Hutchison Street Originally known as Bolshevic Gully, present day Bolshevic Gully Walk Hutchison Street has seen many changes in 100 years. At each of the CONTENTS numbered points, you can read a brief description of the changes and No. on Page developments that map Name no. have taken place. 1. Desert Cave 5 Starting where you 2. T.A.F.E. 5 are now at Desert Cave 1, walk south 3. Wear-house Arcade 6 taking in 2, 3, 4 4. Empty Lot 6 and 5 then cross the street to 6 and 5. Opal Inn 7 continue through the numbers walking 6. Empty Building 8 north to the Drive- 7. The Miners Store 8 In 12. Now cross the street again and 8. Catholic Church 9 walk south to read 9. Mobil 10 about 13 and 14 which the returns 10. IGA 10 you to the starting 11. Drug and alcohol Centre 11 point. 12. Drive-In 12 13. Opal Cave 12 14. Umoona Opal Mine & Museum 13

Hutchison Street – Bolshevic Gully Walk / 3 1. Desert Cave

Jacob Santing was Coober Pedy’s link with Store and later some motel accommodation, the outside world from the 1920’s for the which John Andrea purchased and further next 25 years. He brought mail, groceries developed in the late 1960’s as the Minos and passengers from Kingoonya every week Restaurant. With other partners, Andrea and had a store against the hill on this site, built the first Desert Cave Motel, which staffed by others. was sold to the Coro Family enterprise in Bert and Ethel Wilson took over the 1976. The underground complex that we see premises in the late 1940’s, building a new today was the dream of Umberto (Bob) Coro house, store and post office. “Ma” Wilson but it was fulfilled by his son Robert who as she was affectionately referred to, is designed, helped build and now manages another legend in Coober Pedy’s history, for the luxury underground hotel. Sadly Umberto besides having 10 children, she ran the Store, was killed in a car accident in 1986, before Post Office, maintained the Flying Doctor the opening of the Desert Cave in 1988. radio and medicine chest, as well as buying and cutting opal. In the early 1960’s Pastor Fred Traeger owned the property and built the Mission BOLSHEVIC GULLY WALK Bolshevic Gully 2. T.A.F.E.

Coober Pedy’s CBD, where the Desert Cave One day Tom Brady, a man from Broken Hill, Jacob Santing was Coober Pedy’s link with Store and later some motel accommodation, now stands, was known for much of the bought a parcel of opal from Carl Wendt, the outside world from the 1920’s for the which John Andrea purchased and further town’s history as Bolshevik Gully. Vin Wake who then had a few drinks. The whiskey next 25 years. He brought mail, groceries developed in the late 1960’s as the Minos told this story of the origin of the name in went to his head and he became convinced and passengers from Kingoonya every week Restaurant. With other partners, Andrea his book Opal Men: that Tom had defrauded him. He picked and had a store against the hill on this site, built the first Desert Cave Motel, which “During the great 1919-20 strike of miners at up his rifle and headed for Tom’s dugout, staffed by others. was sold to the Coro Family enterprise in announcing that he intended to shoot him. Broken Hill, some of the unemployed went Bert and Ethel Wilson took over the 1976. The underground complex that we see to Coober Pedy to fill in time. During this Fortunately, a man whom he met on the way premises in the late 1940’s, building a new today was the dream of Umberto (Bob) Coro period many staunch Labour men regarded managed to calm him and led him home. house, store and post office. “Ma” Wilson but it was fulfilled by his son Robert who Russia as their spiritual home (The workers’ As they walked away, Tom Brady informed as she was affectionately referred to, is designed, helped build and now manages only Fatherland) and were of the opinion everyone within hearing that there were another legend in Coober Pedy’s history, for the luxury underground hotel. Sadly Umberto that the real cure for industrial troubles was ‘too many of these bloody Bolsheviks around besides having 10 children, she ran the Store, was killed in a car accident in 1986, before to ‘take over the mines and factories, like here.’ Post Office, maintained the Flying Doctor the opening of the Desert Cave in 1988. the Bolsheviks did in Russia.’ This led to the Ever since that day the shallow valley at radio and medicine chest, as well as buying men from Broken Hill being known as ‘the Coober Pedy has been known as Bolshevik and cutting opal. Bolsheviks.’ Gully.” In the early 1960’s Pastor Fred Traeger owned the property and built the Mission

