OPAL FEVER - ANDAMOOKA

Can you still find Opal at Andamooka? Yes you can! We Noodled for Opal in old diggings and found some lovely bits of Opal.

Andamooka, even the name of this town has it's own uniqueness, the name is derived from the aboriginal term " Large waterhole" . This area once considered barren, isolated and geographically remote from the newly developing township of Adelaide. Was firstly explored by European John Stuart in 1858 , who noted its immense salt lake and dry dusty landscape. The area was left mostly untouched until 1872 with the establishment of Andamooka station who ran sheep over the 1,165 km² property.

Boundary riders accidently discovered opal in 1930 this site is now known as Treloars Hill and is pretty much smack bang in the centre of what is now known as Andamooka town. They tried to keep the discovery a secret but word got out and this triggered an opal boom with hopeful miners flocking to the area to see if they could make it lucky.

All sorts of shanty town structures were established in the largely ungoverned area with the lure of opal and striking it lucky attracting people from all walks of life. The population during the initial years of the 1930s blossomed and they dealt out their own source of justice and lived a very unique kind of lifestyle. Remnants of this remain when you visit the early settlers cottages and see the semi dugout homes of past and present residents.

Andamooka produced several types of opal, mainly white opal, and has its own variation , the matrix opal now known as Andamooka matrix. One precious opal even found its way into a stunning piece of the crown jewels' which is still highly treasured today.

Back in the early years there was no machinery to help with this dirty hard laborious work. You can check out the very distinctive tools and equipment these people created to assist them in the arduous task of daily opal mining. Every opal mining area seems to have created their own system of mining .

When you first drive into the township you can see for yourself the strangely terraformed landscape encompassing the township even still today. Mining has since been banned in the town but the remnants of past mining is still very much a part of this quirky location.

You can even noodle and fossick through the old mining tailings and find yourself your very own opal. If your very keen you can visit the local lapidary club and they will help you transform your own piece of ancient history into a lovely keepsake for a small donation.

How awesome is that ?

So come along with us, as we show you how we enjoyed this amazing quirky little town called Andamooka.

Want more Opals? check out Yowah https://youtu.be/tyDw4t_xz_g

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