Photos of Coober Pedy, the Opal capital of the world, Australia

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Coober Pedy, the Opal capital of the world

Almost 850 kilometres north of Adelaide, on the Stuart Highway, is the town of Coober Pedy, called the “opal capital of the world” because of the quantity of precious opals mined there. As it can get scorching here, many dwellings and even churches are built underground, so-called “dugouts”.

Mine dumps near Coober Pedy
 
Mine dumps near Coober Pedy
 
View of Coober Pedy
 
Umoonasaurus model
 
Underground house
 
Bedroom, underground house
 
Living room, underground house
 
Mine worker in a shaft
 
Showing opal deposit
 
Serbian Orthodox Church
 
In Serbian Orthodox Church
 
Window, Serbian Orthodox Church
 
Catholic Church
 
Outskirts of Coober Pedy
 
Catacomb Church
 
In the Catacomb Church
 
View, Coober Pedy
 
Mine passages, opal mine
 
Old Timer sculpture, opal mine
 
Underground house, opal mine
 
Kitchen, opal mine
 
Bedroom, opal mine
 
Mine worker, opal mine
 
View to Coober Pedy
 

Western Desert Aboriginal people have lived here for a very long time, and the land is considered traditionally that of the Arabana people, although other groups also have associations here. The town’s name, decided upon in 1920, is thought to be derived from “kupa piti”, a word in the Kokatha language, meaning “whitefella - a hole in the ground”, as it was somewhat puzzling to see those Europeans digging holes and then even living in them. In 1975, the local Aboriginal people adopted the name Umoona, which means “long life” for the town, and this name has since been used for various establishments here.

The first opals were found in 1915 by Willie Hutchinson; the town was established after that, and miners moved in a year later. After World War I, returning soldiers sought employment in the opal mines, and after World War II, many refugees, veterans, and immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe came here as well. There is even an underground Serbian Orthodox church in the town. Tourism has developed, with the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum showcasing the mining, dugouts, and underground dwellings. The Old Timers Mine offers a self-guided tour through its passageways and underground dwellings.