The Deadly Cactus that Infests The Opal Fields - Bush Botany @ Lightning Ridge →

There's a deadly menace on the Australian opal fields, it's nasty, has two-inch spines and it kills.

Hudson Pear is an invasive cactus species that has unfortunately infested large areas of the opal fields at Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia. It has also spread to the other Australian opal fields, and is spreading throughout the rest of the country.

In the first video in the Bush Botany series, featuring Warwick Schofield, we look at Hudson Pear. Its origins, its biology, its interaction with humans and animals, its impact on the opal fields, its future spread. We also look at methods of controlling the cactus outbreak, past and present, and how YOU can help to contain and limit the spread of this vicious plant.

The Graham Brothers' Cottage - Home of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society →

Built in the 1930s, the heritage cottage in Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge was home to the Spicer family and the Graham brothers, and now houses part of the LRHS's extensive opal mining heritage collection.

In this video I speak with Barbara Moritz, secretary and treasurer of the LRHS about the shack's significance, history and role in the foundation of the society that now works to protect and preserve Lightning Ridge history in all forms.

Harry Zack's Bush Anvil - Innovation and Invention at Lightning Ridge →

Engineer, blacksmith and innovator Harry Zack built this metalworking anvil almost a century ago from recycled parts -- check out how recycling and reuse has been part of Lightning Ridge's opal mining heritage since the very beginning.

This video was made with the help of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society with special thanks to Barbara Moritz.

What are doublets, triplets and mosaic opal? Opal Words at Lightning Ridge →

Doublets, triplets and mosaics are ways of making something more out of something less, and an artform in their own right. I spoke with Vicki at Down To Earth Opals at Lightning Ridge about these kinds of opals, and looked at some spectacular examples!

Welcome to Opalwords, a series of videos about the terminology used in the opal mining industry and specifically at the opal mining location of Lightning Ridge in Northern New South Wales, Australia, and the home of the black opal.

Opalised Fossils: The Paul Sedawie Collection - Australian Opal Centre, Lightning Ridge →

In this video we look at an incredible donation of more than 450 opalised fossils from opal fields around the world, generously donated to the Australian Opal Centre by Paul Sedawie.

Paul shows us some of his favourite pieces from the collection including bivalve molluscs, belemnites, snails, dinosaur bones, plant fossils, turtle shell and so many more incredible pieces.

Lungfish are Awesome - Opalised Fossils at Lightning Ridge →

Lungfish are a living fossil with some pretty amazing capabilities.

One of the Australian Opal Centre's most avid contributors, Vicki, shows us some opalised fossils of lungfish tooth plates, as well as some opalised fossils of some of the creatures that prehistoric lungfish used to eat over a hundred million years ago.

Also, I get very excited about why lungfish are incredible creatures, both now and eons ago!

Lungfish. Human for scale.

Lungfish. Human for scale.

Opal Mining Words - Trace, Blow, Prop, Pig Sty, Monkey?! - Lightning Ridge Terminology →

What's a monkey in an opal mine? How about a pig-sty? We look at a LOT of words relating to opal mining!

Welcome to Opalwords, a series of videos about the terminology used in the opal mining industry and specifically at the opal mining location of Lightning Ridge in Northern New South Wales, Australia, and the home of the black opal.

The Wild West at Lightning Ridge - Weetalibah Hotel & The Old Castlereagh Highway →

North western New South Wales is the "Wild West" of Australia, and it has some outrageous stories, too. This is the story of the old Castlereagh Highway and the Weetalibah Hotel.

Be sure to check out the previous video about the Weetalibah floodway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVF8P...

Some additional material and photographs relating to the Weetalibah Hotel and the murder of James Davidson, 1914:

Weetalibah Hotel, 1920s.

Weetalibah Hotel, 1920s.

Percy Hatfield, Vea Morris, Si Morris, Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Beckett and Reg Beckett at Weetalibah, 1922.

Percy Hatfield, Vea Morris, Si Morris, Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Beckett and Reg Beckett at Weetalibah, 1922.

Kitty Young and pets at Weetalibah, 1924.

Kitty Young and pets at Weetalibah, 1924.

Mug shot and personal details of George Chun, recorded at Armidale, November 1914.

Mug shot and personal details of George Chun, recorded at Armidale, November 1914.

Constable Frederick Mussared, police officer at Lightning Ridge, 1908-1914.

Constable Frederick Mussared, police officer at Lightning Ridge, 1908-1914.

Marina Drive-In Theatre - A Blast From The Movie Past (Lightning Ridge, NSW) →

A look at Lightning Ridge's former cinema under the stars, the Marina Drive-In Theatre!

In this video I speak with Barbara from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society about some recent donations to the Historical Society's collection of Lightning Ridge cultural and opal mining heritage items: speakers from the Drive-In Theater. I also spoke with Barb about her unique connection with the cinema - she used to live in it!

Various advertising relating to the Drive-In Theatre:

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A Boat Without Water: Weetalibah Crossing (Lightning Ridge Historical Society) →

Lightning Ridge is a town without a river, but this area just to the north floods REGULARLY.

I spoke with Barbara Moritz from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society about Weetalibah Crossing, a causeway where a natural flood course intersects the Castlereagh Highway. The Historical Society has in its collection a steel boat that dates to around 1923, found high and dry in a field, no doubt a remnant of a flood in the area a century ago.

There will be a follow-up to this video in future, as Weetalibah has a few more interesting stories for us to tell!

What are "Specking", "Fossicking" and "Noodling"? Opal Words at Lightning Ridge →

Finding opal on the surface takes skill, patience and permission. I spoke with an opal miner about the process, and about the history of specking.

Finding opal on the surface takes skill, patience and permission. I spoke with an opal miner about the process, and about the history of specking.Welcome to ...

Welcome to Opalwords, a series of videos about the terminology used in the opal mining industry and specifically at the opal mining location of Lightning Ridge in Northern New South Wales, Australia, and the home of the black opal.

"The Opal Hunters" - Lightning Ridge in a Comic Book from 1949 (also...trains) →

The story of The Opal Hunters is a tale of adventure at Lightning Ridge. A very familiar tale.

The story of The Opal Hunters is a tale of adventure at Lightning Ridge. A very familiar tale.I've been sitting on this video for a long time, waiting for al...

I've been sitting on this video for a long time, waiting for all of the pieces to fall together in just the right way -- and here it is. I still cannot believe the string of coincidences that lead to me discovering this comic book.

The cover of the comic book.

Page 3 of the comic, with a vista of Lightning Ridge in the top right panel.