PROPOSED FACILITY

Most significant opals and fossils recovered from the Lightning Ridge region are sold overseas or held in private collections. Many potentially scientifically important specimens have been lost this way and have never been identified or displayed because of the lack of a facility like the one proposed.

The saga of small miners battling to find the sporadic occurrences of opal provides some of the most fascinating insights into the Australian outback. Visitors from Australia and overseas will have the opportunity to experience part of the rich history of mining in one of Australia's most romantic places, the culturally diverse and extraordinarily vital town of Lightning Ridge.

The Australian Museum has given preliminary support for Lightning Ridge Opal and Fossil Centre to be incorporated into the Fossil Track being developed to link the Age of Fishes Museum at Canowindra, The Warren Summerville mineral and fossil collection at Bathurst and the Wellington Caves.