Western opal fields

Duck Creek designated fossicking land and Sheep Station Creek designated fossicking land are located in the Toompine Opal Fields. Located between Quilpie and Yowah, the Toompine Opal Field have been extensively mined for opal since the 1890s using underground and open-cut methods. At both Designated Fossicking Lands some commercial mining activity is still present.

Access

Duck Creek

The Duck Creek designated fossicking land is located adjacent to Tirga Station and is situated on a low flat-lying drainage divide between Duck Creek draining to the north-east and tributaries of Yowah Creek draining to the south.

From Quilpie, travel south on Quilpie-Thargomindah Road for 72km. Turn left onto Wareo Road (unsealed road). Turn right onto Big Creek Road and follow for 2km. Then turn right onto Duck Creek Road and follow for 22km. Turn right before the Tirga Homestead Gate, to the entrance of the Duck Creek Designated Fossicking Land which is marked by an entrance sign.

Sheep Station Creek

Sheep Station Creek designated fossicking land is located just to the south at the head of Sheep Station Creek, a tributary of Yowah Creek.

From the Duck Creek Designated Fossicking Land, head south on Duck Creek Road for around 4km to arrive at the northern entrance of Sheep Station Creek Designated Fossicking Land.

Map

• Duck Creek designated fossicking lands map (PDF, 637.5 KB)
• Sheep Station Creek Designated Fossicking Land map (PDF, 604.9 KB)

Facilities

Camping is allowed for a maximum period of 3 months. Camping permits can be obtained online.

There are no facilities and due to the remoteness of the area visitors should carry adequate supplies of food, water and fuel. Top-up bore water may be available from a tap provided by the landholder at the large steel gate 3.5km north of the entrance sign.

Fossicking notes

While much of the opal-bearing ground occurs at depths beyond fossickers, the spoil dumps of the old workings offer the best chance of a find. Specking fragments of opal or ironstone matrix from the ground’s surface is always a possibility.

Special conditions

Commercial mining activities still occur in the area and a number of mining tenures are current. Do not enter these mining tenures or mining lease applications without the written permission of the holders.