Place Comment: Emu Atomic Test - Camera C Site

While I was at Maralinga for the tour, I told Robin Matthews I was planning to visit Emu. He gave me a copy of an old map, and on it, this spot is labelled "Len's Camp." Furthermore, that map shows Camera Sites A, B, and C in the same general area, a few miles/kms away from this point. The EO Place named "Observatory Hill" was the location of Camera Site C.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 06:37

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 06:37
Candace. Did you drive direct from Maralinga up to Emu?
AnswerID: 619780

Follow Up By: Candace S. - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 07:50

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 07:50
No, That's not allowed these days. Robin did talk about Some ideas he has for escorting people on that road, but that is off in the future if it happens at all. I made a separate trip driving from Coober Pedy to Emu and back.
1
FollowupID: 892104

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 08:02

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 08:02
Hi Candace

I can assure you that many of the photos in the above place are not "Camera Site C"

The first two images are at Dingo Clayplan and I have no idea why they have even been placed there.

The location of the site is where there is a track junction of 2 other tracks, one going the back way to Observation Hill, the place where you see all the mem with their backs to the blast, and the other track that goes out to Dingo Claypan and the 300 Mile Marker on the Centre Line of fire.

Where there are so many wrong photos in this place is a joke.


Cheers



Stephen
Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 619781

Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 08:41

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 08:41
Further to my above reply, "Observatory Hill" was not the location of Camera Site C for a few historical facts.

Prior to the first two Emu tests, many months of site preparation took place, and the Camera sites all had concrete slabs to mount all the camera equipment.

"Observatory Hill" was not discovered until after the first Atomic test and is located on the Emu Road, many many kilometres away to the point that even standing at the top of the hill, they would not have seen anything, except the large mushroom cloud, and there are no concrete slab remains for that very reason....it was not the site C

The idea of the camera sites was to photograph the blast and the effect of items that were placed around the area.


Stephen






Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 619782

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 12:02

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 12:02
.
Hi Stephen,

Those Beadell plaques can be notorious to clearly photograph.
Here is an 'enhanced' copy of the Observatory Hill plaque.

Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

1
FollowupID: 892105

Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - Michelle - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 14:40

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 14:40
Stephen is correct Candice. He and myself, and Allan B where guided personally by Robin back in 2013 to these sites and I have the same photos as Stephen as a result. I will make some admin changes to re position the photos that have been added in error by Candice (?) to these positions. This is why using our app (ExplorOz Traveller) to upload the photos is best - as it uses the GPS metatags in the image to correctly add the photos to the location - no human interpretation error possible.

POST EDIT: I have now removed the 2 pics of Dingo Claypan that had appeared in this Place listing for Camera Site C. I have checked Observation Hill and Dingo Claypan, all the photos are correct and they are ones taken by David and I when there with Stephen in 2013 being guided by Robin. If you open the map tab on this Place page you will see the position of this Place remains unchanged, it is correct.
Michelle Martin
Marketing & Customer Support
I.T. Beyond Pty Ltd / ExplorOz

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message
Moderator

2
FollowupID: 892107

Follow Up By: Greg J1 - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 14:50

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 14:50
Stephen, while I realise this is off topic, maybe a month or six weeks ago you mentioned a book about Len beadell by Ian Bayley. I have since purchased this book and read it. I can understand why it caused a few concerns in the beadell family.

Thanks for mentioning this book because I had never heard about it before.

Cheers Greg
1
FollowupID: 892108

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 19:07

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 19:07
Hi Greg

That great that you were able to get hold of that book, as it was at times a real eye opener.

If you are like me and like to read as much as you can on the Late Beadell ( I have very book that has been written about and by him) you may want to see if you can get hold of this book which is also a great read :

A Lifetime in the Bush

Cheers and thanks for taking the time to reply.


Regards


Stephen
Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 892115

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 19:08

Monday, Jun 25, 2018 at 19:08
Hi Michelle

Thanks for that and not sure how that would have happened.


Cheers



Stephen
Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 892116

Follow Up By: Candace S. - Wednesday, Jun 27, 2018 at 21:15

Wednesday, Jun 27, 2018 at 21:15
Stephen,
I think there has been some confusion. I have never been to Observatory Hill, that is the one well down the road From Emu to Maralinga. I was referring to Observation Hill.

BTW, the camera C site sign shown in your picture is no longer there...see below.

I had a paper copy of the map from Robin, but I passed it to some other folks who were visiting Emu. I'll get in touch with him and try to get a digital copy.

1
FollowupID: 892147

Follow Up By: Candace S. - Thursday, Jun 28, 2018 at 07:41

Thursday, Jun 28, 2018 at 07:41
Michelle,

I don't think any Of the pics you removed were mine. But it's good you got everything cleaned up!

BTW, I did not go out to Dingo. Because I wasn't sure if that was included in my permit (I specified Coober Pedy to Emu and back). Or in my permission from Britz. :)

Also, I have the GPS in my cameras switched off. Primarily to conserve battery power.
1
FollowupID: 892153

Sponsored Links