Kingfisher

Kingfisher is an opal field adjoining Cleared Line to the east and Butterfly to the north. It was named after a kingfisher bird that visited miner Bill Wilhardt’s camp each day, singing after being fed.

Three levels were worked on the field, typically at 35, 45 and 80 feet. Fairly good black opal was found on at least two claims. According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, total production reached £9,000 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. 69; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 89.