Lightning Ridge
LIGHTNING RIDGE
Is the home of Black Opal and is the only place in the world where precious black opal is found.It is believed the name Lightning Ridge came about by a very fierce electrical/lightning storm that killed a shephered,his dog and his herd of sheep on a small hill near the town in the late 1800's.It is 770km North West of Sydney in outback NSW and has a population of approximately 6000 people.The first record of opal being found was in 1873 but officially mining did not commence until 1901 by Jack Murray a boundary (horse)rider.
Is the home of Black Opal and is the only place in the world where precious black opal is found.It is believed the name Lightning Ridge came about by a very fierce electrical/lightning storm that killed a shephered,his dog and his herd of sheep on a small hill near the town in the late 1800's.It is 770km North West of Sydney in outback NSW and has a population of approximately 6000 people.The first record of opal being found was in 1873 but officially mining did not commence until 1901 by Jack Murray a boundary (horse)rider.
