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FEATURE
ANDAMOOKA STH AUSTRALIA
An odd location within the heart of the South Australian desert , a place you know of , or you don ’ t , a place you want to visit or not . Andamooka is a quirky little town with a colourful past and proof that resilience isn ’ t found in some ill-informed textbook . Andamooka is dusty , dirty , and even a little “ rundown ”, yet digging around you find colour in the location , the history , the people , and the ground .
The region was first sighted by Europeans in 1858 when explorer John MacDouall Stuart discovered a waterhole and soon after a pastoral station was established . That station still exists and within it sits the township of Andamooka . Founded in 1933 after the discovery of opal and like it ’ s ‘ nearby ’ neighbour , Coober Pedy , it quickly saw people head to the region in search of fortune .
Those early settlers were a mixed bunch , many Australians
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