Photo by: Ali Roberts

Artist: Smug

Location: Hancock Road, Kapunda SA

Proudly owned by: Viterra

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Kapunda Silo Art – Painted by Smug, Completed October 2025

Rising proudly above the township of Kapunda, this spectacular mural by world-renowned street artist Smug (Sam Bates) honours the town’s deep mining heritage. Completed in October 2025 after an incredible 32 days of painting from sunrise to sunset, this breathtaking work transforms the silos into a powerful tribute to the people who shaped South Australia’s “Copper Kingdom.”

The artwork depicts a copper miner underground, his face illuminated by the soft glow of a candle fixed to his helmet. In his hand, he holds a gleaming piece of copper ore, symbolising the discovery that changed Kapunda forever. Behind him, the tunnel opens out to reveal the vivid red earth, the mine itself, and the rolling farmlands beyond — a seamless blend of past and present, of industry and agriculture.

Kapunda’s story began in 1842, when Francis Dutton and C.H. Bagot discovered copper ore. The mine officially opened in 1844, becoming Australia’s first successful commercial copper mine. For more than three decades, Kapunda’s rich copper seams fuelled South Australia’s early prosperity — even helping to rescue the young colony from financial collapse.

The mine saw many firsts: the first horse whim in the colony to manage water in 1845, the first Cornish engine installed in 1848 for drainage, and later a rail connection to Adelaide by 1860. Though the mine closed in 1878 as copper prices fell, its legacy endured, cementing Kapunda’s place in history and paving the way for future mining towns like Burra, Moonta, and Wallaroo.

Smug’s mural captures not only the miner’s resilience and pride but also the spirit of innovation and endurance that defined the early pioneers of this region. The warmth of his palette, the realism of the miner’s gaze, and the intricate detail of the underground scene make this one of the most remarkable silo artworks in Australia.