Australia’s Insane Plan To Use 5 Nukes To Build A Harbour
By OzGeology
Explore the astonishing and largely forgotten story of Australia’s Cold War-era proposal to create an artificial harbor at Cape Keraudren, in Western Australia, using nuclear explosives. In the late 1960s, at the height of global atomic optimism, Australia found itself inspired by America’s ambitious Project Plowshare—a visionary program aimed at using nuclear bombs for massive civil engineering projects like canals, harbors, and tunnels. Against this backdrop, the Australian government and influential mining entrepreneurs seriously considered detonating five powerful 200-kiloton atomic bombs deep underground along Western Australia’s isolated Pilbara coastline. The goal was to instantly blast a colossal, deep-water port capable of handling the world’s largest iron ore ships, dramatically reshaping the country’s mining and export capabilities.
Throughout this video, we delve into detailed historical records, uncovering how this nuclear harbor project was conceived and developed. You’ll learn about the collaboration between Australian authorities and renowned American nuclear experts, including famed nuclear physicist Edward Teller—the “father of the hydrogen bomb.” Teller himself visited Australia to survey the Pilbara region, enthusiastically endorsing the atomic harbor idea as a groundbreaking engineering solution. We reveal rarely-seen historical documents, highlighting intricate geological modeling, sophisticated blast simulations, and elaborate safety measures designed to minimize environmental damage and radioactive fallout. The meticulous planning involved careful consideration of the geological strata beneath Cape Keraudren to ensure containment of radiation, along with extensive environmental monitoring strategies to address growing public concerns.
This comprehensive exploration also examines the political, economic, and ethical dimensions that ultimately led to the project’s cancellation. As the world became increasingly aware of the dangers of nuclear testing and environmental contamination, Australia faced mounting domestic and international pressure. Treaty obligations, such as the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, further complicated the feasibility of nuclear excavation. Additionally, we discuss internal government debates and shifting public opinion that saw initial enthusiasm gradually replaced by environmental skepticism and cautionary voices. Influential environmental activists and scientists raised critical questions about the long-term ecological impacts, radiation risks, and moral responsibility of employing nuclear weapons—even for peaceful purposes.
By watching this video, you’ll gain unique insights into Australia’s complex relationship with nuclear technology, the Cold War geopolitics influencing global scientific collaboration, and the dramatic evolution of environmental consciousness in the late 20th century. Through compelling archival footage, expert analysis, and vivid historical storytelling, we resurrect a chapter of Australian history that continues to fascinate and surprise. This is a story not just of nuclear ambition, but of the profound shift in how humanity has learned to balance technological possibility with ethical responsibility.
Here’s what others had to say:
@trevorzealley729
Imagine a harbour that would glow in the dark ? Easy to find at night.
@BabyFruitBat
They should have tried it out in Canberra first, just to make sure it worked.
@jeffreythompson9549
At about the same time the idea to connect Spencer Gulf to Lake Eyre using nukes was also floated. Flood the lake and change the climate to bring more rainfall. I always thought that the idea had merit, although nuclear blasting was probably not the way to do it.
@augustvonmackensen9785
Building using A bombs is like fine writing using a sledge hammer.
@tepidtuna7450
Very interesting. I didn’t know about this project.
There was a similar proposal for Egypt to blast a canal, but much larger in scale. From the Mediterranean to the Qattara Depression. Touted to channel sea water into the desert creating a vast new lake, cooling the surrounding area, generating hydropower (yes), and other benefits that allude me right now.
This too was shelved for the same reasons. Otherwise too expensive to do without nukes.
@tedsmith6137
What a wonderful idea. It worked well in Shagan, Kazakhstan in 1965. That lake still has 100 times the allowable radionuclides.
@russellpurdie
Plowshare was looking at using devices which did not require fission to create fusion. I think they were successful and decided to put that pandora box on the shelf.
@trash0
It would have been an interesting engineering exercise. But a “mushroom cloud” is an example of how we incorrectly think of the exercise. As mention, the point was to minimise or prevent fallout and keep everything contained underground. Some aspects deserved to be considered seriously while others need to insurance they aren’t ignored or left to chance. If it had worked well, it might have been used in other places. But we also have a bit of hindsight to see the Hancock and Teller show might have been a little too enthusiastic even if it had a feasible outcome.
As mentioned they had planned to use the technique for mining as well. Lang Hancock wrote a small book describing his plans. It’s an interesting read and you can see there is just a fraction too much enthusiasm.
I personally love the mention of using nukes to mine Wittenoom. A big blue mushroom cloud made me laugh. Yeah, that’s not a realistic picture, but ya might want to consider why it could be a really bad idea.
@simonphoenix3789
Its eally kind of sad to see that all these possibilities were abandoned. If only we could come up with a nuke that would cause no fallout, the possibilities would be incredible.
@Merenptah24
Wow! I’m speechless. I only just posted a similar idea on one of your later videos, and now I find out somebody has already thought of it. My idea was influenced by a writer called Lobsang Rampa many decades ago (the 70s). I think the title of the book was the ‘Saffron Robe’. He prophesied that the Americans were going to help us build a giant Artesian water lake in the centre of Australia using controlled nuclear explosions. This has been a dream of mine since the age of 17 and I firmly believe that this will allow us to enter a fantastic new golden age, alongside the Americans.
@shinjisan2015
“While he initially looked at using a single bomb to loosen an ore deposit at Wittenoom…” wait… what?! So it would have been radioactive asbestos. Amazing. For non-Australians, Wittenoom is one of the very rare absolutely banned no-go zones in Australia because it was an asbestos mining town.
@dougmitchell2307
Project Iron Boomerang would create steel here. Look it up.We don’t need to ship our iron ore off shore. Just sent it on a train across to the Bowen Basin in QLD.
The US Army corps of Engineers also proposed using PNE’s to build a dam on the Dimond Gorge on the Fitzroy River WA. Australia could be the richest and wealthiest country in the world if we built the Bradfield and Reid Schemes and more.
The only limits are those place on ourselves politically.
@davidmoore8741
Only problem is we learned very quickly that if q nuke picks up ground dust it becomes highly radioactive, thats why air blasts are the best for cleanist nukes
@ericwood1942
Project Ploughshare also suggested using subteranian nuclear explosions the create undergroud water storage 🙂
The also built 5000 houses using bricks made from nuclear tailings. Needless to say, the bricks released so much radon that the houses were unlivable.
@polyvg
No idea how serious it was, but there was at least some discussion of creating a second, extra large, Panama canal.using some sort of atomic bombs.
