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 programs (dating from 1959) were held at the range until 1963. Maralinga was officially closed following a clean-up operation (Operation Brumby) in 1967.
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).
 | Identification cards of employees at the Maralinga atomic test site | 1955–67 | A6242 | ||
| Maralinga Meteorological Journal | 1955–65 | AP879/10 | ||
| 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–ongoing | 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 | ||
| Catalogue of drawings and maps relating to the Maralinga area | 1954–83 | D2117 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Aerial photographs | 1955–69 | D4632 | ||
| Aerial photographs | 1955–69 | D4633 | ||
| Maralinga photographs | 1956 | D1826 | ||
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.
| 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 | ||
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.
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.
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 ref@naa.gov.au.
Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au
updated August 2001