Historical Coober Pedy
Cultural
Coober Pedy has an interesting history dating back to when opal was first discovered in 1915.
Our volunteer-run Historical Society has an extensive collection of memorabilia, but you can also see some of our unique history by visiting sites around town:
- Learn about early mining done in the 1950's by sinking shafts with picks, shovels and explosives and using a windlass to raise the buckets of mullock to the surface.
- Blowers and other machines arrived in the 1970's and saw opal production soar.
- See our many underground churches excavated in the 60's and 70's.
- Boot Hill Cemetery has many interesting tombstones dating from the early 1970’s. A popular one is Mr Karl Bratz, with a 18 gallon beer keg and the epitaph of “Have a drink on me!”
- Or history buffs might like to visit Coober Pedy's First Cemetery. Dating back to 1921, it is located near the Greek Orthodox Church.
