In 1953, uranium was discovered along the headwaters of the South Alligator River valley. Thirteen small but rich uranium mines operated in the following decade, at their peak in 1957 employing over 150 workers. Early in the 1970s large uranium deposits were discovered at Ranger, Jabiluka and Koongarra. Following receipt of a formal proposal to develop the Ranger site, the Commonwealth Government initiated an inquiry into land use in the Alligator Rivers region. The Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry (known as the Fox inquiry) recommended, among other things, that mining begin at the Ranger site, that consideration be given to the future development of the Jabiluka and Koongarra sites, and that a service town be built.
in 1953 uranium was discovered along the headwaters of the south alligator river valley thirteen small but rich uranium mines operated in the following decade at their peak in 1957 employing over 150 workers early in the 1970s large uranium deposits were discovered at ranger jabiluka and koongarra following receipt of a formal proposal to develop the ranger site the commonwealth government initiated an inquiry into land use in the alligator rivers region the ranger uranium environmental inquiry (known as the fox inquiry) recommended among other things that mining begin at the ranger site that consideration be given to the future development of the jabiluka and koongarra sites and that a service town be built