New Town Hill

New Town Hill is an opal field on the southern edge of Lightning Ridge, running from the west end of Morilla Street toward Pandora Street. It was named after the nearby New Town settlement, surveyed in 1907.

The field was active by 1908, making it one of the earliest fields on the Ridge. Sinking ranged from as shallow as 4 feet near the base to 60 feet on the crest, with three main levels recorded around 32, 45, and 60 feet. The ground was known for its bright black opal, often large and of gem quality, but also for its difficult, broken levels.

The best known claim was worked by Ted “Snowy” Brown and “Tingha” Bill Grant, who reportedly recovered £1,800 worth of opal.

Snowy Brown would also work at New Town Hill with Tom Urwin. Gouging by candlelight, Urwin struck a large nobby with brilliant red-orange fire. It was sold to Pappa Francis for £36. The pair went on to recover a further £280 from the same area.

Another claim worked by the Graham brothers and Walter Hagar was heavily mined, but much of their opal was stolen while they were away celebrating their success. According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, New Town Hill had produced £46,000 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. 71; 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. 142.