Honeysuckle early scenes, late 1966

Honeysuckle Creek, Early scenes, probably early 1967

These photos are scans of medium format negatives taken by Hamish Lindsay.

Undated, though Collins Radio man Steve Randles (photo 11) arrived in Australia on 20 January 1967, according to an internal memo from Goddard rep John South. Of course, there may have been an earlier visit by Randles.

Scans by Colin Mackellar, 2018, except for 0001 by Craig Lindsay 2022. Larger versions available.

00 – On the original road, heading home.

The Ford Falcon is about to cross Honeysuckle Creek, about 230 metres WNW of its junction with Booroombora Creek. (Map to come.)

0001 – fording the creek, heading home.

Scan by Craig Lindsay.

01 – On the original track, heading home. Road washaway.

01a – Detail from the above photo.

Roy Benson is driving. That could be Bruce Hamilton in the back seat.

02 – The original road ran along the southern side of Dead Man’s Hill – separated from the present road by the valley along which Honeysuckle Creek flows.

This and the next photo were taken on the way to Honeysuckle, about half way along the original road.

Note the Ford Falcon (arrowed) parked on the track around the bend.

03 – This view, taken from above the car parked in photo 02, gives a feel for the rough terrain, and the work required to construct a road through the granite countryside.

08 – A view of the new road (“the Panos Freeway”) under construction.

The photo is taken looking east to east-south-east, from a point about 1 km from the tracking station, which is to the right of the photographer, and over the hill.

In the distance, outlined in yellow, a grader is working on the road.

04 – The microwave dish is lifted up onto the link tower adjacent to the Honeysuckle Creek Operations Building.

This dish provided a microwave link to DSS-42 Tidbinbilla (the Wing station) via a passive repeater on Dead Man’s Hill.

In the distance, in almost the opposite direction from Dead Man’s Hill, is the Collimation Tower (arrowed).

04a – Detail from photo 04, above.

05. The microwave dish is lifted up onto the link tower.

06. The Collimation Tower.

09. The USB Area inside the Operations Building.

Racks, cabling and equipment are in the process of being installed.

The Servo window at the end allows operators to see the antenna (which is out of view to the left through the window).

On the left at the end of the room (highlighted by the yellow box) sits the VLF loop antenna, waiting to be installed on the roof above the servo console. This will allow accurate calibration of the station’s time standard.

11. Collins Radio RF Engineer Steve Randles – part of the Collins Radio installation team – relaxing in front of the Tracking Data Processor.