The Gemfields and Sapphire

The Gemfields is a former locality in the Central Highlands RegionQueensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, The Gemfields had a population of 1,449 people. On 17 April 2020, the Queensland Government re-drew the boundaries of localities within the Central Highlands Region by removing the locality of The Gemfields in order to create three new localities of RubyvaleSapphire Central and Anakie Siding (around the towns of Rubyvale, Sapphire, and Anakie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gemfields

Retreat Creek at Sapphire is mostly dry with no water.

The Sapphire Gemfields, just 45 minutes west of Emerald, are home to the largest gemfields in the Southern Hemisphere. The small settlements of Anakie, Rubyvale, Sapphire and the Willows are teeming with semi-precious stones of all shapes and sizes including sapphires and rubies… you just have to know where to look!

Guided underground mine tours are widely available or tag-along on a digging tour; book a self-drive fossicking tour complete with maps and mining equipment or try your luck at a fossicking park and sift through a bucket of sapphire wash keeping an eye out for the motherload. https://www.southerngreatbarrierreef.com.au/destinations/sapphire-gemfields

I drove to Sapphire and based myself at the Camping area at the RSL Club. There is also free camping with a toilet and access to water as you drive into Sapphire just past the Caravan Park, which is also the Petrol station and the shop for groceries and also hot food. You can virtually walk everywhere in that area if you want to search for Sapphire…Retreat Creek is dry as usual, and also the Common Lands which you can fossick on and there are many open areas for free fossicking. You need a license, but now you have to get one online for a small cost…

You can fossick anywhere without a claim notice. People have found sapphire in the common areas …all I found was shiny self polished rocks that look great but have no monetary value whatsoever.

We went to Pats Gems which eventually was open after the Virus scares and closure..and bought two buckets of sand for $30..$15 each, and diligently sieved, washed and searched for the elusive sapphire. We found none of any interest…a few miniature scraps, and were very disappointed. We went back to the common grounds.

Published by Ladymaggic

Artist, Traveller, Researcher and Writer, currently living in Australia where I photograph and share experiences and events as I travel. Travel photos and videos about many places in Australia​ and the world

Rossville Retreat

Bush Camping by Black Mountain, Cooktown, Queensland

Station Cook

Nutritious, tasty and energy giving foods cooked simply and daily to feed hard workers

Roads Lesser Traveled

Life is just down the road lesser traveled....

Profusión Real Estate

Te mostramos tu hogar

Fotoclub Bergamo

La continuità nella fotografia tradizionale

Roadtirement

"Traveling and Retired"

The Godly Chic Diaries

BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

kouklahouse.wordpress.com/

Back in Zak, after a quick trip up to Epirus, northern Greece

bushboys world

Photos of my world and other stuff I hope you will enjoy too. Photos taken with Canon PowershotSX70HS Photos can be purchased.

Living in Natures Love

Simple & loving hacks for whole health; mind, body & spirit

Myrela

Art, health, civilizations, photography, nature, books, recipes, etc.

Artistcoveries

Discovering the joy of art

blackwings666

Horror, Science Fiction, Comic Books and More

Meandering My Way...

Enjoying wherever the road takes me.

Food & Fiction

A place I can share receipes and give you something interesting for your imagination.

%d bloggers like this: