Lyla Lindsey
In the remote outback of Australia, there is a town called Coober Pedy, where about 60% of the 3,500 inhabitants live in caves bored into the hillsides, known as dugouts. The town is situated in the Far North region of South Australia, about 846 km north of Adelaide, and is sometimes referred to as the opal capital of the world. The name Coober Pedy is thought to derive from the Kokatha-Barngarla term kupa-piti, which translates to whitefellas' hole. The town is now a popular tourist destination, with its underground art galleries, bars, shops, churches, and campsites attracting visitors from all over the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Town name | Coober Pedy |
| Location | Northern South Australia |
| Population | 1,500 (one source); 2,500 (another source); 3,500 (another source) |
| Percentage of population living underground | 60% |
| Distance from Adelaide | 846 km (526 mi) |
| Average temperature | 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in January; 18.4 °C (65.1 °F) in June |
| Lowest recorded temperature | −2.0 °C (28.4 °F) on 30 July 1976 |
| Highest recorded temperature | 48.3 °C (118.9 °F) on 20 December 2019 |
| Reason for living underground | Extreme heat; protection from insects, sound, and light pollution |
| Type of underground dwellings | Caves bored into hillsides ("dugouts"); underground campsites |
| Attractions | Underground art gallery, bars, shops, churches, and campsites; opal mines and museums; Desert Cave Hotel |
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What You'll Learn
Coober Pedy: the opal capital of the world
Coober Pedy, known as the "opal capital of the world", is a town in northern South Australia, about 846 km (526 mi) north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. The town is renowned for its opal mining industry and unique underground dwellings, known as "dugouts." The name "Coober Pedy" is derived from the Kokatha-Barngarla term "kupa-piti", which translates to "whitefellas' hole". However, in 1975, the local Aboriginal people adopted the name "Umoona", meaning "long life", which is also the name they use for the mulga tree.
The discovery of opal in the area in February 1915 sparked the establishment of the town. Opal mining in Coober Pedy has a long history, with miners flocking to the area in search of precious opals. The town's remote location and harsh climate presented challenges, but the demand for opal and the influx of European migrants seeking opportunities led to its growth. By the 1970s, mechanized opal mining became more common, making mining faster and safer. Today, Coober Pedy supplies most of the world's gem-quality opal, with over 70 opal fields in the area.
The extreme daytime heat in Coober Pedy led to the development of its distinctive underground dwellings. These "dugouts" maintain a constant temperature, providing a cool refuge from the scorching summer temperatures. A standard three-bedroom cave home with a lounge, kitchen, and bathroom can be excavated into the hillside at a similar price to building a conventional house. The underground lifestyle offers benefits such as protection from insects, lack of sound and light pollution, and potential resilience against earthquakes.
Coober Pedy has a population of around 2,000 to 2,500 people and is a popular tourist destination. The town's unique underground accommodations, opal mines, and museums attract visitors from all over the world. The annual Coober Pedy Opal Festival celebrates the town's opal heritage, and the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum is a popular attraction. The town's above-ground landscape is characterised by enigmatic sand pyramids and waste soil from decades of mining, creating a distinct and captivating environment.
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Dugouts: cave homes in the hillside
In the remote outback of Australia, there is a town called Coober Pedy, where about 60% of its 3,500 residents live in "dugouts", or cave homes in the hillside. The name "Coober Pedy" comes from the Kokatha-Barngarla term "kupa-piti", which means "whitefellas' hole". However, in 1975, the local Aboriginal people of the town adopted the name "Umoona", meaning "long life", which is also their name for the mulga tree.
Coober Pedy is located in the Far North region of South Australia, about 846 km (526 mi) north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. The town is situated on the edge of the erosional scarp of the Stuart Ranges, on beds of sandstone and siltstone 30 metres (100 ft) deep, and is topped with a stony, treeless desert. The region has very little plant life due to low rainfall, the high cost of water, and a lack of topsoil.
The town is at the centre of Australia's opal mining industry, and the harsh summer desert temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It gets so hot that birds have been known to fall from the sky, and electronics need to be kept in the fridge to prevent them from overheating. As a result, many residents choose to live in dugouts, which remain at a constant temperature, while surface buildings require air conditioning. A standard three-bedroom cave home with a lounge, kitchen, and bathroom can be excavated out of the rock in the hillside for a similar price to building a house on the surface.
In addition to private residences, Coober Pedy also offers underground art galleries, bars, shops, and churches for its residents and the many tourists who flock to the town. The Desert Cave Hotel, which opened in 1981, is a popular tourist destination, providing guests with a unique, calm, cool, and dark experience. The town has become a leader in sustainable living, with the Coober Pedy Renewable Power Plant generating 70% of the energy needed to power the city.
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Extreme heat: temperatures over 100°F
In Coober Pedy, a small town in the Australian outback, residents have taken to living underground to escape the extreme heat. The name "Coober Pedy" comes from the Aboriginal term "kupa-piti", which means "white man's hole" or "whitefellas' hole". The town is located north of Adelaide in South Australia, and has a population of around 1,500 to 2,500 people.
The area experiences harsh desert temperatures that can often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. The extreme heat has led to reports of birds falling from the sky, and electronics needing to be stored in refrigerators to prevent overheating. To escape these blistering temperatures, many locals have opted to live in caves dug into the hillsides, known as "dugouts". These underground homes maintain a comfortable and consistent temperature year-round, ranging from 19°C to 25°C.
