Western opal fields
Opalton designated fossicking land
The Opalton Field, also called the Fermoy Field, was one of the largest and most extensively worked opal deposits in Queensland. Mining activity on the field is mostly limited to small-scale hand mining but some larger operations using heavy machinery are present in the surrounding area.
Access
The Opalton Field is located about 124km south-west of Winton. From Winton, take the Jundah Road (mostly unsealed) and travel 15km, turn left and travel a further 109km (unsealed road) past Weona Homestead to Opalton.
Visitors are requested not to call at Weona.
Map
Facilities
The Opalton community has established a bush camping park with shade shelters, water, toilets and showers adjacent to the area. A small fee applies. There is a shop with limited supplies.
Camping is also allowed in the Opalton designated fossicking land for a maximum period of 3 months. Camping permits can be obtained for the payment of a small fee from the same outlets as for licences.
Fossicking notes
The Opalton area is popular with tourists as a place to speck or noodle fragments of opal or ironstone matrix from the surface or from the spoil dumps of old workings. However, known areas of shallow ground, such as the old Brilliant Claim area, may offer the more serious fossicker a chance to dig and find that outstanding gem.
Special conditions
Commercial mining activities still occur in the designated fossicking land and numerous mining claims and a mining lease (ML6032) are current (see map). Do not enter these mining tenures without the written permission of the holders. Pegs mark the corners of each tenure.
In this guide:
- Previous ( https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/areas-facilities/fossicking/fossicking-areas-in-queensland/western-opal/toompine )