Potch Point
Potch Point (sometimes Pott’s Point) is an opal field located between Bald Hill and Bill de Boer’s. It was named for the abundance of potch (common opal without play of colour) found in the area. Despite this, several valuable patches of gem quality opal were also recovered.
The field was discovered around 1912, although Stuart Lloyd suggests it may have been as early as 1907. Opal was found in broken levels ranging from 17 to 50 feet, with two main levels identified at approximately 30 and 40 feet on the hill, and shallower ground at the base.
In its early years, miners like Frank Witchell and George Baker reportedly found £1,200, while Victor Duplain, Peter Ferguson, and Con Smith had a successful claim producing around £1,800. According to Ferguson’s recollection, the trio sold their initial finds for £40 to Pappa Francis, then made a further £1,200 from the same spot. They later allowed others to noodle their mullock, including Artie Bruce and “Black Joe” Gibbons, who specked an additional £120.
Potch Point had a rush again in 1978–79. Bert Smith started the new rush after finding pieces of good colour. The area known as “Millionaire’s Row” saw some success during 1982, with several claims reported as being “on opal” for more than a year. In August 1986, a large open cut was undertaken by Jerry Lomax and others. One truckload from this venture was rumoured to contain opal worth $400,000. Later, the site was backfilled and later became the town tip.
Charlie Gibson found potch in the area long before Lightning Ridge opal was recognised.
““I remember the place when there were no workings and opal wasn’t thought of. We used to pick up potch where Potch Point is now. The boss’s son once said to me, ‘I wonder would there be anything in these hills’.””
According to The Lightning Ridge Book by Stuart Lloyd, the field had produced £13,500 worth of 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 Opal Book, Frank Leechman, p. 74; The Lightning Ridge Book, Stuart Lloyd, 1967, p. 65; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, pp. 83-84; The Occurrence of Opal at Lightning Ridge and Grawin, with Geological Notes on County Finch, J. W Whiting & R. E. Relph, 1958, p. 9; Discover Opals: Before and Beyond 2000 with Surface Indications, Stephen Aracic, 1996, p. 139.