The subject report, drawing on numerous contemporary accounts, sketches and photographs of the historic Kapunda copper mine, clearly demonstrates that despite this mine being much smaller and earlier than the better-known 'monster' Burra mine, its technical and financial aspects are nearly as interesting to learn about. This mine was developed by local SA residents, and the initial capital raising of 80 pounds to purchase the land, and another 1000 pounds to finance the original underground mine development, grew in about ten years to an enterprise valued at 64,000 pounds, that was paying dividends of 5-10%. Kapunda was the first metal mine in Australia where open cut methods were used, and its owners also pioneered the local use of an acid leaching process to treat low grade ore, the hydrochloric acid being made on site from local materials.