The Event
This is an event to travel to Emu Junction to have a look at the
site of 2 atomic tests, a trip of approx 2,500 kms.
The listed co-ordinates are for the Information Bay –
Crossroads Of Australia, the meeting
point for the trip. Please arrive by 10am for a 10.30am
departure.
Some background history.
Emu Field is located in the desert of South Australia.
Variously known as Emu Field, Emu Junction or Emu, it was the site
of the Operation Totem pair of nuclear tests conducted by the
British government in October 1953.
The site was surveyed by Len Beadell in
1952. A village and airstrip were constructed for the subsequent
testing program.
Two atomic tests were conducted at the site. Totem 1 was detonated
on October 15, 1953 and Totem 2 was detonated on October 27, 1953.
The devices were both sited on towers and yielded 9 kilotons and 7
kilotons respectively. The site was also used in
September–October 1953 for some of the Kitten series of
tests, which were conventional (rather than nuclear) explosions
used to evaluate neutron initiators.
It was later found that the radioactive cloud from the first
detonation did not disperse as expected, and traveled north-east
over the Australian continent.
The site at Emu Field was considered too remote for future use, and
the search for a more convenient location led to the survey of
Maralinga, where a further series of atomic tests was conducted in
1956.
There are now stone monuments at the ground-zero points, which can
be visited by tourists (with the written approval of the RAAF
Woomera Test Range who now control access to the area), though the
location is still extremely remote (see Anne Beadell Highway).
Evidence of the explosions may still be seen at ground-zero in the
form of vitrified sand and concentric blast rings.
How to get there.
From Coober Pedy head out of town on the Stuart Highway and after
about 50km take the turnoff westwards to the Mabel Creek Homestead.
The going has been fairly easy so far but gets a little harder once
you pass the homestead.
Some 50km from the homestead you will come across the dog fence as
you pass into The Tallaringa Conservation Park. 50 plus kilometers
into the park is the Tallaringa Well. This is a reasonable camping
spot although don't expect too much from the well.
Once you leave the Tallaringa Conservation Park and have travelled
for about 125 kilometers you will reach Emu Junction. You will now
be a total distance from Coober Pedy of about 290 km.
To the south of Emu Junction is Woomera and the Maralinga test
site, where the atomic tests took place. The site has prohibited
access. There would appear to be little left to see anyway except a
few depressions in the earth and pieces of metal lying around to
the north of Emu, as well as the old Claypan Airstrip. There are
two obelisks that have been erected, Totem 1 and Totem 2, to the
east.
These sites are near the Anne Beadell Highway. The name
“highway” does not accurately reflect its true nature
and it’s little more that a bush track.
As is clear this is a trip into remote desert country.
You will a require:
-
awell
equipped 4wd, with high clearance.
-
All
terrain tyres, at a minimum
-
capability to be self sufficient for 7
days in the event of rain.
-
Sufficient
water at 20 liters per day. Temperatures in early October can
easily get into the mid 30’s.
-
Depending
on your vehicle you may also need to carry fuel. The total return
trip from Coober Pedy will be about 650km. In the desert fuel
economy can be very high depending on conditions.
-
A
UHF radio.
-
Appropriate
recovery gear.
-
Puncture
repair kit.
-
Air
compressor.
-
Shovel.
-
A
Desert Parks Pass to travel through Tallaringa Conservation Park. Access fees also
apply to Tallaringa Conservation
Park.
-
A
strong arm to keep the flies at bay.
Permission will also be required to travel through Mabel Station
and to travel to Totem1 and Totem2. I will organize this for the
group.
Travel Plans
Day 1
Meet at Pt Augusta at 10am for a 10.30am departure.
Travel as far north as possible, and find a roadside camping spot.
This will be north of Glendambo. Fuel is available Pt Augusta, Pimba,
Glendambo.
Day 2
Continue to Coober Pedy and fill up with petrol and purchase any
requirements.
Head up the highway and turnoff to Mabel Station.
Pass through Tallaringa Conservation
Park towards Emu Junction.
Camp at Emu Junction.
Day 3
Investigate Totem1 and Totem2 before heading back towards Coober
Pedy.
Camp for the night will be in the Tallaringa Conservation Park.
Day 4
Leave Tallaringa Conservation Park and
head back to Coober Pedy to refuel. We can then have a look around
Coober Pedy and The Breakaways.
We will then start to head south along the Stuart Highway and find
a spot to camp.
Day 5
Continue to Adelaide at your leisure.
As can be seen this is a lot of driving over 5 days. There
will be minimal stops to
maintain the schedule, as conditions in the desert can vary so
much. My rough estimate is this trip will cover over
2,500km.
Due to the amount of distance to be covered and the remote nature
of the area this trip will be restricted to 10 vehicles.
It may be worth having at look at
http://www.exploroz.com/Members/5605.875/9/2009/Anne_Beadell_Highway.aspx
to see what can be expected.
Logging Your Intentions
When logging your 'Will Attend' please include how many people are
coming with you, if you have any spare seating available in the
vehicle, your vehicle type (to assess suitability), and any
recovery gear you are bringing along.
On other trips people shared vehicles and costs quite successfully,
if you would like to come along but do not have a suitable vehicle
it is suggested you contact someone who is coming and who has spare
seating.
Type of Vehicle, Participants by Vehicle and Spare
Seating
-----------------------------
Vehicle 1: Toyota Prado
Dvr-
Mr Team Waldron
Pax
1- Mrs Team Waldron
Equipment: Shovel, snatch strap, puncture repair kit, bead breaker.
-----------------------------
Vehicle 2:
Dvr-
Pax
1-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 3:
Dvr-
Pax
1-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 4:
Dvr-
Pax
1-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 5:
Dvr-
Pax
1-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 6:
Dvr-
Pax
1-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 7:
Dvr-
Pax-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 8:
Dvr-
Pax-
Equipment:
-----------------------------
Vehicle 9:
Dvr-
Pax-
Equipment:
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Vehicle 10:
Dvr-
Pax-
Equipment: