Underground Village.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1921, Page 4

Underground Village.

I NK,M E AUSTRALIAN SETTLEMENT. SYDNEY, Dvr. (I. One of lie I'iusi oxl raordina i y \i 1 luges in tlie (. ommnnwealth is that named Coobcr IVdy, on the StuailY Range opal fields. 1 7»i mile-: north from Kingoonva, on the Kasi-W. *4 transcor. tinental line.

'Fhe population is between 7() u-1 SO. and, with the exception of the galvanised iron lock-up, there are no public buildings in the ordinary sense of t.lio term, and no licensed premises, yet two policemen are stationed there. Tilio inhabitants reside underground in dug-outs. consisting in some cases of two or more rooms. The name of C.’oober IVdy was given io tlie p’aco because in aboriginal lingo it means "white man going in bole.” It was here that opal was first discover'd in South Australia, and it is still the only field in that State in normal limes. This opal i valued up to an ounce.

As much as CM lias been paid for 100 gallons of water. During lias proved abortive*, and the Doverument has decided tf) spend many thousands of pounds to construct an underground concrete tank. The Commouwcnhii post office is unique in Australii. It is located in one of the dug-outs, in which a general store is conducted. This is the only post office of it- kind in the Commonwealth service, and is visited by an inspector. To supplement, the scanty and costly meat supply, rabbits are kept in condition by potato peelings and other scraps from the table, and killed when required. One digger is maintaining a family of 10 in this manner.