Life in Woomera

 

Photos of life in Woomera – from Jan Delgado

Woomera township from the air looking towards the north west. Photo: Jan Delgado.

The photos below were taken by Jan’s Dad, Pat Delgado in 1961.

Jan’s notes are below each photo.

This is a view looking south from the first house we lived in on Kinka Street. As you can see, we were on the perimeter of the town. Taken shortly after arrival in 1960.

The Range E bus taken from our driveway in Kinka Street. Late 1960 or early 1961.

Although there were some smaller water tanks the rising population meant more water was required for Woomera. This tank was constructed in 1961. You will see a picture of the pipeline later.

The petrol bowsers were next to the store and you can see the coffee lounge in the background with the new shops under construction to the left of the coffee lounge.

The petrol bowsers outside the store, coffee lounge in background. Dads cream coloured Holden by the Shell pump. Late 1960 or early 1961.

The Coffee Lounge.

The new shops (back of the coffee lounge on the right). Late 1960 or early 1961.

The Senior Mess. As Woomera was run on military lines, all workers belonged to a Mess. Dad and Don belonged to the Senior Mess.

The stumpy tailed lizard lived under the shed in our back garden and came out for a feed of lettuce and a drink of water.

The old swimming pool.  It was Olympic size and very popular.

 

These pictures show the road from Port Augusta to Wirrapa (a railway halt on the line from Adelaide to Perth).

This was taken near Pointon’s garage where most people stopped to fill up or get some food and drink before hitting the 90 miles of unmade road to Woomera.

[Here’s an ortho-corrected enlargement of the sign.]

Near ‘Yorkey’s Crossing’ just north of Port Augusta with two flat topped hills behind known as Big Tent and Little Tent.

This is somewhere midway between Woomera and Wirrapa. That’s Dad’s new Ford Falcon! The road was graded from time to time but we frequently hit corrugations which was quite hazardous, not to mention downright uncomfortable.

This is somewhere midway between Woomera and Wirrapa. That’s Dad’s new Ford Falcon! The road was graded from time to time but we frequently hit corrugations which was quite hazardous, not to mention downright uncomfortable.

‘Road to Island Lagoon’, but I am not sure exactly where. Late 1960 or early 1961.

This shows where we hit the bitumen at Wirappa and then finally looking back the way we had come.

The very modern Andamooka Post Office. Late 1960 or early 1961.

Me at home reading a long teletype conversation I had with either Adelaide or JPL! (1964).

Woomera Golf Course! No grass to be seen. (1965.)

Woomera Golf Course. (1965.)

Woomera Golf Course. I think the ‘greens’ were oiled and they smoothed them out. (1965.)

A view of Gilghi Street from the northern edge of town. Our house was the one with the red roof in the middle. This was our second and final house in Woomera. (1965).

Island Lagoon from the air. Minitrack in the foreground, HQ in the middle and DSIF 41 in the distance. (1965.) Largest version here.

Shops and Banks. (1966).

Post Office (the building with little square windows). (1966).

Bowling Green – beautifully kept. (1966).

Woomera Pipeline. Started at Morgan on the River Murray. (1966).

 

From Jan Delgado – taken in 1964 and 1965.

This was taken just outside Woomera at Phillips Pond. This man died of thirst. (taken 1964)

This is the Woomera checkpoint known as the Pimba Gate. Without a pass you were not allowed in or out of Woomera! (Larger version.)

Woomera airport. (1965).

Gilghi Street. Our second home in Woomera. (1965).

ELDO Mess. (1965).

Woomera Hospital. (1965).

New shops, coffee lounge and store. (1965).

Water tanks between Woomera and the airport. (1965).

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