Australia hosted British nuclear testing in Monte Bello Islands ( Operation Hurricane ) , Emu Field and Maralinga between 1952 and 1963 . Maralinga was developed as a joint facility with a shared funding arrangement . During the 1950s , Australia participated in the development of the Blue Streak missile , a Medium-range ballistic missile ( MRBM ) intended for delivery of a nuclear warhead
Operation Hurricane
Operation Hurricane
Australia and weapons of mass destruction