Description

Paxton Square is named after William Paxton, one of the founders of the South Australian Mining Association in April 1845. When the Association set out later that year to buy half the Special Survey that was to be developed as the Burra Burra Mine, Paxton purchased 28 of the £5 shares. This proved to be a good investment when the shares returned 100% interest for many years, 400% for several and 800% in one year. In the company town of Kooringa he then built and leased out four hotels (the Burra Burra, now demolished), The Miners' Arms (now The Burra), The Pig & Whistle (demolished after a fire in 1883) and The Smelters' Arms (now a private residence) and the rows of cottages known as Paxton Square. There are 32 Cottages at Paxton Square, with 4 two-bedroom cottages, and 28 one bedroom cottages with different configurations. This is a free point of interest. No camping or overnight parking allowed.