Curated field list
Multicultural Coober Pedy
A tiny desert town of ~2,000 people drawn from dozens of nations - its clubs and churches tell the story of who came chasing opal.
For such a small, remote town, Coober Pedy is astonishingly diverse - its ~2,000 residents trace their roots to around 35 nations, drawn here across a century of opal rushes. You taste it and see it in the nationality clubs and the churches: an Italian miners’ club since 1964, a thriving Croatian community, the Greek community’s Friday BBQ, and underground places of worship carved into the rock. This collection brings them together - and the heritage story fills in how it came to be.
6 places in this collection
Map view
AttractionsCoober Pedy Italian Club
A warm, volunteer-run miners' club since 1964 - hearty Italian meals, a beer garden with sunset views and walls full of opal-field history. Visitors welcome.
AttractionsCoober Pedy Croatian Club
The social heart of Coober Pedy's large Croatian mining community - the Croatian Welfare & Sports Club, part of what makes this such a multicultural town.
Open field note
EateriesGreek Hall - Friday Greek BBQ
Authentic Greek BBQ every Friday night at the Greek Hall - a Coober Pedy community institution.
Open field note
AttractionsSerbian Orthodox Church of St Elijah
The largest underground church in town - 17m below ground, with carved rock walls and stained glass.
- Free
- Underground
AttractionsCatacomb Church (Anglican)
A cross-shaped underground church cut from sandstone in 1977, with fittings made from mulga wood and an old miner's winch.
- Free
- Underground
AttractionsSt Peter & Paul's Catholic Church
An underground Catholic church carved into the rock - completing Coober Pedy's trio of dugout churches.
- Free
- Underground