July 2009

Opals Down Under News

The latest news from your favourite opal shop.

What's it like in Lightning Ridge?

Thu 30 Jul, 2009

We found this article, by Craig Tansley to be very interesting. Sourced from http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/australia/2682961/Finding-fortune-at-Light... Finding fortune at Lightning Ridge By CRAIG TANSLEY - SMH 'We don't do surnames around here, mate." I might have expected this from the big blokes at the local watering hole in Lightning Ridge and perhaps the two old miners I spoke to ou Read more Comment (0)

Opal miners shy away from land releases

Sat 4 Jul, 2009

(Sourced from http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2613356.htm?site=westernpl... on July 3, 2009) There has been a dramatic drop in the number of people applying for new opal mining land at Lightning Ridge. Ballots for 12 areas opened last Friday and so far there have only been about 40 applicants for each plot. This is compared to hundreds of bids per ballot the last time new land wa Read more Comment (0)

Call on freeze for opal leases

Wed 1 Jul, 2009

(Sourced from http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200906/s2608147.htm on June 30, 2009) Farmers are lobbying the NSW Government to hold off releasing any more opal prospecting blocks near Lightning Ridge in the state's north-west. The NSW Farmers Association wants a freeze on prospecting releases until landholders' concerns have been addressed. Chair of the association's conservation and r Read more Comment (0)