1980’s

Television Arrived

Demise of the Drive-In

1981 Lucas’s Supermarket and Coober Pedy Plaza destroyed by fire on the same night in October

1982 The new Hospital was opened

1983 TAFE Coober Pedy Campus commences in old Lutheran Church Hall

1984 Opening of St Johns Ambulance Centre at back of old hospital

Fire in the Stone filmed

1985 Mains water available from Reverse Osmosis Plant

1986 Breakaways Reserve declared a National Park

1987 Completion of sealing of Stuart Highway

Ron & Jenny Gough opened the Old Timers Mine tourist enterprise

Local government change. Council replaces Progress Association. Eric Malliotis first mayor

1988 Desert Cave Complex opened

1989 Newly built District Council Chambers opened

Stuart Range Caravan Park opened

Court House built

1990’s

1990 Wind Turbine Commissioned

Fire Station opened

1992 New swimming pool opened

Ampol/Coach depot built

Centrelink opened

1994 Priscilla Queen of the Desert filmed

1995 St Elijahs Serbian Orthodox Church consecrated

New TAFE building opened

Westpac new premises opened

1996 Comfort Inn Experience Motel opened

New Police station opened

1997 Dusty Radio launched

Desert Drive-in opened

1998 Town Oval is opened

1999 Hutchison Street kerbed

2001 Volunteers take over Drive-In

Umoona Aboriginal Aged Care facility opened

2002 New Ambulance Centre opened

2009 Oxiana’s copper/gold/silver mine at Prominent Hill, went into production

2010 IMX iron ore mine at Cairn Hill officially opened

New Airport Terminal opened

2011 Arrium’s haematite mine at Peculiar Knob commences production

Carters IGA buy out Lucas’s Supermarket

2013 Drug and Alcohol Centre opened

2015 Coober Pedy celebrates 100 years

2017 Miners Store Complex ceases trading. Bought by Carters Retail. The Complex consists

of the Post Office, Hardware Store, Celebrations Bottle Shop and Pharmacy

EDL renewable Hybrid Power Supply is commissioned

CU River Mining take over Cairn Hill holding