When I meet people I tell them how I came to live at Opalton. I had been in Western Australia looking for gold with a metal detector, called Minelab, and I wasn't having any luck at all. I had been to Menzies and Meekatharra and lots of other gold mining areas in the middle of Western Australia, but I could not find any gold. Now as it happens, I can find opal, and have always been lucky where opal is concerned.

I travelled across the Gunbarrel Highway from Kalgoorlie to Warburton and on to the Giles Weather station. From there it was on to the Northern Territory at Docker River and to the Olgas, Ayers Rock and the Alice.

I went out to the Gorges, Glen Helen and was going into the Stanley Chasm when I broke an axle and had to be towed back into Alice. Whilst waiting for the Toyota to be fixed it was suggested to me that I go on to Plenty Highway across to Queensland at Boulia.

Whilst on the Plenty Highway, I called into Mud Flat where I stayed for a couple of weeks, and found some Zircons, and in another area some Garnets.

A small roadhouse called Gemtree had not been open long when I passed. From Gemtree I went on past Hart's Range and left my particulars at the Police Station. It is always important to let someone know where you are when your in isolated areas.

The last part of the road from Roxborough Downs to Boulia was bad with bull dust patches three feet deep and side tracks everywhere. Staying on course was a challenge. This bad road delayed my arrival in Boulia. When I got to Boulia, I visited the Police Station there to let them know I had arrived and to tell the Police at the other end of the track that I had arrived. I was told by the Police at Boulia that the track over which I had just passed had been closed for nearly a week as it was considered dangerous. Such is the way of the outback.

I did not stop in Boulia, but went on to Winton, where I stopped to get fresh fruit and vegetables. The lady who ran the store was a Mrs Butterworth. She saw my WA number plates and asked where I had been. I told her I was in search of stone or gold. She told me I had to make a side trip to Opalton. She also told me that as it was a long weekend, to not expect much there.

I decided I had nothing to loose, so I travelled out the Opalton road. It was the longest 120 kilometers I had done in many years. I first travelled through a small mountain range with lots of Caprock and then across a long flat plain. On the other side was mulga and red sand. The turn-offs to a couple of stations heralded the only humanity in the area. At the Femoy turnoff I was 52 Kilometers from Opalton. It seemed to go on forever. I kept my eye on available timber, in case I had to stop and light a fire. I travelled over the Bluebush, a dry creek and past a windmill. Still lots of dead timber on the ground. I took not of my mileage and thought of taking some timber along as time was getting on.

I travelled over a grid with a sign saying "No Hippies Wanted". I was nearly there.

I found a shop called an Outpost, I suppose due to the remoteness. No one was home. Would you believe there was a public phonebox. With tracks leading off in all directions, I guessed I was in the centre of Opalton.

This was the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June 1994 and I have been a regular in Opalton ever since. I travel back and forward to Perth once or twice a year depending on what was happening in Yanchep.

At random, I picked a track, past a burnt out camp, on the left then another camp with no one at home. Next was an empty caravan. Around the hill I spied another camp on the right. I pulled up and called out. A response. I had found my first Opalite, Branco. He welcomed me and gave me a drink. He proceed to ask if he could help me. I explained I was just out for the weekend and looking for a place to camp and hopefully find some colour.

Well, I did find some colour that weekend, just Poach Blue Glass, my first experience with Boulder Opal. Back to Branco's place, whilst I was there a couple of other fellows arrived and one of them I later found out was Peter. He gave me directions to a place where I could camp and that I might find colour.

On the Monday, rain came over and as I slept out in the open, I went looking for somewhere more substantial to camp. I found the shop open and talked to Patrick. He showed me another place to find colour. Matrix this time and wow I found a few good stones.

Thinking about what to do next, I went back to Patrick and offer to be live in shopkeeper for my keep. I moved in to a separate room attached to the shop. I am now not the shopkeeper, but I still live in Opalton.

I was only the shopkeeper until about November 1994, then I rented a camp which I later found out belonged to Paul Lava. I stayed there until September 1995. By then I had my own camp built, not as modern as it is now, but the structure is still the same.

During the first six months at Opalton, I attended an Opal cutting course, four days a week in Winton. I do not cut stone now, but have a better knowledge of Opal and I would rather go out and find it rather than being stuck inside for long hours at a time.

I welcome visitors and will act as a guide locally or to other locations. I feel that my knowledge of most of the outback is as good as the best. Drop by and have a talk.