Cottages for Sale

When the mine closed in 1877, 33 cottages of the square housed 161 people, an average of five people to each two or three-room cottage.  By 1912, these cottages were nearly empty and the Mining association offered them for sale, but they were passed in at auction.

 The Lewis Trust

In 1913 John Lewis purchased the cottages for 500 pound.  He then offered them to the Burra Corporation along with a further 500 pound for immediate repairs.  The Lewis Trust cared for Paxton Square carrying out maintenance and refurbishments.  In December 1939 the Lewis Trust was granted permission by the Burra Council to add verandahs to the frontages of the cottages.  During its tenure, the Lewis Trust rented these cottages to many families who often maintained small gardens in their backyards much like the one on show at the Malowen Lowarth Cottage, a tourist attraction at Paxton Street.

 Paxton Square Today

Paxton Square is now owned by the Regional Council of Goyder.  The integrity of the cottages has remained essentially intact.  As well as the addition of the verandahs, the outdoor privies have been removed from the backyards.  Lean-to-kitchens and bathrooms have been added at the back of each cottage to cater for tourist accommodation, but the outward appearance of the Square has been maintained.