Woomera Prohibited Area

The Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) is a globally unique military testing range. It covers 127,000 square kilometres in north-west South Australia, approximately 450 kilometres NNW of Adelaide. It is the largest land range in the world, with a centre line of over 600 kilometres, comparable in size to England.

The WPA has been declared a Prohibited Area under the Defence Force Regulations and is used for the ‘testing of war material’ under the control of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Director Woomera Test Range has authority, on behalf of the Australian Government, to control access to the WPA. All persons wishing to access any part of the WPA (excluding the Stuart Highway) must obtain prior approval.

The WPA is also highly prospective and the South Australian Government estimates that more than $35 billion in developments, iron ore, gold and uranium projects could be possible over the next decade.

The WPA comprises extensive lands north of the Indian Pacific railway, from Maralinga in the south-west up to its north-west corner in the Great Victoria Desert (that stretches across the SA-WA border), across to Coober Pedy, and west of Roxby Downs down to Woomera in the south-east.

Imagery

File imagery is available from the Defence Image Gallery.

Media releases