The Syndicate
The first opal mining syndicate of 1902, sometimes referred to as The Nettleton Syndicate, formed to support the first shaft sunk by Charlie Nettleton, a professional prospector. It was organised by William Ferris and Joe Beckett.
“Bob [Moore] has been riding a good deal and visited the place where they are again looking for opal - an expert is up from Sydney paid by J. B. of Weetalibah. Bob is not inclined to join for he saw no specimens as good as the one he brought from Sydney.”
In March of 1903, Beckett instigated a group of six district businessmen and property managers to support Nettleton’s endeavours.
Left-to-right: Moses “Joe” Beckett of the Weetalibah Hotel, James Hardy Armitage of Dunumbral Run, Langloh Parker of Bangate Station, prospector Charlie Nettleton.
Members were:
William Godfrey Ferris, manager of Gerongra (now Bairnkine) Station between Lightning Ridge and Walgett
Moses “Joe” Beckett, innkeeper of the Weetalibah Hotel and coach change station, on the road from Walgett to Angledool
James Hardy Armitage, manager of Dunumbral Run
Langloh Parker, once owner but still a resident of Bangate Station
Frank Doucutt, a Scotsman, former London banker and bookkeeper for Bangate Station
An unknown Collarenebri storekeeper
And as employees:
An unknown Sydney geologist, and
Noticably absent from the roster is Robert Moore of Angledool Station, who was burned from his previous prospecting experience and opted not to join the syndicate.
Each member contributed £25 to the syndicate.
The syndicate employed a geologist who was brought up from Sydney to prospect and consult on the best location to sink a mine shaft, evidently settling on the high country at what today is called McDonalds Six Mile, then the southern end of Angledool Station.
Nettleton was paid £2.10.0 weekly for the task of sinking the shaft. He dug to 50 feet, but ultimately found nothing.
“Bob [Moore] full of information re: opal mine: he brought one very pretty specimen of opal from Beckett - the Syndicate gave up on Thursday, but the prospector is going to work on his own.”
The syndicate disbanded in late June, 1903.
Sources:
Frances Emily Mary Moore diaries, 1880-1922, reference 9641502, State Library of New South Wales; The Occurrence of Opal at Lightning Ridge and Grawin with Geological Notes on County Finch, J. W. Whiting & R. E. Relph, 1958, p. 8; Annual Report of the Department of Mines, 1905; ‘Martin v. Ferris: A Governess Sues for Slander - What the Defendant Says’, Evening News, 10 September 1904, p. 4; The Lightning Ridge Book, Stuart Lloyd, 1967, p. 88; A Journey with Colour - A History of Lightning Ridge Opal, Len Cram, 2003.