Coober Pedy Historical Society

Beneath the Dust: Stories from Coober Pedy’s First Cemetery

In the heart of the South Australian outback lies Coober Pedy, a town famed for its opals, underground homes, and fiercely resilient community. At its First Cemetery rest the pioneers, prospectors, dreamers, and drifters who carved a life from stone and desert heat. This collection brings their stories to life — tales of grit, tragedy, eccentricity, and hope — buried beneath the red dust but not forgotten. Each grave holds a chapter of outback history, waiting to be unearthed.