
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