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Stele Monument Cobar Inscription
Stele Monument Cobar Inscription

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson

The stele monument commemorates the discovery of copper by Hartman, Campbell and Gibb.  The script on the stele commemorates the "Balgal", Sidwell Kruse, the woman who identified the first copper samples in the Cobar area in 1869.

"Balgal" was the traditional name for women employed in Cornish (English) copper mines. These women sorted the mined ore looking for the best pieces to be smelted. A "Balgal`s" job was hard and unrewarding with the women required to shovel and carry heavy loads of ore. Sidwell Kruge`s expertise in identifying the "Kubbar" waterhole samples precipitated the development of the Cobar mining industry.

Location

Address:Barrier Highway, Near Mining Museum, Cobar, 2835
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -31.498997
Long: 145.841661
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Technology
Sub-Theme:Industry
Approx. Event Start Date:1869
Approx. Event End Date:1869
Designer:Patricia Ann Lorraine Colley-Brooks (Cobar, NSW)

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1969
Front Inscription

CAMPBELL
HARTMAN 
GIBB & THE
BALGAL

Plaque :

At this place Campbell Hartman & Gibb first discovered copper in 1869

The mineral was identified by Mrs. Kruse of Priory

A former Cornish Balgal
 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au