Welcome to Woomera (1-Year Access)

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS RESIDING IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. ANY ORDERS FOR THIS PRODUCT THAT ARE PLACED FROM OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WILL BE CANCELLED AND REFUNDED.

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This is a film about ordinary people in a small town caught up in big events. As Australia's only purpose-built defence village, Woomera has been famous for its rocket range, as home to Americans from the Nurrungar base and, most recently, for its controversial immigration reception and processing centre. But the centre has closed and the town is in danger of closing too. Once heralded as a model of suburban living then reviled as a 'desert jail', this film looks at Woomera from the inside and follows the town's struggle to stay alive. As a government town however, its future is not necessarily in the community's own hands. Now marketing of the range has been contracted out to a multinational company, with potential to capitalise on escalating global interest in weapons development.

(2004, 55 mins) A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Flying Carpet Films. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

© National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.