Maralinga
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 24, 2016 at 19:37
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Replies:
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Member - Julebern
Anyone been to
Maralinga recently? We are travelling from
Perth and are thinking about going into
Maralinga via
Watson and then returning via
Ooldea. Any comments? We already have our permit.
Bernie Renwick
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Sunday, Apr 24, 2016 at 21:08
Sunday, Apr 24, 2016 at 21:08
Hi Julebern
Things do not change much up that way. From
Watson all the way through to
Maralinga is all bitumen, while coming back through
Ooldea is dirt from the
Maralinga turnoff.
If you are heading up to
Watson from
Nullarbor Roadhouse, make sure you read the Track notes that I put up here on EO, as the track is not signposted at all and you must keep an eye out for this tyre on the Old Eyre Highway track, where you head north on the two wheel track to
Watson.
Cheers
Stephen
This tyre on the Old Eyre Highway marks the track north to Watson
AnswerID:
599107
Reply By: Member - Robyn R4 - Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 09:36
Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 09:36
I was once in the no-man's-land area of radio reception and could only get ABC. I was listening to a chat with a bloke who lived out there when they were doing all the testing.
He said the authorities would call them and let them know they were going to start and were they all in their shelter? They'd answer that they were and they were actually out on top of their
bunker watching it all!
He had stories about
debris that they'd find on their property and the denials from authorities that it could possibly be theirs...but very soon, someone would be along to collect it!
I vaguely remember an ABC episode of some show about it as
well.
Very interesting.
I'm curious...when you go out there, what do you see?
Desert?
I'll have to
check that one out.
:)
AnswerID:
599126
Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 10:16
Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 10:16
-
Hi Robyn,
I think that the "shelters" you speak of were provided to the station properties that were on the
Woomera missile range and not related to the atomic trials at
Maralinga. The stations and the
Woomera operations had a good relationship and I doubt that the "authorities" would deny the
debris. Some blokes like to embellish the facts somewhat.
But yes, the account of station folk standing on top of their shelters was folklore even back in the 50's when the trials were in progress.
FollowupID:
868316
Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 10:43
Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 10:43
There is one of these "rocket shelters" on "Austral Downs", SW of
Camooweal. Still in really good order, and will probably last until Armageddon Day........whenever that will be?
Will find a photo of it when Linda is finished on the PC, and post it here.
Bob
FollowupID:
868319
Reply By: Member - Robyn R4 - Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 11:28
Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 11:28
That's right! It was
Woomera.
And yeh, they had dugouts all fitted out with food and water.
I love the photo of the track...typical country and outback directions!
You could picture an old bloke (with leathery outback skin and a lifetime of amazing experiences) at a pub giving instructions drawn on the back of a coaster..."You go up the track until you see a tyre shoved half under a bush and then you take the track with 2 wheel tracks..."!!
:)
AnswerID:
599137
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 12:21
Monday, Apr 25, 2016 at 12:21
Hi Robyn
Yes all stations that were in the flight pass of the testing rockets were given the fall out shelters, an even to this day,
test still happen from
Woomera and on major tests, the station people as ordered to leave their stations, and event that only happened a couple of years ago.
The shelters were like extra strong Nissan Huts, but the steel covering is very thick, around 8mm thick, then covered in a very thick layer of dirt, being able to withstand a direct hit from any fall out, and the front panel is around 15mm steel.
Cheers
Stephen.
These rocket fallout shelters are found right across the flight path of the rockets
Inside one of the shelters.
Front on view showing strong front sheet steel in the event of debris striking the ground in front on the shelter
FollowupID:
868325