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The original building which included an oil By 1969, the store had changed hands and fired brick bakers oven was constructed in in 1971, then belonging to the Moustrides 1963 by Italian builders who later wanted to family, suffered a disastrous fuel fire at the go mining, selling out to Gordon and Rhonda rear of the property. Traeger in 1965. The business then became At one time named “The Continental Store”, the Coober Pedy Store selling meat, fruit the site is now occupied by an opal shop and vegetables, groceries, clothes, some “Opalios”, a clothing store “The Wearhouse hardware and fuel. Arcade”, the opal shop “Seven Stones” and Traegers employed a baker, truck driver to the Greek restaurant “Tom and Mary’s”. transport the weekly supplies and other workers in the store. At the time, some miners only came in on Saturdays (mail day) and would fill a wooden tea chest with continental loaves of bread which was known far and wide for its excellence. 5. Opal Inn 4. Empty Lot Following the establishment of The Opal extended the store, rebuilt the rickety On July 23rd, 2013, a fire broke out in the player.There were no boundary fences, so Store in the early 1950’s by Bert Wilson and veranda, installed refrigeration and, in 1961, 2nd storey of the Multicultural Forum which apart from two long-drop toilets, Brewster’s Ron Gough at this location, a short time later bought a truck. The Miners Store and Miners resulted in the demolition of the restaurant, shop and the Miners Store, the school yard it was taken over by George Marks and Nan Transport were up and running with Beppi opal shops, hairdresser’s salon, a Greek went on forever. Field. As well as being a combined general running the store and Attilio managing the store, petrol station and post office, the transport. coffee shop and private residences as well Across the empty lot, is the old volunteer as the old bank building where the fire Bush Church Aid Flying Doctor consulted In 1962, at 11.30 on a Friday night, the store fire building. Incredibly, given Coober Pedy’s in the rooms at the back of the store, a started. Hence the empty lot in the middle history of major fires, Albert McCormack and burned to the ground. By Sunday afternoon, of town. monthly service that began in Coober Pedy the Coros were back in business with a shed Bob Amorosi had to fight to overcome state in 1946. In 1959 the Progress Association raffled government opposition to the formation of a built of old galvanised iron and a truck- a motor car to raise money to build the fire service. They acquired a Bedford truck. In April 1960, Beppi Coro came to Coober load of goods from Port Augusta. Attilio Community Hall. The 60’ x 20’ unlined and Bob put a tank on the back, painted it red Pedy followed in July by his brother Attilio, was a concreter and bricklayer by trade partially concreted corrugated iron shed and converted it to the town’s first purpose- to go mining at the 8 Mile. Within 3 weeks and Umberto (Bob), another brother, was a was built with volunteer labour. In 1960, fitted fire appliance with emergency lights, they found opal worth £3,000. builder. They designed and built a new store, Coober Pedy’s first teachers Geoff Byrnes a pump, running boards, a water cannon, In 1960, with a population of about 180 double the size of the old one and with and Anatoli Waniarcha, used it as their a spot light and roll-out hoses. More often, people, Coober Pedy was on the brink better refrigeration so they could now offer classroom. School started with 21 Aboriginal however, earthmoving equipment was used of change. The Coros bought the Opal luxuries like ice cream and fresh milk. A new students aged 5 to 15, all classified as grade to fight fires as water was always in short store which at the time specialised in refrigerated semi-trailer was bought and a 1. No furniture had arrived so they used supply until 1987 when the reverse osmosis indestructible groceries- tinned milk, weekly trip replaced the old Kingoonya run. packing cases for the first week. Their main desalination plant was built. tinned fruit and veg, tinned fish and meat, The present Miners Store was built at site 7 teaching aid was a battery-powered record potatoes, onions, tea, sugar etc. The Coros in 1973.

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The Coober Pedy Supplies (CPS) supermarket Guide to Australia and praised by visiting owned by Greek partners Jack, Kon and celebrities who delighted in discovering Dimo operated from this building until the Mediterranean cuisine in the desert. In 2004 early 1990’s. Before that, it was Roufos Tom & Mary’s moved across the road to its supermarket and before that, from 1950, it present location where the current owners was Jack and Edna Brewster’s store. This maintain the traditional menu. store “stood out like Bleak House on the Behind the white corrugated fence lies very top of the plateau.” At night, when the the empty ground left after the Acropolis sound of an approaching car could be heard Restaurant, “one of South Australia’s most for miles, Mrs Brewster would go out with convivial venues,” was destroyed by four a lantern to flag them down. As Edna was a sticks of explosive and four 50-litre cans very short woman, the only thing the driver of fuel at 5am on June 11th 1990. For 25 would see after the lantern was the top of years the Acropolis was the place to meet. her head and a pair of eyes peering in the The high number of teachers and nurses window. who became station manager’s wives was In 1988 Tom and Mary Kiossis opened their attributed to the Acropolis where station Tom & Marys Greek Taverna next to the men came to check out the new women in CPS. For 22 years their restaurant was an town. outback legend, featured in Food Lovers 8. Church of Saints Peter and Paul

7. The Miners Store In 1964, the Catholic Church hierarchy constructed and the stained glass window recognised the need for a dugout church, added. After a church bell was obtained, resulting in the purchase of this block for the Opal Inn donated the bell tower. Also at The Miners Store opened at this location £300. Fr Frank Cresp took up residence in this time, the dugout Presbytery adjoining following its construction in 1973, its prior late 1965 and slowly, with voluntary labour, the church was upgraded by the addition history recorded at site 5. the hand dug church took shape in what of an above ground kitchen, shower, toilet, Over the years there have been many was literally, “One tree hill”. So instead of a laundry, carport and guests room, all alterations and renovations to the store spire, the church only had a tree sprouting completed and opened in 1984 by Bishop but it has remained a Coro family enterprise from its roof. Peter de Campo. Take the time to see inside with Linda and Michael jointly managing the Bishop Gallagher oficially opened the church and appreciate this much loved House of business following their Father’s death in in June 1967 and it was said 200 people God. 1998. crammed inside on that day. For 10 years, it It continues to be the hub around which the was a House of Worship for other religions, town revolves. until the opening of the Catacomb Church. Originally holding 50 people, extensions were made with a tunnelling machine, making the church in the shape of a cross, and doubling its size. Porches were

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Coober Pedy’s reputation as a “wild west” emergency workers tell the liveliest stories. town was established in the 1980’s. The They were sober and they were the ones opal market was expanding. Buyers were who had to bandage, calm, stabilise and taking everything the miners could dig shift wounded patrons on stretchers down up. Locally developed mining machines the narrow stairs to the ambulance and meant continuous mining with little down hospital. One time someone went through time. Explosives and diesel were relatively the plate glass window and got badly cut cheap. Money flowed. In the morning the up. He was a big man and out of his mind cleaners in the bars would find ripped up with anger and drink. Even 6 police couldn’t money all over the floor. Drinkers used to hold him still. They had to wait until he bled have competitions to see who could rip up out enough to weaken before the ambulance the most money. They used to light their officer could bandage him and strap him to cigarettes with $50 notes. a stretcher. The restaurant above the Mobil (Maria’s / During the filming of Mad Max, each evening 11. Drug & Alcohol Centre Porky’s / Red Sands) was the scene of the at dusk, a caravan of Thunderdome workers wildest exploits, partly because the stairs rattled back into Coober Pedy where the and balcony inspired feats of derring-do. company bunked overnight. A sign on the The Tractor Shed Guns, knives, explosives were all part of the wall at Porky`s set the tone for the town: social scene in those days. Alcohol, women “Patrons, check guns and explosives at the The Tractor Shed was named for Bob place through the 1970’s. For three years and ethnic feuds added to the mix. Volunteer bar.” Amorosi’s Komatsu D355A, the biggest the Miss Australia quests were held there. bulldozer in the world in 1972. They needed Most events were fund raisers of one kind a special trailer to load the 50-ton machine or another. Auctions always made money. at the docks in Adelaide and transport it People didn’t care about the value of what 10. IGA Supermarket over the unsealed road to Coober Pedy. they were bidding on. They were in it just The trip took 4 days. On their arrival, the to outbid the other guy, knowing the money This site was bought as an undeveloped store operated out of the Lutheran Hall, on main street was lined with cars and people was going to a good cause. property by Mick Lucas in 1973 where he the present site of T.A.F.E., and from the back who escorted them to the Italian Club A popular fundraiser was the cream pie built a bigger shop than where he was of trucks for the next 5 months until the where a huge party was on to celebrate its throw. Dozens of small sponge cakes topped trading from before which was opposite the shop was rebuilt. arrival and to bless it. Rev. Father Hackett with mock cream were sold for a dollar. christened the bulldozer ‘Lucy’ after Bob’s Opal Inn. Lucas’ finally traded under the name of People threw them at the civic leaders youngest child. Her name was later welded The new supermarket “Discount House”, Lucas’ 7 Day Supermarket until they sold of their choice. As the evening wore on on to the hungry plate at the top of the was totally destroyed by fire on the Race out to Tim Carter and his family in 2011, the the targets started throwing pies back; it blade. A bottle of champagne was cracked weekend in October 1981. Lucas’ dilemma business then becoming Carter’s IGA. became a free-for-all with cream pies flying on the dozer and Father Hackett prayed, was that their truck was already loaded everywhere. The walls of the shed were “Lord, send a mighty blessing on this mighty with the next week’s supplies so the covered in mock cream. It was a mess. Bob machine. Protect it and all those who work decision was made to keep on trading Amorosi used the new fire truck to hose it on it from all harm.” and leave all orders as they stood. A dairy all down the following day. company loaded up fridges which were As the biggest building in town, Tractor taken to Coober Pedy for perishables and the Shed was used as a community gathering

