This allotment was purchased in 1850 by R Morris a Yoeman. Three years later Peter Brady, who owned the slate quarries and much other land in and around Mintaro purchased the property for 52 pounds and 10 shillings. In 1856 Brady sold the property to William Hunt for 145 pounds.
Once the workshop for carpenter William Hunt, the building is now sensitively renovated. For many years, a long ‘saw pit’ in the forecourt existed for sawing logs lengthwise into planks. This building is associated with Mintaro’s early development as a service centre for the Burra Mine, and is a rare South Australian example of an early carpenter’s workshop. William Hunt owned the four-bedroom house, a workshop, timber house and garden. He also constructed the stables at the rear, originally used the building as a carpenter’s workshop. These buildings then became a fuel storage depot. The floor was originally just dirt and has been replaced with Australian native Cypress Pine Boards. From 1999 this old building was restored. It is of stone construction with sapling rafters. The original shingle roof has been concealed by corrugated iron. A stone fence encloses the property and is an important feature along Burra Street.[1]
William Hunt (1811-1902) was born in Button, Somerset, England, he was the youngest of 15 siblings. Arrived in Australia in 1854 on the ship Fortune at the age of 42 with his wife Elizabeth Anne (nee Hutfield 1819–1909). Elizabeth was born in Somerset England, married William in 1841 and they had eight children.
Henry (1845—Deceased), Mary (1848-1878), George (1850—1911), Elizabeth (1855-1943), William (1854-?), Henry (1856-1927), Joseph (1859-1950) and John (1861-1946).
After arriving in South Australia in 1854 they stayed in Adelaide for a short time before moving to Mintaro. William was a carpenter, miner and undertaker. He was a Primitive Methodist and lay preacher.
William and Elizabeth are buried in Mintaro Cemetery.