McNamara’s
Goats on McNamara’s field. Photograph: Lightning Ridge Historical Society.
McNamara’s is an opal field located just north of the Black Hand corner, opposite Percy James’ claim (Ron Canlin’s) on the Three Mile Road.
The field is named after John Bertram “Jack” McNamara, known as “Jack Mack”, an early miner at Lightning Ridge.
Though not a major producer of opal, the field was busy around 1928 when McNamara reportedly hit a decent patch. An avid musician, McNamara used the proceeds from his find to buy a new piano for the local hall.
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. 53; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, pp. 40-42.