Nurrungar History

Nurrungar

Night shot of Nurrungar

In November 1968 the United States Air Force selected a site approximately 19 km south of Woomera Village for a Joint Defence Space Communications Station. The site was named Nurrungar, an Aboriginal word meaning 'to hear'.

In the late 1960s range use had almost come to a halt and Woomera's viability was questioned. When the Nurrungar project was officially announced in 1969 it promised a future of social and economic prosperity for the Village.

With the official announcement of Joint Defence Facility Nurrungar (JDFN) came an expectation that the station would be fully operational by late 1970. Site location was based on safety capability, particularly against seaborne jamming threats and airborne threats. On its completion the facility was widely recognised as one of the most important joint facilities on Australian soil. JDFN was one of three Joint Defence Facilities in Australia including Pine Gap in Alice Springs and North West Cape in Western Australia.

JDFN was the combination of two units, the Fifth Space Warning Squadron, United States Air Force, and the 1 Joint Communications Unit. The 1 Joint Communications Unit was a combined Australian Defence Force Unit including Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Regular Army and Royal Australian Navy personnel. Navy personnel assisted in the operation of the Space Operations Centre while a RAAF officer held the position of Deputy Commanding Officer. RAAF personnel also supplied administrative services at JDFN. The Commanding Officer was a United States Air Force representative. Every Australian at the base had an American counterpart to ensure that intelligence information was equally and ethically presented to both units.

The details of what actually happened at Nurrungar are closely guarded. However essentially Nurrungar was an intelligence site, receiving information about missile launches and nuclear explosions from surveillance satellites in geostationary orbit.

At the peak of Nurrungar's presence in Woomera almost 700 personnel from the United States Air Force and the Australian 1 Joint Communications Unit were stationed at Nurrungar.

The impact of JDFN on Woomera Village was significant as the American influence became obvious. Fourth of July celebrations were a highlight on the Woomera social calendar and baseball and softball were often played on the ovals.

In October 1999 JDFN operations ceased and in early 2000 the last Nurrungar related person left the compound closing the facility indefinitely. Closure of JDFN saw Woomera's population drop from 1200 to approximately 350.

A booklet detailing the history of Nurrungar can be purchased from the Woomera Heritage Centre, Visitor Information Centre.