British nuclear tests at Maralinga

Between 1952 and 1963 the British government, with the agreement and support of Australia, carried out nuclear tests at three sites in Australia – the Monte Bello Islands off the coast of Western Australian 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), a number of minor trials, assessment tests and experimental programmes (dating from 1959) were 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).

Title or description of records	Date	Series no.
Canberra
Identification cards of employees at the Maralinga atomic test site	1955–1967	A6242
Maralinga Meteorological Journal	1955–1965	AP879/10
Melbourne
Miscellaneous records relating mainly to atomic and long range weapons testing	1929–1969	M3881
Adelaide
Original plans (negatives), (Defence and Weapons Research)	1940–1961	D1421
Correspondence files (Peace Officer Guard)	1942–1959	D2487
Correspondence files (Peace Officer Guard, Parafield)	1942–1956	D2569
Index and reference cards to surveys	1942–1978	D4461
Correspondence files (Long Range Weapon Establishment, Salisbury)	1947–ongoing	D174
Maralinga policy and administrative records	1947–1983	D4996
Maralinga reports, alphabetical series	1949–1960	D1767
Drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area	1951–1969	D2118
Catalogue of drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area	1954–1983	D2117
Maralinga Project Drawing Register	1954–1955	D4669
Copies of drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area submitted to the Royal Commission	1955–1969	D4776
Wages, earnings and salary cards (Woomera, Maralinga and Local)	1956–1957	AT106/1
Computation books of Maralinga surveys	1957–1978	D5275
Trials record registers	1958–ongoing	D597
Photographic records, Adelaide
Photographs, films, drawings & glass negatives – Maralinga area	1953–1961	D1768
Aerial photographs	1955–1969	D4632, D4633
Maralinga photographs	1956	D1826

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 examined in the Archives’ Canberra reading room. The table below lists most significant records.

Title or description of records	Date	Series no.
Transcripts of proceedings	1984–1985	A6448
Statements received from United Kingdom witnesses	1985–1985	A6449
Statements received from Australian witnesses	1984–1985	A6450
Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Reports; ‘Z’ series	1984–1985	A6454
Exhibits tendered before the Commission	1984–1985	A6455
Original agency records transferred to the Commission; ‘R’ series	1984-1985	A6456
Photographs relating to atomic tests	1985–1985	A6457
Maps of atomic test sites	1985–1985	A6458
Final report	1985–1985	A6460
Computer printout – list of exhibits	1985–1985	A6470
Computer printout – alphabetical index to witnesses	1984–1985	A6471
Computer printout – numerical list of items, ‘R’ series	1984–1985	A6472
Computer printout – numerical list of photographs	1985–1985	A6479
Computer printout – numerical list of maps	1985–1985	A6480
Computer printout – chronological list of newspaper articles of relevance to the Commission	1985–1985	A6482
Computer printout – keyword index to transcripts	1984–1985	A6483
Research team bibliography	1984–1985	A6584

Item lists for the series included above are available in the Canberra reading room. Use these to identify individual items that you wish to read.

Records relating to Aboriginal peoples of the Maralinga area

The 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, 478pp) includes references to records within the series listed above which relate specifically to the Aboriginal peoples 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.

For more information

You can obtain more information about the record series listed above (and the items within the series) from RecordSearch , the Archives database. Follow the links in the series lists to go directly to information on that series. You can also use RecordSearch to find out about the agencies that created the records and to locate more records on your subject. You might also explore PhotoSearch to find out if there are photos pertaining to your subject.

RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online or in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff are available in the reading rooms to help you, or email refact@naa.gov.au.

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Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au

updated July 2000