Great Gastropods & Marvellous Mussels (Fine Details Preserved) →

Dr. Elizabeth Smith from the Australian Opal Centre shows us part of the AOC's amazing collection of fossilised shelled creatures: snails and mussels!

“Welcome to Fine Details Preserved — a little series of videos featuring awesome items from the collections of the Australian Opal Centre and the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. In this series we’ll look at some incredible objects ranging from opalised fossils to opal mining heritage items to strange mystery objects that will make you wonder.”

Welcome to Fine Details Preserved -- a little series of videos featuring awesome items from the collections of the Australian Opal Centre and the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. In this series we'll look at some incredible objects ranging from opalised fossils to opal mining heritage items to strange mystery objects that will make you wonder.

Follow the Australian Opal Centre on Facebook: http://facebook.com/australianopalcentre

Charlie Nettleton's pocket watch (Fine Details Preserved) →

Barbara from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society shows us an early relic of the Lightning Ridge opal fields -- the pocket watch of the industry founder, Charlie Nettleton.

“Welcome to Fine Details Preserved — a little series of videos featuring awesome items from the collections of the Australian Opal Centre and the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. In this series we’ll look at some incredible objects ranging from opalised fossils to opal mining heritage items to strange mystery objects that will make you wonder.”

Welcome to Fine Details Preserved -- a little series of videos featuring awesome items from the collections of the Australian Opal Centre and the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. In this series we'll look at some incredible objects ranging from opalised fossils to opal mining heritage items to strange mystery objects that will make you wonder.

For more information on Charlie Nettleton and the settlement named after him, check out these two earlier IDU videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk3-9...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-nz9...

Unboxing the Past (Fine Details Preserved) →

In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Smith from the Australian Opal Centre opens a box of donations, a collection of incredible opalised fossils from 110 million years ago, all found in the same location.

“Welcome to Fine Details Preserved — a little series of videos featuring awesome items from the collections of the Australian Opal Centre and the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. In this series we’ll look at some incredible objects ranging from opalised fossils to opal mining heritage items to strange mystery objects that will make you wonder.”

Welcome to Fine Details Preserved -- a little series of videos featuring awesome items from the collections of the Australian Opal Centre and the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. In this series we'll look at some incredible objects ranging from opalised fossils to opal mining heritage items to strange mystery objects that will make you wonder.

Follow the Australian Opal Centre on Facebook: http://facebook.com/australianopalcentre

Extras: Collarenebri - The Railway that Never Was

Collarenebri, a tiny town in northern New South Wales, was destined to have a railway station...until a local government decision put a stop to it, leaving the railway line stranded nine miles from the town. Here are some extra photographs relating to Collarenebri and Pokataroo railway station:

The remains of the buffer at the end of the Pokataroo/Collarenebri railway line.

The remains of the buffer at the end of the Pokataroo/Collarenebri railway line.

The earthworks beneath the old railway line is now home to rabbits.

The earthworks beneath the old railway line is now home to rabbits.

The base of the jib crane.

The base of the jib crane.

The jib crane base and old farmhouses in Pokataroo.

The jib crane base and old farmhouses in Pokataroo.

A tree grows up through the disused railway line. (2002.)

A tree grows up through the disused railway line. (2002.)

Some of the old lines have been plowed up, resulting in a tangled mess of steel. (2002.)

Some of the old lines have been plowed up, resulting in a tangled mess of steel. (2002.)

The remains of the buffer. This photograph is from 2002, before the wooden structure had rotted away and collapsed.

The remains of the buffer. This photograph is from 2002, before the wooden structure had rotted away and collapsed.

Track joint.

Track joint.

A nearby rail bridge.

A nearby rail bridge.

Pokataroo by night.

Pokataroo by night.

Collarenebri: The Railway That Never Was →

Collarenebri, in northern New South Wales, Australia, missed out by 'that much' on having its own railway station. Instead, the planned line was cancelled nine miles from the town. In this video, we explore Pokataroo, the end of the line, and discuss what might have happened if the line had been completed to its planned terminus.

Collarenebri, in northern New South Wales, Australia, missed out by 'that much' on having its own railway station. Instead, the planned line was cancelled nine miles from the town. In this video, we explore Pokataroo, the end of the line, and discuss what might have happened if the line had been completed to its planned terminus.

Handy links about relevant stuff:

Pokataroo station on NSWrail.net: http://nswrail.net/locations/show.php...

Pokataroo on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokataroo

Collarenebri on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collare...

The Pokataroo railway line on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokatar...

Old newspaper articles, letters to the editor, and public domain photographs sourced from http://trove.nla.gov.au -- an amazing resource and a rabbit hole you'll find yourself falling into!

