Hawk’s Nest

Hawk’s Nest (sometimes Hawke’s Nest) is an opal field located north of the ridge from the Four Mile, near the old track to the Deep Four Mile.

The field was discovered in December 1909 by the Pines brothers, Harry and Les, along with a miner named Huxley. Depths on the field range from four to forty feet, with three main levels recorded at approximately 12, 23 and 40 feet. The opal bearing layer was around nine feet thick, and sinking was considered comparatively easy.

Some good opal was found on the field, though not in large quantity. Bradley and Hegarty worked the best known claim and were said to have filled a treacle tin with cut stones. George Bailey and Alf Cameron also had a successful claim, Bailey found a stone large enough to cut into six smaller pieces, selling three slabs and later the remainder for a combined £1,500. The Pines brothers sold a large uncut stone for £120, but it didn’t face.

According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, Hawk’s Nest had produced £10,900 in opal by 1967.

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. 60; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 70; The Occurrence of Opal at Lightning Ridge and Grawin, with Geological Notes on County Finch, J. W Whiting & R. E. Relph, 1958, p. 10; Discover Opals: Before and Beyond 2000 with Surface Indications, Stephen Aracic, 1996, p. 147.