Distance: 368 km
Weather: Fine and warm (low 20's)
We had decided to stay in Woomera instead of Roxby Downs as originally planned because the camping fees were $25 cheaper per night. We still wanted to see the area so we left early and travelled firstly to Andamooka. We spent over an hour walking through the historic huts in the main street and having a short browse at opals in the P.O. We were amazed at the lodgings used by opal miners from the 1930's to the 1960's when Mrs Perry's kitchen finally closed. All of the huts were built using a rock bank as the back wall. We were amused to see the privvies perched behind the houses on top of the rock bank. It was a vey interesting, somewhat ramshackle town with quite a community feel about it and hardly any tourists. Frontier Services run the Health Centre/hospital.
After lunch we did an above ground tour of the Olympic Dam mine leaving from Roxby Downs, a modern town of 5,000 built for mine workers and their families. It was quite amazing and such a contrast to Andamooka where individuals dig mines on a 100m by 50m claim hoping to find their fortune in opals - few do. At Olympic Dam, 250 workers do 12 hour shifts, 5 days on then 5 days off, helping BHP Billiton shareholders (us) supplement their income. Ore is mined from which they produce copper, gold, silver and uranium yellowcake - all done on site. The mine is underground - 35 km of tunnels and workshops, a trainline and massive equipment. The proposed mine expansion is mind blowing. An open cut 3km by 7km and 1km deep. A town for 10,000. New docks at Port Augusta and a rail line linking to the main line at Woomera. It will mean a lot to S.A. if it gets the go ahead.
Friday 11th May
An early start and we arrived at 'Riba's Caravan Park in Coober Pedy in time for lunch. About 5km out of town the office and residence are in a dugout. We did an on-site mine tour after tea.
Coober Pedy is such an interesting/different place. Simlar in some ways to Andamooka but about 10 times bigger and really tuned in to tourism - opal shops everywhere, cafes and restaurants, heaps of accommodation and lots of mine and underground house tours. I quite like the uniqueness of the place but Merilyn finds the effect on the landscape somewhat depressing.
Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th
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| Merilyn the opal diviner |
We were Coober Pedy Tourists. Enjoyed the underground historical display in the big Desert Cave Hotel complex, the Catholic church, the landscape of the Breakaways, and going to the Catacombs Church Service (Anglican) - bright and friendly.
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| Catholic Church |
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| Typical House entry |
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| Dingo fence |
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| The Breakaways |
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