Does anyone Know What this Is?
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 15, 2009 at 21:53
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Hi All,
I have been doing some weekend homework for my trip this year. On the topo maps, there is Prohibited Area between
Laverton and Cosmo Newberry. Being in the heart of Aboriginal Land, I thought that it must be some special Aboriginal Sacred Site or similar. Curiosity got the better of me, so I
check this site out with Google Earth. This is no Aboriginal Site, that's for sure. In the bottom left hand corner, it looks like a
bunker of some sort?
Does anyone out there have any idea what the importance of this site is.
Cheers
StephenImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found
Reply By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 09:17
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 09:17
When the Poms were using the
Woomera Rocket Range big time, like in the 50's & early 60's, they were going to
test an intercontinental missile called 'Blue Steak'. Plus a few others. The U.K.Govt. pulled the plug on these projects and bailed out.
If you go to
Lake Hart on the Stuart Hwy. you can see one of the launch pads on the edge of the
lake.
The idea was for these missiles to be launched at
Woomera and splash down in the Indian Ocean off the N.W. West Aust.. Coast.
In order to track these missiles they built a number of facilities along the flight path. These were staffed by techo's. & were probably dug in so as to keep the instruments & electronics at a constant, cool temperature.
Len Beadel's roads were part of the scheme.
It is possible that the facility in the photo may be one of those. This information was in a book put out about the history of
Woomera. It was at the time, a pretty big deal, but as 'Reds Under the Beds' was the catch cry very little information was ever released to the general public.
It looks like it is pretty
well maintained though, and it appears to be fenced. Other than what I have said, it's got me snookered.
Dick
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 11:32
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 11:32
"In the 50's & early 60's, they were going to
test an intercontinental missile called 'Blue Steak'."
I thought the missile system was called "Blue Streak"?? :-))
This system was developed and multiple launches and tests of this system did occur at
Woomera.
The left over bits are still on display at the
Woomera Museum.
Info
Here
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Follow Up By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 12:42
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 12:42
I know it was named thus because of the colour of the exhaust flame/s.
Didn't think this one flew, they only got to the stage where the engines were tested. The bits at the museum, I thought, were other projects. Maybe I'm wrong.
I'm going to the library this arvo. I'll get the book out and
check.
Get back to you
John.
Dick
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 12:47
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 12:47
No it flew alright Dick, bits are still in the Simpson and across other areas of the country.
Have a look at the link I provided in my previous post for more info on the program.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 17:42
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 17:42
I was right off the target, I'm much too far to the north.
Check out the map.Image Could Not Be Found.
I don't think it has anything to do with Pine Gap, because you would see the
camp & the rubbish tip of Rentademmo Pty. Ltd.
So, I don't know. I'll wait with interest.
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:31
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:31
Some
pic's of the launch pads you are talking about, this is no 1 that was used, and they built no 2 but was never used.
We crawled over this one a few years ago, they are massive structures.Image Could Not Be Found
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:32
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:32
A few more shots.
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:52
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:52
Woop's wrong button LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:56
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:56
Having trouble stacking more than one picture per post?
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:59
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 20:59
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 21:04
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 21:04
Last one, sick of having to load each pic on seperate posts
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Follow Up By: Member - Richard H (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at 08:07
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at 08:07
I am aware that this can be seen from the highway.
Can you get to it from the
Lake Hart Rest Area?
And... what's the condition of the access road?
But gee, didn't they expend some dough on that place.
Dick
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Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at 20:47
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at 20:47
Richard
You cant get to them as they are on the
woomera restricted site.
We have had guided tours out there a couple of times by knowing someone in
woomera management.
Yes they spent millions out there, much of the
infrastructure is gone.
Cheers Pesty
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Reply By: Mandrake - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 19:00
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 19:00
Hate to put a damper on this but your first notion is correct -
It is a sacred aboriginal site ..
This is one of several Aboriginal Spacecraft landing pads ..
Easily recpgnised by the Boomerang shape - which has recently been
built into the US Stealth Bomber !!
Please keep this under wraps OK ...
Rgds
George W Bush Jnr .. Ex Pres
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