DIAMONDS, topaz, aquamarines, beryl, citrine, smoky quartz, ruby tin, tantalite and feldspar crystals can all be found at O’Brien’s Creek.
So plan to go fossicking and try your luck while you’re in the district. A great way to whet your appetite for the trip is by visiting the multi-award-winning Mt Surprise Tourist Park Motel and BP Service Station, situated right in the centre of Mount Surprise.
The gemstone and mineral collection there will give you a chance to see what kinds of stones you’ll be looking for and you can get advice on how to get there - plus a whole lot of information on the fields themselves - from Trish and Eddie Wallace. The collection’s prize exhibits are the largest gem-quality blue topaz ever found on O’Briens Creek gemfields and some rare green topaz and buttercup yellow topaz. This year they’re adding to the display, with some stunning mineral specimens from overseas.
Trish and Eddie have been involved in gemstones since 1971 and Trish has been mining topaz, tin, sapphires and gold since 1978. Those who aren’t keen on fossicking can buy gemstones and jewellery at the park.
As well as accommodation ranging from cabins and motel units to powered sites and a camping area, the park attracts native parrots and finches as well as having its own aviaries. In fact, bird lovers will be interested to see the 40 Gouldian finches (also known as painted finches) among their hundreds of birds. Trish said there were only about 4000 of these finches in the wild.
“They’re native to the northern areas - the Kimberleys across to lower Cape York,” she said.
“They do come down as far as Georgetown but we’re right on the edge of their territory here. It’s quite rare to see them in the wild.
“In fact, people are asked to report if they do see them in the bush. We have the forms here to take the details of sightings.”
She said people who hadn’t seen them before were amazed at their colouring.
“They have purple, yellow, red and green, blue and black colouring. The blocks of colour are so sharply defined that they really do look as if they have been painted on.”
Birds in the aviaries include Australian and overseas finches and parrots.
The park is also home to the Thumbelina Miniature Horse Stud. You’ll fall in love with these quaint little creatures. The Wallaces are also members of FNQ Wildlife Rescue.
When you’re ready to set out on your fossicking adventure, buy your fossicking licence at the BP and pick up information and maps about the diggings, where you can hire picks, shovels and sieves and what the road’s like to get there (it takes about three quarters of an hour and you should have a fairly high clearance vehicle to be able to get to all the areas, although you don’t need a 4WD). Or you can do it the easy way and book a tour.
Information and booking services are also available for Undara Experience and the Savannahlander train. The roadhouse is open seven days and has licensed cafe and restaurant facilities.