The concept of underground living is not new, and people have been retreating below ground to cope with challenging climates for thousands of years. Coober Pedy itself is an old opal mining town, and the miners who moved to the area in the early 1900s quickly discovered the advantages of living underground. The soil in the Coober Pedy hillside is stable, allowing for large ceiling spans in rooms, and some mining families have even chosen to tunnel between multiple dwellings.
Living underground provides several benefits beyond temperature control. Underground homes are relatively affordable, with lower construction costs and reduced energy expenses for heating and cooling. They also offer a unique lifestyle, attracting tourists who come to experience the underground art galleries, bars, shops, and even a golf course. However, underground homes do come with certain risks, such as the potential for collapse, as well as the challenges of complying with planning and streetscape rules.
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Underground living: a sustainable community
Australia is known for its scorching hot summers and extreme temperatures. In the remote outback town of Coober Pedy, residents have found a creative solution to escape the heat by building an underground community. Coober Pedy, derived from the indigenous Australian term "kupa-piti" meaning "white man in a hole", is located in the Far North region of South Australia, about 846 km (526 mi) north of Adelaide. The town is often covered in a thin veil of red dust from the local opal mines, which are a significant source of income and employment for the community.
Due to the harsh desert climate, with temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, many residents of Coober Pedy choose to live in caves bored into the hillsides, known as "dugouts". These underground homes remain at a constant temperature, providing a cool and comfortable living environment, especially during the hot summer months when surface buildings require air conditioning. The lack of topsoil, high water costs, and low rainfall in the region also contribute to the preference for underground dwellings.
The process of constructing these "dugouts" involves excavating the sandstone and siltstone beds that the town is situated on. A standard three-bedroom cave home with a lounge, kitchen, and bathroom can be created for a similar price to building a house on the surface. The subterranean lifestyle offers additional benefits, such as zero insects, reduced sound and light pollution, and potential protection against earthquakes. The privacy that underground living affords is also appealing to those who value their seclusion.
Coober Pedy has become a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors interested in experiencing the unique underground lifestyle. The town offers an underground network of shops, cafes, bars, and even an underground art gallery and campsite. The Desert Cave Hotel, which opened in 1981, is a popular tourist alternative, providing guests with a calm, cool, and spacious underground accommodation experience. The town's opal mining history and the presence of heritage-listed sites, such as Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest, also draw tourists eager to explore the area's attractions.
While underground living in Coober Pedy offers many benefits, there are some challenges and risks associated with this lifestyle. One major concern is dampness, as proper ventilation and water management are crucial in subterranean structures. Additionally, there have been rare instances of homes collapsing due to unstable ground. Despite these potential drawbacks, the residents of Coober Pedy embrace their underground community, and with the town's hybrid power project generating 70% of its energy needs, it is becoming a leader in sustainable living.
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Tourism: Coober Pedy's quirky attractions
Coober Pedy, a town in northern South Australia, is famous for its underground dwellings, known as "dugouts". The town has become a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its unique attractions. Here are some quirky places to visit in Coober Pedy:
Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest
Crocodile Harry, aka Arvid von Blumenthal, was a crocodile hunter and WWII soldier who came to Coober Pedy in 1975 to hunt opals. His dugout home has become a famous tourist spot, known as "Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest". The interior is covered in graffiti, photos, memorabilia, and even women's underwear. It is also known for its bone collection and art, and visitors are invited to leave their messages on the walls.
The Big Winch
The Big Winch offers 360-degree views of the unique Coober Pedy landscape. Visitors can enjoy South Australian food and wine while taking in the expansive views of the town and the Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park. It is a great spot to watch the famous outback sunsets.
The Breakaways
The Breakaways is a 15,000-hectare conservation park located just 25 km outside of Coober Pedy. The park features striking sandstone tablelands that turn a spectacular red and orange at golden hour. Visitors can explore the unique flora and fauna of the area through guided tours or by obtaining a permit from the Coober Pedy Visitor Centre.
Underground Churches
Coober Pedy is home to several underground churches, where visitors can spend a peaceful morning. These churches offer a unique experience, allowing visitors to connect with their spirituality in a subterranean setting.
Old Timers Mine
The Old Timers Mine provides a glimpse into the early years of mining in Coober Pedy. Visitors can explore a great example of a dugout house and learn about the history of opal mining in the area.
Anna Creek Painted Hills
Accessible only by air, the Anna Creek Painted Hills are an ancient landscape featuring deep orange mountains that emerge from the flat desert. Visitors can join a Wrightsair tour from Coober Pedy to experience this 80-million-year-old beauty and walk among the colourful hills.
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Frequently asked questions
People in Coober Pedy, a town in northern South Australia, live underground.
Coober Pedy is extremely hot, remote, and dusty. Living underground helps residents escape the heat, and the "dugouts" remain at a constant temperature.
In addition to escaping the heat, residents who live underground in Coober Pedy experience zero insects, and a lack of sound and light pollution. The subterranean lifestyle might also provide some protection against earthquakes.
Coober Pedy is a popular tourist destination. Attractions include an underground art gallery, bars, shops, churches, an opal interpretation centre, and a campsite located a few meters below ground.