Extras: Fossils and False Fossils

I met up with Dr. Elizabeth Smith from the Australian Opal Centre to discuss items commonly misinterpreted as fossils. Often, miners will present weird and wonderful items that can be fascinating geological formations in their own right, but are not fossilised material.

Here are a few extra photos from the Fossils or Not Fossils filming:

An automatic hoist, ordinarily used to lift opal dirt from below ground to a truck on the surface, has been repurposed as a projector stand for the 2016 presentation of Spark, a multimedia video presentation about the Lightning Ridge experience, cul…

An automatic hoist, ordinarily used to lift opal dirt from below ground to a truck on the surface, has been repurposed as a projector stand for the 2016 presentation of Spark, a multimedia video presentation about the Lightning Ridge experience, culture and lifestyle.

The projector (and hoist!) in use for the Spark experience.

The projector (and hoist!) in use for the Spark experience.

Filming with Dr. Smith. Here, we're discussing weird little stone formations, where it appears the silica deposits have been "squashed" as they've formed, creating something that looks like crushed candy.

Filming with Dr. Smith. Here, we're discussing weird little stone formations, where it appears the silica deposits have been "squashed" as they've formed, creating something that looks like crushed candy.

Elizabeth is explaining the characteristics of a dinosaur bone: smooth surface, some porous regions, certain specific shapes.

Elizabeth is explaining the characteristics of a dinosaur bone: smooth surface, some porous regions, certain specific shapes.

It rained relentlessly during the shoot. We were indoors, so getting wet wasn't a problem. We were inside a gigantic shed, though, so getting good sound was.

It rained relentlessly during the shoot. We were indoors, so getting wet wasn't a problem. We were inside a gigantic shed, though, so getting good sound was.

The front of an old Morris, repurposed in typical Lightning Ridge style as a piece of mining machinery.

The front of an old Morris, repurposed in typical Lightning Ridge style as a piece of mining machinery.

Selfie with the rear of the vehicle. The perforated drum is designed like a clothes washing machine, to spin the opal dirt around and pulverise the sandstone away. Some of these machines, called "puddlers" worked with water (wet puddling), others op…

Selfie with the rear of the vehicle. The perforated drum is designed like a clothes washing machine, to spin the opal dirt around and pulverise the sandstone away. Some of these machines, called "puddlers" worked with water (wet puddling), others operated without (dry puddling).

The rear of another puddler vehicle. Like the Morris, this one is a two-in-one machine. You can see the two driveshaft extensions, allowing the miner to "disconnect" the truck's wheels and "connect" the puddler attachment, then when it's time to mov…

The rear of another puddler vehicle. Like the Morris, this one is a two-in-one machine. You can see the two driveshaft extensions, allowing the miner to "disconnect" the truck's wheels and "connect" the puddler attachment, then when it's time to move again, swap the connections over and drive the vehicle again.

Fossils & False Fossils - Specimen Identification at Lightning Ridge →

It's not easy separating fossils from everything else that comes out of the ground -- especially when some of it plays tricks on you!

In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Smith of the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia, demonstrates some of the imposters, illusions and complications in the process of identifying fossil material found on the opal fields.

It's not easy separating fossils from everything else that comes out of the ground -- especially when some of it plays tricks on you! In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Smith of the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia, demonstrates some of the imposters, illusions and complications in the process of identifying fossil material found on the opal fields.

Many of these fossils are part of the incredible and extensive collection of the Australian Opal Centre.

Special thanks to Dr. Smith for her patience and amazing knowledge, and to the Australian Opal Centre for allowing me access to fascinating and incredible objects.

For more opalised fossils from the Australian Opal Centre's collection, be sure to check out the Fine Details Preserved playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

Australian Opal Centre on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianOp...

Australian Opal Centre on the old-fashioned internet: http://www.australianopalcentre.com/

Extras: Restoring a Railcar

Here are some behind the scenes and bonus photographs from Restoring a Railcar:

903, the lead car of the set.

903, the lead car of the set.

Looking down the side of the DEB set.

Looking down the side of the DEB set.

Some evidence of the "Candy" colour scheme still remains on the intercarriage door.

Some evidence of the "Candy" colour scheme still remains on the intercarriage door.

More evidence of candy inside a disused ditch light installation.

More evidence of candy inside a disused ditch light installation.

The driver's cab of power car 958 has been repainted by restoration volunteers to replicate the "Reverse" livery, as a promotional exercise for the restoration project.

The driver's cab of power car 958 has been repainted by restoration volunteers to replicate the "Reverse" livery, as a promotional exercise for the restoration project.

Brake release lever labeling.

Brake release lever labeling.

Brake wheel.

Brake wheel.

Brake pressure gauge.

Brake pressure gauge.

The old State Rail logo makes an appearance on some labels stuck to a bulkhead.

