UK scientists count down to nuclear bomb tests in the Outback

The Sunday Post reported on nuclear tests that would become notorious in Australia, leading to forced resettlement, sickness and death among Aboriginal communities.

“Britain’s series of atom tests, at Site X in the Australian desert, are likely to begin this week,” reported The Post in October 1953. “If the weather is favourable, the first big bang may

take place on Tuesday. Scientists are waiting for a south-easterly wind to blow radioactive air from the site. Met men were hoping yesterday the explosion winds will come late on Monday and remain throughout Tuesday.

“The gigantic flash and detonation will burn in the desolate Central Australian desert area, within the 80,000-squaremile security zone of the Woomera rocket range.”

The series of tests, which included the controversial Maralinga test site, between 1956 and 1963, were aimed at assessing the efficacy of different types of atomic weapons. But while scientists insisted they were safe, the contamination and devastation caused still persists to this day.

In 1994, the Australian government paid compensation amounting to $13.5 million to the Aboriginal community living in Maralinga.