Opal mining is done by 2-3 person operations rather than big companies because opals don't run in seams like gold, they are quite random so you just have to strike it lucky. The miners peg their claim and start digging through the sandstone, albeit using more sophisticated equipment today. Beware wandering about there is deep uncovered hole beside nearly every one of those dirt piles.
We passed through Bakers Swamp without noticing anything. Then reached our last dot on the map for this trip - Larras Lee and saw this. The roadside monument says: In Memory of WILLIAM LEE (1794 - 1870) of "Larras Lake" a pioneer of the sheep and cattle industry and first member for Roxburgh under responsible government (1856 - 1859). This stone was erected by his descendants. --- 1938 --- This is a repost from a few days ago. Thinking I would use this for this week’s Taphophile Tragics post I dug a little further into William Lee’s story, it’s a very colonial Australian one. William was born of convict parents, living his childhood years around the Sydney region. In his early 20s he was issued with some government cattle, recommended as a suitable settler and granted 134 acres at Kelso near Bathurst. He was one of the first in the area and did well. A few years later he was granted a ram and an inc...
The tunnel shot is very impressive and, once again, I have to say I love the colour!
ReplyDeleteA great collection of Coober Pedy Photos Joan. It is like being in another world.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Ladies toilet at a petrol station there and the inside door 'lock' was an iron bar which you lifted and placed on two hooks across the door .... I had a little chuckle at that ;-)
They were a pretty friendly bunch we found. Plus, we got some good hamburgers at the cafe.