Australia - Guinea - New Zealand

1972 - Worlds First Solar Town: A backward bush hamlet in New South Wales, Australia, has been chosen as the worlds first town to be powered by solar energy. White Cliffs, a motley collection of small houses and primitive underground dugouts, has a permanent population of 45 and a floating one of about 300 miners, many of whom are immigrants of various nationalities - Yugoslavia, Dutch, British, Poles, Germans. Half the town live underground to escape the 45 degree heat and an average of 14 hours of sunshine a day. In 1981 a solar power station will supply the towns electricity, replacing several small diesel generators serving the school, hospital, hotel and houses. Other benefits of the scheme include using waste heat for water desalination, helping to overcome water shortages. On hearing the news the local residents celebrated their sudden jump into the 21st century in fine style. Photo shows Miners Fred Sealy and Maurice Kidd outside the Hilton, a mens hostel for itinerant miners. (Credit Image: (c) Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com/Mary Evans)

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1098 19600106 Average Backward Benefits Celebrated Chosen Degree Desalination Diesel Dugouts Generators Hamlet Hearing Hostel Immigrants Include Itinerant Kidd Motley Nationalities Overcome Permanent Poles Replacing Residents Scheme Shortages Solar Sudden Waste Whom

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