Gem Fever

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If you are looking for a place of no pretence; where people are who they are whether it suits you or not; where keeping up with the Jones's is not a concept they entertain and where the bush speaks loud and clear amidst the dirt and dust; spend a month in Sapphire, as we did and discover a different way of life. You may even strike it rich if you are lucky or just have fun trying.

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Photos

The Humble Abode
These are claim sites. Most people live in semi permanent structures made from whatever they can find. Claims are 30M x 30M and once they are pegged out and paperwork gone through, the miner digs a shaft and tunnels underground for Sapphires.

Town
1.5kms from the PO, permanent residences live. The homes are often made from stone, wood and fibro.

Buckingham Palace
People are not allowed to build permanent structures on claims, so you find all these little quirky places about the place.

Miners Cottage
This one's quite nice.

Home Sweet Home
Here is one knocked up with wood. I love the chimney.

Rednecks
Although the place seems quite laid- back, people are very protective of their claims.

More Mansions
Do not enter.

Tepee
Caravans and tents are scattered about and even a tepee. We had to circle the wagon.

Around Town
It's quite dry but has been known to flood. Windmills scattered and a few gum trees.

Services
I'll leave this to your imagination.

You can get it all...
Dave's not too keen.

Tourist Mine
Of course there is the tourist aspect. Walk in mines and shops with gems for sale. Their tourist season is April to October, due to the pleasant climate at this time.

Museum
Showing the history of mining equipment.

Moonscapes
Land, mullock heaps and machinery dot the landscape.

Rusty Vehicles
I love the character of the dumped, rusted out cars.

A Stand
The back trays of trucks are used to put mining machinery on.

Retreat Creek
Our first camp spot at Little Bessie was here. We chose it for the pretty bush experience, not the best place to fossick.

Evening Treat
We were often able to share a glass of wine watching a beautiful sunset.

Drought ??
There were sweeping areas of dead trees, not sure if it is man made or mother nature.

Desolation
Notice the volcanic plug in the background. It was the heat from volcano eruptions creating the sapphires.

Shaft
The claims have shafts dug on them and tunnels underground to be able to reach deeper wash. Bigger the Sapphire, the heavier, therefore the deeper they go the more likely to reap the rewards.

Comments

[Robyn and Greg]

Gem Fever
Loved the photos especially the very friendly cow and Lil doing her yoga. Looks like you have been to a lot of the places we went too before heading to Cairns. Did you do any good in the diggings?

[lonierangers]

Not well enough
I didn't do much digging, far too much hard work on the back and shoulder but Dave got enough to keep him interested. Apart from 12 sapphires, he got quite a few zircons. But there is no need to rush to the bank and change our lifestyle. Not that we'd want too. LOL.