Queensland Opal Towns & Fields - Yowah

Yowah – Home of the Yowah Nut

Yowah township is situated 165 km West of Cunamulla and has a friendly population of around 100 people.

A bore was sunk in 1912 for the mining settlement and has never failed since.

There is a fossicking area for visitors, caravan park, golf course and numerous retail outlets and Opal cutters willing to help educate newcomers!

The greater Yowah Area also known as Cunamulla Mining Field, encompassing Koroit Opal Field, produces a whole sub-species of Boulder Opal, known generically as Yowah Nuts. The best examples reveal highly-prized solid cores of gem crystal. These small ironstone boulders or 'nuts' are found thickly embedded in the pipeclay band which varies in thickness from 15 centimeters to 60 cms.

This marvellous form of Boulder Opal includes a number of different nodule shapes and sizes which contain kernels of concentrically patterned and Opalised matrix.

The first lease was registered at the Yowah in 1884.

Gem Yowah Nut

Yowah Nut Conglomerate

The earliest reference to the Yowah fields tells of the discovery of Opal in an area now known as the Water Claim at Whiskey Flat. Later, in 1833, Opal was found in the area known as Southern Cross. This area was taken up by a company headed by Mr Bond. Work continued until the death of the manager. In 1901 this lease of 1000 feet by 1000 feet was taken up by a group of Germans. From 1902 to 1906 approximately 100 miners were working on the field.

An extension of the Water Claim at Whiskey Flat was known as Evans Lead or the Great Extended. Mr C.F.V. Jackson, assistant government geologist, in October 1902 reported in the Opal Mining Industry:

‘The discovery of Opal at the Great Extended was made by Mr Evans when deepening an old shaft that had been left by some former prospector, and it is now one of the richest deposits which is being worked in Queensland. It was first held as a claim, but owing to disputes was subsequently taken up as a mining lease No.6 by Evans and T.C.Wollaston. This is now the only mineral lease for Opal which holds good.’

Black Gate followed with the discovery of Opal on Dynevor Downs in 1894. Nearby mines include Leopardwood.

Koroit - Situated (80km NW of Cunamulla) 50 miles north-east of Yowah, as the crow flies!

Opal was discovered here in 1897 by Lawrence Rostron, the manager of Tilboroo station, Eulo. Rostron formed a mining syndicate which initially met with little success. In 1900 a larger syndicate formed which included most of the original and carried out more extensive work to a greater depth. The find was estimated at between £800 to £900. At that time thirty or forty men were working the field, however the lack of water made the field a trying place.

During the 1970's the field was deserted. Today this one of the most vibrant Opal producing fields.

The field encompasses the Red Star, Fiery Comet, Boobara and Holloways mines and produces brilliant Nut Opal, incredibly beautiful Matrix picture stones and red jasper-like Boulder Band capable of revealing brilliant faces of colour from thin horizontal veins of Opal.