Australia week: opal mining in Coober Pedy

Postcard

Coober Pedy is an opal mining town in South Australia. Opal was first found in Coober Pedy on 1 February 1915. Since then, Coober Pedy has been supplying the world with the majority of gem quality opal.

The town is located in an extremely inhospitable environment. Half the population lives in underground dugouts to escape high temperatures in summer. Only in Coober Pedy will you find underground hotels, restaurants, bars and an underground church.

The town’s name is an anglicized version of Aboriginal words "kupa piti", meaning something like "white man in a hole".  Thx Steve!