The Local Shop

Opal mining, Lightning Ridge, Australia

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January 28th 2009
Lightning Ridge, home to some of the worlds best reserves of precious materials, black opal...and of course my aunt Ina! And it was Ina's that was my next stop! After driving for 10 hours and travelling close on 800km north from Sydney we finally landed at her house in tiny little Cumborah, about 50km southwest of Lightning Ridge at about 5 in the evening. Peter, her partner was there with hug ... read more

Oceania » Australia » New South Wales

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Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name... ... read more