Campbell’s Hill

Campbell’s Hill is an opal field located between Angledool and Canfell’s. It was named after a stockman, Jim Campbell, who was camped nearby in 1907.

Early on, the field showed promising indicators and produced good opal. Arthur Turner’s family worked a claim there in 1910. The Turner family recovered opal valued at £3,000 before Arthur left the claim on turning 21. The opal was found in a sandy seam close to the roof, with the best material retrieved by carefully removing the upper six inches of dirt.

Other miners had less success. Writing in 1983, Gan Bruce described working the field in the 1950s and recovering only one saleable stone, a six carat green-on-black, despite great effort. While large stones were found, most were riddled with sand and considered worthless. Depths on the field vary from three to thirty feet depending on location.

Total production from Campbell’s Hill is unknown.

Article: Research by Russell Gawthorpe and Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: The Lightning Ridge Book, Stuart Lloyd, 1967, p. 73; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 90.