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Coober Pedy’s Drive-in is one of only seven Then, in 1964 a group of volunteers decided drive-in theatres still operating in Australia. to build a drive-in theatre. They looked at the In 2013, production of movies on 35mm drive-in at Andamooka and then travelled to film ceased and the reel to reel projectors Adelaide to buy tow 35mm projectors. The became obsolete. The volunteer Drive-in screen was built with all volunteer labour Committee and the District Council raised and a utility was raffled to raise money the money to buy the best digital projector for materials. The first drive-in opened in available, a Barco Alchemy DP2K-32B and 1965 with cone speakers mounted on the a secure, climate-controlled shipping projector room. container to house it. In the 1970’s Coober Pedy had the highest In 1959, the Coober Pedy community built a film turn-over in Australia showing 2 town hall on the now-vacant lot at stop 5. A different movies a night on the biggest 15mm projector showed slides using power screen in the country. loaned by George Marks by way of a lead from his store generator. Soon a second projector was purchased by the Progress Association and a 240 volt generator. Two films a week were shown. 14. Umoona Museum & Mine 13. Opal Cave George Burford, Coober Pedy’s unofficial George Moroussen was an ‘Afghan’ cameleer. The mention of the Opal Cave immediately for a growing number of buses, particularly mayor for 20 years, lived and worked in the In the 1950’s, he used to deliver water and brings to mind Faye Nayler who arrived in during school holidays. dugout marked with the Historical Society wood with his horse-drawn cart. When the Coober Pedy as a tourist in 1961 and found sign. When 23-year old Burford came to the government tank was low he would cart After 17 years in the business and a few Stuart Range Opal Fields in 1919, he quickly water from Matheson’s bore 80 miles away. work as a cook at Brewsters. Wanting years of semi-retirement, Faye sold the more independence, she then opened the became a figure of authority in the small In 1958 Don Field, an opal buyer and cutter, Opal Cave in 1982 to Lorraine and Dieter community of about 70 residents. He was Windlass Café with Sue Bernard but it was Sternberg, Lorraine having been the opened an underground opal shop on the severely damaged by a tornado like storm Justice of the Peace, the Secretary of the Umoona site, called the “Cave of Gems” as manageress since 1978. Having seen the Progress Committee the resident magistrate, within the year. growing numbers of buses that were well as housing a bank agency, clothing coroner, field opal buyer, administrator store, and book exchange. After trying opal mining, Faye saw that there coming through Coober Pedy after the of the Wild Dog Act in Dingo District #7 could be a better future for her in the tourist Stuart Highway was sealed, and having 16 and the person in charge of distributing This was followed by Aladdin’s Cave Opal industry as 7 coaches a month came through buses booked in at one time, the Sternbergs relief rations in the Depression Years. The Shop, “The Largest Underground Showplace Coober Pedy at that time. excavated new backpacker accommodation Commonwealth Bank agency and the Shell of any Opal Field in Australia’, opened in She secured the property lease and with and a new showroom in 1986 which they fuel depot were located at his dugout and June, 1969 by Eric and Mary Smith. have developed into an award winning some help from friends began the hard the pedal transceiver was the settlement’s In 1976, the site was purchased for Umoona complex. work of excavating the showroom so the link with the Australian Aerial Medical Council, the current property owners. In Opal Cave was born. With her new partner, Service at Broken Hill. 1984 the business was leased to Yanni Ettie Hall, the business boomed and over Athanasiadis who continues to operate the years, the Opal Cave grounds catered Umoona Opal Mine and Museum.

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