On 3 October 1952 , the United Kingdom tested its first nuclear weapon , named " Hurricane " , at the Monte Bello Islands off the coast of Western Australia . A year later the first nuclear test on the Australian mainland was '' Totem 1 '' ( ) at Emu Field in the Great Victoria Desert , South Australia , on 15 October 1953 . '' Totem 2 '' ( ) followed two weeks later on 27 October . The Supply Minister , Howard Beale , stated in 1955 that " England has the know how ; we have the open spaces , much technical skill and a great willingness to help the Motherland . Between us we should help to build the defences of the free world , and make historic advances in harnessing the forces of nature . " The British government formally requested a permanent test facility on 30 October 1953 . Due to concerns about nuclear fallout from the previous tests at Emu Field and the site 's inadequate infrastructure and water supply , the recently surveyed Maralinga site was selected for this purpose . The new site was announced in May 1955 . It was developed as a joint , co-funded facility between the British and Australian governments
Hurricane
Operation Hurricane
British nuclear tests at Maralinga