We visited (well, looked at) Western Australia’s version of Pine Gap. A little bit different. This facility is associated with the Echelon program.

Who knew that the Mid West of Western Australia was home to such an important facility. This radar spy base very much exists ‘under the radar’.

So who are we to care! Its raison d’etre is our protection, right? If only. I suspect (nay, believe) it has a unfriendly missile permanently targeted on its coordinates.

The radomes (colloquially, golf balls) are said to exist so as to obfuscate evidence of which way the dishes contained within are pointing. If true, that bland explanation is disappointing. I was hoping for a much more interesting reason.

The official narrative for the Station’s existence – as stated on the information sign at the Lookout is:

This Defence Facility contributes to Australia’s national security and defence. The proposal develop the Station was announced in March 1987. Work commenced on site in 1988 and was completed in 1993. The buildings, antennas and other station facilities occupy about 40 hectares.
The surrounding buffer zone of 442 hectares is also owned by the Commonwealth and provides protection for the Station against external electrical interference. The buffer zone land is farmed under license by the former land owners.
Australian Construction Services, part of the Department of Administratives Services, managed construction of the site buildings and services. The antennas, of Australian design, were erected by a joint venture between AWA Defence Industries and Baulderstone Hornibrook Engineering. The site’s construction workforce peaked at 170 mid 1990.
Particular care is being taken to protect the environment and to preserve the natural beauty of the site. Since 1992, more than 100,000 trees and other native plants have been planted for erosion control and for general improvement of the land. All trees are locally propagated from species native to this area.
Station personnel total around 80 staff living in Geraldton and neighbouring areas.
The Minister for Defence, Senator The Honorable Robert Ray, officially opened the station on 10 September 1993.

Detailed information on the Echelon Spy Base at Kojarena.

More information about the Echelon Program.

 

 

© Kim Epton 2025
 396 words, six photographs.

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