Iron Knob

Iron Knob is located west of Port Augusta on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. Commercial iron mining was begun at Iron Knob in 1880 by the Mount Minden Mining Company. This is recognised as the first commercial iron mine in Australia. The company folded, however, and BHP began operations at Iron Knob in 1899. The ore mined at Iron Knob was transported to Port Augusta and then on to the BHP smelters at Port Pirie. Until iron was discovered in the Pilbara, Western Australia, Iron Knob was Australia's only large deposit. Iron ore from Iron Knob contributed greatly to the establishment and success of Australia's steel industry.