Chris Meberg

Krestian (Christian) Mikal Jacobsen “Chris” Meberg (sometimes Maberg, Mayburg) was born on 31 March 1875 in Vanse, Vest-Agder, Norway, the son of Jakob and Kristine Meberg. He was an opal miner on the Lightning Ridge opal fields.

Meberg arrived at the Ridge around the early 1930s. He had “no luck” in his years of mining there, the best stone he ever found valued at only £25. He was among Lightning Ridge’s ever-present contingent of European opal miners.

Meberg later moved to Tamworth, New South Wales, where he lived until his death on 28 July 1962 at the age of 87.

Article: Research by Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: 1891 Norway census; Australian Electoral Rolls, Chermside QLD, 1903-1980; A. M., November 1948, pp. 5-7; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 145.