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Yowah
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The tiny
western Queensland opal town of Yowah, situated within the boundary
of a working sheep and cattle station, is an absolute eye-opener for
most visitors.
The population swells during the coolest half of the year, when many
people come from the cold southern climes to enjoy their "other
home" and the colourful life of opal mining. |
| A pair of cut stones
from Yowah |
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They're friendly, fun and they welcome visitors to this most unusual
outback settlement.
From about Easter to September every year, Yowah’s “permanent
casuals” enjoy the fantastic climate and laid-back lifestyle of this
colourful western settlement.
They come from all sorts of places (many from the southern colder climes)
to enjoy their “other home” at the opal fields during a time
they consider the best six months of the year.
The Yowah Opal Fields are situated on a working sheep and cattle station.
From the Adventure Highway, turn right onto the Opal Byway, then Yowah
is 90km Northwest of Eulo, halfway between Cunnamulla and Quilpie.
Early miners in the late 1800s fossicked and mined for crystal and threw
away the matrix opal, which was then difficult to sell but is now highly
prized. Back then, people relied on surface water, which disappeared during
the long drought at the turn of the 20th Century.
By 1912, an artesian bore had been put down and water was available in
vast quantities, but it wasn’t until well into the 1970s that the
population started to grow - along with the fascination for the area’s
opals. Within the famous Yowah opal nuts, unique to the district, both
crystal and matrix opal can be found.
Nowadays, about 150 people live on the field with all the comforts -
electricity, bitumen roads, reticulated water, phone service, shop, mail,
fuel, Porta Gas, EFTPOS, golf, tennis, bocce, darts, cards, indoor bowls
and satellite Internet. Accommodation and camping facilities are available
for visitors.
Events
Yowah Opal Festival
For more info about this event, contact the Opal
Shop
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