The old State Rail logo makes an appearance on some labels stuck to a bulkhead.

Good advice.

Good advice.

How to get comfortable.

How to get comfortable.

Throttle controls.

Throttle controls.

Transmission instructions.

Transmission instructions.

Brake air gauges and window wiper controls.

Brake air gauges and window wiper controls.

Vintage detritus: An old Fanta bottle. Not sure of it's age, but it has a (008) freecall phone number on it, which puts it somewhere between 1994 and 1998.

Vintage detritus: An old Fanta bottle. Not sure of it's age, but it has a (008) freecall phone number on it, which puts it somewhere between 1994 and 1998.

The interior of power car 903.

The interior of power car 903.

Details: Stitching on the "leather" seats.

Details: Stitching on the "leather" seats.

Details: Art Deco style washroom signage.

Details: Art Deco style washroom signage.

Looking back toward the front of the train.

Looking back toward the front of the train.

The guard's panel.

The guard's panel.

The "Trouble Light".

The "Trouble Light".

The galley in buffet car 855, in the process of being cleaned. This is a restoration project; there's a lot of work to do.

The galley in buffet car 855, in the process of being cleaned. This is a restoration project; there's a lot of work to do.

Breakdown equipment.

Breakdown equipment.

Interior of car 958.

Interior of car 958.

Interior of 957.

Interior of 957.

Selfie with DEB set.

Selfie with DEB set.

You can support the 900 Class DEB Set Restoration Project by visiting their website!

Restoring a Railcar: The 900 Class "DEB Set" Restoration Project →

In this video I meet up with Ross Jackson, project manager for the NSWGR 900/800/700 Class "DEB Set" restoration project. These guys are working tirelessly to restore a NSW Government Railways railcar set that ran up until the 1980s, servicing most of New South Wales. Here, we take a tour of the train and discuss the future of the project!

In this video I meet up with Ross Jackson, project manager for the NSWGR 900/800/700 Class "DEB Set" restoration project. These guys are working tirelessly to restore a NSW Government Railways railcar set that ran up until the 1980s, servicing most of New South Wales.

To donate directly to support the restoration: https://gogetfunding.com/rebuilding-a...

Project website: http://www.riverinaexpress.com

The restoration project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/debse...

DEB set on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Sou...

Special thanks to Ross Jackson.

Extras: How Lightning Ridge got its name

Lightning Ridge was named after an event that occurred in the late 1800s, when a flock of 600 sheep, the shepherd and his dog were killed by a lightning strike on an ironstone ridge. Here are some extra photos from behind the scenes of the IDU video about Lightning Ridge's unusual name:

Above: Various photographs in and around Fred Bodel's camp, one of the oldest remaining structures in the Lightning Ridge area, and the only remaining building in the old Nettleton settlement on the Three Mile field. Note the materials used to construct the shack: local stone, corrugated iron scraps, pressed tin sheeting, timber "props" (straight logs used to support the ceiling of opal mine tunnels). Inside the hut's two rooms we find a bedroom with carpet floor laid directly on the dirt, a sitting area with fireplace and mantel, and a kitchen stocked with period items (the fly spray may be more modern).

Filming outside Fred's hut. Here, Barbara is discussing the history and demise of the Nettleton settlement, one of the three phases of Lightning Ridge's development, after the Wallangulla township in the early 1900s, and the later Lightning Ridge su…

Filming outside Fred's hut. Here, Barbara is discussing the history and demise of the Nettleton settlement, one of the three phases of Lightning Ridge's development, after the Wallangulla township in the early 1900s, and the later Lightning Ridge surveyed town.

Filming some unused conversation in the breezeway of Fred Bodel's hut.

Filming some unused conversation in the breezeway of Fred Bodel's hut.

Stopping off at the First Shaft Lookout, a key location in Lightning Ridge history and a spectacular view of the flat horizon.

Stopping off at the First Shaft Lookout, a key location in Lightning Ridge history and a spectacular view of the flat horizon.

Filming at the site of Lightning Ridge's naming -- this is (supposedly) where the lightning struck the sheep, shepherd and dog.

Filming at the site of Lightning Ridge's naming -- this is (supposedly) where the lightning struck the sheep, shepherd and dog.

The Castlereagh Highway at the town naming site. Local artist John Murray's gigantic sculpture of Stanley the Emu stands on the left, built from a Volkswagen beetle body suspended above the ground on steel beams.

The Castlereagh Highway at the town naming site. Local artist John Murray's gigantic sculpture of Stanley the Emu stands on the left, built from a Volkswagen beetle body suspended above the ground on steel beams.

