Grawin is definitely not a tourist destination but it certainly does have an ambience and basic roughness that you will not find at Lightning Ridge. Grawin is very much a mining town with its own character 37km west of Lightning Ridge. I have visited a few times and I prefer camping here compared to the times I have experienced the 'tourist atmosphere' of Lightning Ridge.
History of the Opal Fields at Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard.
Opal was first discovered at Glengarry in 1905 by Mr Charles Phipp who was working on Morendah Station at the time, but little mining was done there. The Grawin was established in 1908 with the discovery of the opal at "Hammond Hill". Further discoveries in 1920 at "Richards Hill" put the unofficial village on the map. Since the first discovery of opal in the region, people have come and gone in tides with each new strike, seeking their fortune in search of the "rainbow in the rock".
In 1928 an opal weighing almost 11b. (450g), and the size of a mans fist was found at "Richards Hill" and caused a rush of men to this field. The opal was named "The Light of the Worlds" and is still the best known opal from this area. After the Second World War things began to get more mechanical with the electric generator for light and motorised hoisting gear to make the removal of waste quicker and a bit less like slave labour.
The next major rush was started on Melbourne Cup Day in 1985 when the "Sheepyard Rush" was found.
By the time the 1990's came along a new rush called "Carters Rush" had started and Blowers (Giant Vacuum Cleaners) were in use as well as underground hydraulic diggers and mini loaders and as many different inventions as there are miners are now being used in search of the thing that all miners, young and old lust after, "The Rainbow in a Rock" Although mining at Glengarry was also going on for some time it was not until about 1970 when a find of some very good opal was made that Glengarry became the new "Hot Spot." The "Mulga Rush", which began in 2000, is the biggest opal rush since the Coocoran was discovered in the early 1900's.
Here are a couple of photos from one of my visits.
Hi John, great to see the pictures. They opal fields sure are places of unique character, and characters aren't they, and you sure captured that! Interesting around Lightning Ridge that no-one uses surnames, only nicknames. We were told that it was because lots of the inhabitants have somewhat colorful pasts!
Really enjoyed the history you provided too. Thanks. Brownie2
