Anniversary of First Opal Rush
      by Barbara Moritz
Reprinted from The Ridge News, January 20, 2005

One hundred and two years ago, Charlie Nettleton was still sinking his first shaft at today's McDonald's 6-Mile under the Syndicate's support.

He bottomed in February 1903, following a natural slide down to 55 feet, with no trace of opal.

One comment made later by other miners was that if Nettleton had done as much driving as he did sinking, he'd have been a rich man.

Mrs Ryan, the boundary rider's wife, lived with her family at the Lightning Ridge Tank below the ridge.

She had fossicked the pretty black rocks she showed Nettleton, a professional prospector, passing through the district.

His knowledge of opal was based on White Cliffs mining, and thanks to his experience, black opal came to the world's notice earlier than it might have.

This year marks 100 years since the first opal rush at Sims Hill.