Emu Field - Definition and Overview

Emu Field was located in the desert of South Australia, at approximately 132E 29S. Variously known as Emu Field, Emu Junction or Emu, it was the site of the Operation Totem series of nuclear tests, conducted by the British government in 1953.

The site was located and surveyed by Len Beadell in 1952. A village and airstrip were constructed for the subsequent testing program.

Two atomic tests were conducted at the site. Totem 1 was detonated on October 15, 1953, and Totem 2 was detonated on October 27, 1953. The devices were both sited on towers, and yielded 10 kilotons and 8 kilotons respectively.

It was later found that the radioactive cloud from the first detonation did not disperse as expected, and travelled north east over the Australian continent.

The site at Emu Field was considered too remote for future use, and the search for a more convenient location led to the survey of Maralinga, where a further series of atomic tests were conducted in 1956.