
Dear Monument Australia visitors, we are a self-funded, non-profit organisation, dedicated to recording monuments throughout Australia. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses.
If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Home » Themes » Technology » Industry
Discovery of OpalPrint Page 

The plaque commemorates the discovery of opal in April 1930 by S. M. Brooks and R. Shepard.
The Assistant Government Geologist (Mr. Ralph W. Segnit), in a recent Mines Department bulletin, tells of the luck of two boundary riders in discovering the opal fields at Andamooka Station, out from Pimba. Opal was first discovered there accidentally by two boundary riders, Sam Brooks and R. Shepherd, on the hillside of what is now known as "Treloar's Claim," states Mr. Segnit.
It was identified as precious opal by Mr. Bruce McK. Foulis, the manager of Andamooka Station, on August 29, 1930. The first gougers were R. Treloar and P. Evans, who worked on the claim for several months, and obtained opal worth about £1,500 before the discovery was generally known. "It must be pointed out," Mr. Segnit adds, "that although opal to the Value of £5,000 to £6,000 has been discovered and removed from this field, the field cannot be regarded as being of unlimited extent."
Transcontinental (Port Augusta, SA), 20 October 1939.
Location
Address: | Bartram Street, Andamooka, 5722 |
---|---|
State: | SA |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -30.446091 Long: 137.165621 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Plaque |
---|---|
Monument Theme: | Technology |
Sub-Theme: | Industry |
Approx. Event Start Date: | 1930 |
Approx. Event End Date: | 1930 |
Dedication
Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Friday 4th April, 1980 |
---|
Discovery of Opal Andamooka 1930
This plaque commemorates the discovery of opal in April 1930, by S. M. Brooks and R. Shepard.
Unveiled by Mr. L. G. Wallis, M. H. R. Member for Grey
4th April 1980.
A. P. O. M. A.