The workers quarters at Olympic Dam Village (the township built to service the Olympic Dam mine before Roxby Downs was built) … was the only place they could accommodate us when I went there for my second stay. Very rudimentary conditions with a shared shower/toilet block and a very noisy airconditioner in each room that shook the wall and bed every time it cut in or out – waking me up!
I had a small bar fridge to keep drinks and snacks cool (it was summertime – temperatures regularly hit 45 degrees celcius, and it was like an oven in the rooms). I also managed to get my computer up there to play some games and keep myself amused on boring weekends. I didn’t have the internet back then – heck, I didn’t even have a phone … payphones down the road were my only communications mechanism (there was always a line up waiting to use the phones).
We had a TV room where they showed a movie each Sunday night, and a mess hall where meals were served. The bar was a favourite hangout – very cold drinks and several pool tables to keep everyone occupied.
Thanks Paul – it’s been great getting all my old photos scanned and added to my digital collection. I’m even finding photos I had forgotten I had taken!
I’ve been meaning to comment on how much I’m enjoying your photos. It’s made me check my RSS feeds more often.
Now that is one small crowded room. But I really get needing the PC! I went into hospital for a week, years ago (pre-internet) and took my computer.