Opening Thurs 9 May, 6pm
Exhibition runs Fri 10 May – Sat 1 Jun
Open Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 11am – 3pm

Situated on the lands of the Kokatha people in remote South Australia, the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) is the largest and most technologically advanced weapons testing range in the world.

This restricted defence area, covering an enormous 122,188 km2, was established in 1946 via an agreement between the British and Australian Governments. Now operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Warfare Centre, their motto reads ‘ready the warfighter’. Over the past 70 years this theatre of aggression has subjected the WPA to nuclear bomb test, radioactive waste storage, a detention centre, the world’s largest uranium mine and countless missile and rocket tests. Damaging traditional lands and significant sites, this is imperialism hard at work; conveniently tucked away ‘outback’ – out of sight, out of mind.

The exhibition Woomera exposes us to this contentious and highly confidential place, drawing attention to its dramatic, irreconcilable tensions; the cultural importance and stunning environments of this Country, and the violent, destructive activities that continue to be carried out upon it in the name of ‘progress’ and empire.

A special thanks to Kokatha elder Aunty Sue Coleman-Haseldine and Gordon Franklin for contributing their stories to this project.

Woomera will be opened by guest speaker Prof Henry Reynolds.

Image: Kristian Laemmle-Ruff, Tracks II, 2018, Digital print in red aluminium light-box