On The Road With Wal & Sue: Woomera and Roxby Downs

Tuesday, June 10

Thankfully it wasn’t too cold last night so we were soon on the road again heading to Woomera, Roxby Downs and Andamooka. As we turned onto the Stuart Highway, a long goods train went rattling by so I quickly grabbed a photo.

A goods train heading to Port Augusta.

The view of Island Lagoon from the lookout along the Stuart Highway.

Further along we stopped to look at the aptly named Lake Lagoon - a secret US base apparently.

Woomera is a town built in 1947 for the Australian Defence Force so is very much a military base. It is self contained with hotel, general store beautiful picture theatre/ hall and, thanks to the Americans, its own 6-lane bowling alley. The town centre has a display, Westpac Bank, souvenir shop and café where we had lunch.

The 6-lane bowling alley at Woomera.

We spent an hour wandering around all the different types of rockets launched from Woomera – it is still an active base involved in whatever top secret stuff.

Wal beside one of the jets used at Woomera.

An example of one of the many rockets fired at Woomera.

Roxby Downs

By contrast Roxby Downs is a modern mining town built in 1988. The central hub has the sporting and leisure facilities – library, hall, school etc opposite the shopping centre which has all the businesses and a Woolies Supermarket. Beautiful landscaping, plenty of open space and lots of trees for shade in what must be a hot summer.

The population is 4500 people of which 1700 are employed by BHP and a further 1850 equivalent full time contract employees. Women make up 17% of the workforce which has 47 nationalities.

We did a drive around town and the housing is modern – some brick, other particle board but all are well maintained.

We booked into the caravan park for 2 nights and had hoped to do a mine tour but found out that is only on Fridays.