Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge, one of the places where Australia's national gemstone is mined, has evolved into a sizable town since my last visit many years ago.  To see a real opal mining camp we went out to the diggings about 50Km from /Lightning Ridge where we also had lunch at the 'Club in the Scrub'.  It seems to use some sort of golf course as a reason for the clubs existence.

We also visited Amigo's Castle that Amigo started building about 25 years from local rocks he found lying around the area.  Some conservationist then decided that Amigo was depriving the things that live under the rocks from having a home so the rock collecting ceased.  Then the council realised it had a problem with an unauthorised structure and threatened to demolish it.   The locals objected and now Lightning Ridge has an unfinished and roofless tourist attraction.