Historical Mines of Coober Pedy

The city that is supplying 80% of the country’s mined opal can be found in Flinders Ranges. The city name is Coober Pedy- the opal capital worldwide. It's 846 km north of Adelaide and a home to 3,500 residents of different nationalities. Accordingly, there were few occupants in the place prior to the discovery of opal. Despite the ranging hot temperature, migrants in city kept their Flinders Ranges accommodation hoping to find fortune in opal mining. Mining started around 1915 when a four years old old boy found an opal in the place. Currently, opal mining is ongoing and the traditional mining places have been given great importance to the place. One will find 3 pioneering mining spots in the city namely The Old Timers Mine, Faye’s Underground Home and Opal Mine and Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

The Old Timers Mine was founded in 1916. It is among the Flinders Ranges attractions that become a part of South Australia’s award winning tourist attraction. The museum conveys much about the earlier mining field of the place. It exhibits underground houses of miners, information galleries, and collections of opal jewelry. The galleries describe how pioneer miners struggle to drill down for opals. There were sculptures of pioneer miners doing specific chores. On the list of sculpted old miners are Jim O´Neill, George Burford, Ben Mohr, Mick O´Reilly, Bob Trow, Carl Wills, Ron Gough and Minnie Berrington. The place features the gallery of Ron Gough who fathered opal mining in the city. Varieties of opals dug from the location are exhibited like the seam gray opal, the horizontal pocket of crystal opal, the pocket of potch and colour left by old miner, and also the opalized sea shells. One can also view the hand-made shaft, the walls manually dig by hand using the old digging tools, the dirt or mullock and backfilled shaft. The museum also houses the old equipments that were utilized in the mine such as cow buckets, windsocks that ventilated the mine, and windlass. The museum alsofacilitates an opal shop for tourists who wish to buy souvenirs.

Next to Old Timers Mine is Faye’s Underground Home and Opal Mine. Initially, it was a small hole resulted from an excavation for mining an opal. It later became a room for mail truck driver. In 1961, a woman named Faye Nayler who moved to the place as a cook acquired the area. She then improved the area with the help of two other women. The three women used shovels and pick to expand the space adding three bedrooms, kitchen, wine cellar and swimming pool. The property is well ventilated with shafts. There is needless to make use of air conditioners during daytime and heaters during nighttime for the underground house has a stable heat of 20-25 deg. The place is currently managed by Colin McClean and his wife. The McCleans opens the house to guests.

One will see Umoona Opal Mine and Museum in the main street of Coober Pedy. It shows opal cutting and polishing, genuine underground houses, South Australia fossil, wide range of opal jewelry for sale, postcards and souvenirs. One can view the 20-minute documentary of opal mining history in the place. Underground homes dug by hand and by machineries are also exhibited. There are also historic pictures exhibited in the area. There are also display of genuine ancient paintings and artifacts by local artists.

Be part of Coober Pedy’s opal mining history. Check out the underground museums of historical opal mining spots in the city. Furthermore, discover how the inhabitants reside underground by living in one of Flinders Rangers accommodations built underground.