How Lightning Ridge got its AWESOME name →

Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales, Australia, is a unique place with a spectacular name. In this episode, we meet up with Barbara Moritz, from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society to learn not only how Lightning Ridge got its name, but how it was three towns for the price of one -- Wallangulla, Nettleton and Lightning Ridge.

Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales, Australia, is a unique place with a spectacular name. In this episode, we meet up with Barbara Moritz, from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society to learn not only how Lightning Ridge got its name, but how it was three towns for the price of one -- Wallangulla, Nettleton and Lightning Ridge.

Special thanks to Barbara Moritz!

Historical photos provided courtesy of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society.

Lightning Ridge tourist information: http://lightningridgeinfo.com.au

Read more from Barbara about the Nettleton postal seal at ABC Open: https://open.abc.net.au/explore/61909

Book passage is quoted from My Bush Book, by Katie Langloh Parker (foreword and biography by Marcie Muir). I'd provide a link, but the book appears to be out of print. If you search, some second hand copies appear to be available through Amazon or eBay. It was published in 1982.

References for lightning strikes killing animals statistics:
http://www.glenallenweather.com/histo...
http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoolo... (WARNING: Unpleasant images) http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/na...

Extras: Harold Hodges' Opal Teeth

Harold Hodges was a Lightning Ridge entrepreneur, philanthropist, gambler and joker, and among other defining characteristics -- he had opal dentures. Here are a few photos from the filming of Harold's Teeth for IDU:

One of the original business cards for Harold Hodges' Tram-O-Tel in Lightning Ridge. This card is part of the collection of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society.

One of the original business cards for Harold Hodges' Tram-O-Tel in Lightning Ridge. This card is part of the collection of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society.

The Tram-O-Tel in 1999.

The Tram-O-Tel in 1999.

Harold's opal denture on display in the Australian Opal Centre's showroom in Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge.

Harold's opal denture on display in the Australian Opal Centre's showroom in Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge.

The Diggers' Rest Hotel burned down in 2006. Harold's opal teeth had been removed long before.

The Diggers' Rest Hotel burned down in 2006. Harold's opal teeth had been removed long before.

Teeth and Trams: Harold Hodges' Opal Teeth →

Harold Hodges was an entrepreneur, innovator and businessman from Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia. In 1971, he had a set of dentures made from black opal, Lightning Ridge's unique export. This is the story of Harold, his dentures, and how they ended up one of the most prized items in the opal and mining heritage collection of the Australian Opal Centre.

Harold Hodges was an entrepreneur, innovator and businessman from Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia. In 1971, he had a set of dentures made from black opal, Lightning Ridge's unique export. This is the story of Harold, his dentures, and how they ended up one of the most prized items in the opal and mining heritage collection of the Australian Opal Centre.

Australian Opal Centre on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AustralianOpa...

Mazes and Mineshafts →

In which we visit a meditation maze -- that's not a maze, and a mineshaft that's a piece of history.

In which we visit a meditation maze -- that's not a maze, and a mineshaft that's a piece of history. Infinite thanks to Barbara Moritz of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society. Stay tuned for more videos on varied subjects in the near future.

Infinite thanks to Barbara Moritz of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society.

Extras: The Secret Weapon of Crayfish

The first IDU video, The Secret Weapon of Crayfish, was shot in late 2015. Here are a few extra photos:

A spectacularly gorgeous yabby button preserved in gem quality crystal opal. This thing is huge, and would have come from a massive crayfish. This pieces is on display at the Australian Opal Centre's showroom in Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge.

A spectacularly gorgeous yabby button preserved in gem quality crystal opal. This thing is huge, and would have come from a massive crayfish. This pieces is on display at the Australian Opal Centre's showroom in Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge.

A petri dish of smaller yabby buttons, many with opal colour.

A petri dish of smaller yabby buttons, many with opal colour.

"Yabby Buttons" made of yabby buttons. This was intended to be part of the intro graphic for the IDU episode, along with a timelapse of its construction, but ultimately wasn't used. It does appear on the YouTube video thumbnail, though! You can see …

"Yabby Buttons" made of yabby buttons. This was intended to be part of the intro graphic for the IDU episode, along with a timelapse of its construction, but ultimately wasn't used. It does appear on the YouTube video thumbnail, though! You can see the gorgeous gem-quality crystal yabbby button on the left. What a thing!

The secret weapon of crayfish →

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I spoke to Dr. Elizabeth Smith at the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge about how these bizarre stony lumps inside the head of a crayfish allow the creature to grow as it matures.

I spoke to Dr. Elizabeth Smith at the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge about how these bizarre stony lumps inside the head of a crayfish allow the creature to grow as it matures. For more information on the Australian Opal Centre, you can visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianOpalCentre/ Special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Smith and the Australian Opal Centre.

For more information on the Australian Opal Centre, you can visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianOp...