Sapphire fever Australiana...

The Central Queensland Gemfields are situated on the tropic of Capricorn, 350kms west of Rockhampton and 400kms east of Longreach.
fossickers 
The Central Queensland gemfields have been the resting place of some of the world's largest and most beautiful sapphires. Covering over 10 000 hectares in five different locations, there're undoubtedly many more whose resting places are yet to be unearthed...
The fields are home to many colourful characters. There is an abundance of unusual dwellings, many using materials that are close to hand......Bush timber and billy boulders...Mining plants also feature man's ingenuity...
Hand miner 
A holiday on the Gemfields can be accommodated with six caravan parks and cabins. Motel accommodation is available at the hotel. Fossicking licences are available on the fields and shallow digging areas have been set aside for fossickers. The recent completion of bitumen roads means that all but one of the fields can be reached easily by all vehicles.
Cut sapphire 

The Centenary Sapphire

If "Smiley" Nelson can do it, maybe you can too!

Fourteen year old Serli (Smiley) Nelson specked the massive 2020 carats gem at Sapphire in 1979. It was purchased by the Richardson Brothers of Sapphire.
In 1983 the stone was stolen from an exhibition in Sydney with other gems to the value of $8 million. Surprisingly, the rough gem was recovered in 1986.

It is the largest gem quality sapphire in the world. It has now passed into American hands for several US$ millions.

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