Many Thompson Beach residents would be quite familiar with thunder-like sounds coming from the north from time to time. This isn’t nature putting on a show, but activity at Proof Range.

Officially called the Proof & Experimental Establishment Port Wakefield, the area is located 8 kilometres south of Port Wakefield, 83 kilometres north, north-west of Adelaide and around 40 kilometres from Thompson Beach by road.

The property is on approximately 5,600 hectares of land and is used for weapons research and testing for the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy, plus destruction of expired and unsafe ordnance.

If you’re into things that go boom, members of the local community are invited to attend the Proof and Experimental Establishment Port Wakefield (P&EE PW) Community Day on Saturday 13 October 2018, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

The day will feature live dynamic firing displays, static displays such as weapon platforms, watercraft, military vehicles, historic photos, ammunition and a variety of stalls.

More information, along with how to get there can be found here.

On a related note, it’s good to know that an area offshore from Proof Range is restricted, indicated below.

Markers are situated around the area to indicate boundaries.