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White Cliffs is one of the famous opal towns of the world. The rock is mainly soft sandstone. The high silica content is what is responsible for opals. But what makes dugouts possible are two critical features: Firstly, the rock is self-supporting. Mining shafts do not need to be reinforced with wood or other propping devices. In White Cliffs, shafts and caves that were dug more than a hundred years ago can still be found intact.
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The second factor is low humidity. There are several places in Australia – Sydney being one of them – where appropriate soft sandstone for dugouts can be found. But dampness would make dugouts unpleasant to live in.
With its low rainfall, White Cliffs is ideal for dugouts.
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In White Cliffs, most people have dug their home using a jackhammer, moving the dirt out with a wheelbarrow.
The only cost is that of the diesel used to run the compressor for the jackhammer.
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Carving the rock of your own bedroom is a very creative art form.
If you want a shelf, carve it!
And if your room has become too small, get the jackhammer again and enlarge a corner.
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To dig the White Cliffs Underground Motel, a blower was used.
A blower, like a giant vacuum cleaner, sucks dirt – which saves A LOT of wheelbarrowing.
Blowers are one of the emblems of small mining towns. You'll see one at the entrance to White Cliffs.
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Once a room is dug, a shaft is drilled from above ground, bringing light and ventilation.
For the floor, a cement slab is poured.
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The walls are covered with a mixture of cement and a sealant such as Boncrete, or Cemstick. Then they are often painted white.
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Completed more quickly than any other building, and at only a fraction of the money and energy costs normally associated with building, dugouts make incredibly cosy dwellings.
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