Dirrabandi to Lightning Ridge

We were now back onto the Castlereagh Hway and next stop Hebel on the NSW/Qld border.  That was our cuppa stop for the morning and found an interesting ‘welcome’ sign.  We chatted to a couple of locals beside the waterhole where we had stopped and picked up some tips on where to go at ‘The Ridge’.

Qld welcome sign

Plenty of vegetation along the way, nothing like Coober Pedy which is quite desolate in comparison.  The surrounding countryside is quite flat with not much evidence of hills of any significance.

welcome sign for Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge produces nearly all of the world’s supply of black opal which is the most rare and valuable of opals and is Australia’s official national gemstone.  Mining commenced here in the late 1800’s with miners digging square shafts using just a pick and shovel.  They climbed down just using only their back and legs to brace them.  Now shafts are usually 25m underground and the miners use steel ladders to work their claim along with jackhammers or machines with names like ‘digger’,’ bogger’ and ‘blower’.  Each claim is 50m by 50m and only two claims can be held by the same person at any one time.  As you drive around you see where old ‘cement mixers’ (agitators) live after their time with ‘Readymix’.  They are used to tumble and wash the dirt brought to the surface before the ‘tailings’ are inspected for hint or trace of opal colour.

open cut mine at Lunatic's Hill (now preserved)

It was thought that anyone who dug up here must have been a lunatic as they had to dig so much further to reach the opal that was mined down on the 'flat'.

Taking a walk to the shops after setting up we were surprised at the number of businesses there were here.  We had not expected so many.  Of course there are plenty of opal shops and a couple of art galleries.  These are going to be fun to visit.  Guess we thought it would be like Coober Pedy but very different.  The colours of the flowering bougainvillea are so intense, this is evidently a climate that suits them.

There are 4 self-drive tours here.  The red, blue, yellow and green ‘car door’ tours.  Each one starts from a point in town and you simply follow the coloured coded car doors that act as signposts.  Easily seen and rather unique.

church and house built from 'what was available'

roof is held down with rocks and walls are packed stone