GEMFEST
The Festival Of Gems
9,10,11 and 12th Of August 2007
-It is the celebration of the Sapphire Industry of CentralQuensland. The festival takes place at Anakie situated half way between Rockhampton and Longreach on the Tropic of Capricorn, 42 kms west of thebustling town of Emerald.
This event has gone from strength to strength since it's inception in 1988as part of Australia's bi-centenary celebrations.
Minersand merchants from around Australia trade in rough and cut gems. Custommade exquisite jewellery is on exhibition and for sale. A gemologist ison site for identifications and valuations. Precious and semi-preciousgems and jewellery can be purchased as well as crystals, minerals, fossils,lapidary equipment and a wide array of Arts & Crafts.
Greatentertainment is provided with street theatre, music and top poets. Gems,jewellery and holiday prizes worth $27,000 are up for grabs in the artunion, stake-a-claim and billy boulder throwing championships. Bargainsabound in the silent gem auction, or you can try your luck divining sapphires!A marquee is dedicated to many different types of healing and natural therapies.The market area offers a variety of goods.Tours of the sapphire fields leave every 2 hours from the festival site,or you can make your own way to the fields and visit underground mines,fossicking parks, gem galleries and shops.Fossicking licences are available on the fields to enable visitors to digin any of the eight shallow areas. Hire equipment is also available.
The festival of gems has won 5 tourism awards including the Queensland awardfor significant festivals & events. In 1994 it was a finalist at theAustralian tourism awards.The Central Queensland Sapphire fields are world renown for large and unusuallycoloured gems. The fields are the home of the most beautiful multi-colouredrainbow sapphires in the world.below.
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To email me please click on address below: sapphire@tpgi.com.au