British nuclear tests at Maralinga – Fact sheet 129

Maralinga, prohibited area sign on the Emu/Nawa Road (A6457, P042)

Between 1952 and 1963 the British Government, with the agreement and support of the Australian Government, carried out nuclear tests at three sites in Australia – the Monte Bello Islands off the Western Australian coast, and at Emu Field and Maralinga in South Australia. An official history of the tests (JL Symonds, A History of British Atomic Tests in Australia, AGPS, Canberra) was published by the Department of Resources and Energy in 1985.

Maralinga was developed as the permanent proving ground site, following a request of the British in 1954, and, after its completion in 1956, was the location of all trials conducted in Australia. It was developed as a joint facility with a shared funding arrangement. Following the two major trials (Operation Buffalo in 1956 and Operation Antler in 1957) there were a number of minor trials, assessment tests and experimental programs (dating from 1959) held at the range until 1963. Maralinga was officially closed following a clean-up operation (Operation Brumby) in 1967.

Records relating to Maralinga

Information about Maralinga is located in records created by a number of Commonwealth agencies. This information covers matters such as personnel who served in the area, security arrangements for the site, and technical and survey information (including meteorological reports).

Canberra

	Title or description of record	Date range	Series number
	Identification cards of employees at the Maralinga atomic test site	1955–67	A6242

Sydney

	Title or description of record	Date range	Series number
	Original plans (negatives), (Defence and Weapons Research)	1940–61	D1421
	Correspondence files (Peace Officer Guard, Parafield)	1942–56	D2569
	Index and reference cards to surveys	1942–78	D4461
	Correspondence files (Long Range Weapon Establishment, Salisbury)	1947–	D174
	Maralinga policy and administrative records	1947–83	D4996
	Maralinga reports, alphabetical series	1949–60	D1767
	Drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area	1951–69	D2118
	Maralinga Project Drawing Register	1954–55	D4669
	Copies of drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area submitted to the Royal Commission	1955–69	D4776
	Computation books of Maralinga surveys	1957–78	D5275

Photographic records, Sydney

	Title or description of record	Date range	Series number
	Aerial photographs	1955–60	D4632
	Aerial photographs	1965–69	D4633
	Maralinga photographs	1956	D1826

Melbourne

	Title or description of record	Date range	Series number
	Miscellaneous records relating mainly to atomic and long range weapons testing	1929–69	M3881

Adelaide

	Title or description of record	Date range	Series number
	Photographs, films, drawings & glass negatives – Maralinga area	1953–61	D1768
	Catalogue of drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area	1954–83	D2117

The Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia

In response to growing concerns about the safety standards observed during the conduct of the nuclear trials, especially with regard to measures taken to protect people from the exposure to ionising radiation, and the disposal of radioactive substances and toxic materials, the Australian Government established a Royal Commission in 1984 to inquire into these aspects of the tests. The Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s (CA 3993) gave considerable attention to the tests conducted in the Maralinga area.

Many of the records of the Royal Commission are publicly available, and may be viewed in the National Archives Canberra reading room. The most significant records are listed in the following table.

Collection references

	Title or description of record	Date range	Series number
	Transcripts of proceedings	1984–85	A6448
	Statements received from United Kingdom witnesses	1985	A6449
	Statements received from Australian witnesses	1984–85	A6450
	Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Reports, 'Z' series	1984–85	A6454
	Exhibits tendered before the Commission	1984–85	A6455
	Original agency records transferred to the Commission, 'R' series	1984–85	A6456
	Photographs relating to atomic tests	1985	A6457
	Maps of atomic test sites	1985	A6458
	Final report	1985	A6460
	Computer printout – list of exhibits	1985	A6470
	Computer printout – alphabetical index to witnesses	1984–85	A6471
	Computer printout – numerical list of items, 'R' series	1984–85	A6472
	Computer printout – numerical list of photographs	1985	A6479
	Computer printout – numerical list of maps	1985	A6480
	Computer printout – chronological list of newspaper articles of relevance to the Commission	1985	A6482
	Computer printout – keyword index to transcripts	1984–85	A6483
	Research team bibliography	1984–85	A6584

Records relating to Indigenous Australians of the Maralinga area

The National Archives’ guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Commonwealth records: A Guide to Records in the Australian Archives, ACT Regional Office (compiled by Ros Fraser, AGPS, Canberra, 1993) includes references to records within the series listed above which relate specifically to Indigenousl people of the Maralinga area and the effects of the testing on their lives. Check the term ‘maralinga’ in the guide index to identify individual items.