You are, of course, correct - there were joint facilities with the US in the Woomera area as well - and Nurrangar is now part of the test range itself.
I loved my time in Woomera. Memories I will always cherish. Even now I can hear the drunken “caw” of the outback crows, the noisy squawks of flying galahs, feel the heat again, the vastness of the bush...
But my best memories are the people! Aussies are truly God’s children. Maybe it’s just the bunch beyond the black stump, or South Australians, but I always felt right at home.
The only thing that sucked was the Nurrangar schedule. We worked 4 swings (evenings), 4 mids, and 4 day shifts and then got 3 days off. So at the last swing we’d generally go to someone’s house in Woomera village and drink until dawn, then the last mid we’d go to Spud’s roadhouse in Pimba and drink from 7:30 until 3: pm. Others would have a party after the last day shift but NOT me. I be on the Suart Highway to Adelaide to go visit the shielas! (and tour the other attractions)