In what year was Coober Pedy formed?

Answer 1

Although Coober Pedy is known for its opals, it actually came about because of a gold-prospecting party, investigating along the edge of the Great Victoria Desert in either 1911 or 1915 (accounts vary). The accidental discovery of opal was made while the group was making camp one night, and following the news, people began to come to what was first known as Stuart Range Opal Field. It was named after Scottish explorer John McDouall Stuart who was the first one to pass through the area.

The name was changed to Coober Pedy in 1920, and it was officially designated a town in 1960. The name "Coober Pedy" is derived from the aboriginal words Kupa Pita or Kupa piti meaning White man in a hole or burrow. Coober Pedy is, of course, distinctive for its homes dug into the ground to insulate people from the extreme heat of the area.