The discovery of tin in 1872 at Vegetable Creek (now known as Emmaville) led to a mining bonanza at the end of the 19th century. Within three years, the Glen Innes population had swelled to about 1,500. The town had a two-teacher school, three churches, five hotels, two weekly newspapers, seven stores and a variety of societies and associations.
In 1884 the new train line from Sydney to Glen Innes opened. The arrival of the rail service and the expansion of mining brought prosperity to the area. Most of the grand buildings in Glen Innes were erected at this time. Many of these buildings still stand today and have been placed on the Register of the National Estate.
Sapphire was found alongside tin during the prospecting and mining activity in the creek valleys west of Glen Innes. This brought more miners to the region, but commercial sapphire mining didn’t commence until after World War 1.
By the 1920s, the reputation of the deep blue Glen Innes sapphire had caught the attention of gem buyers around the world. Most of the local stones were sold to dealers in Europe.
The Depression effectively put a stop to the industry and it didn’t resume on a large scale until prices for roughs increased in the late 1950s.
By the 1970s, sapphire mining was in a boom period, with more than a hundred mining plants operating around the region. Main areas of interest for miners were the major sapphire deposits found along Reddestone Creek, Wellingrove Creek, Kings Plains Creek, Horse Gully, Frasers Creek and Swanbrook.
By the 1980s many of the alluvial sites had been exhausted. This, combined with falling prices, led to a decline in mining activity and today there are only a small number of commercial miners still operating.
As well as sapphire, the Glen Innes area has produced topaz, garnet, zircon, acquamarine, emerald, citrine and quartz.
The lure of the deep rich, royal blue sapphire – We’re part of the state’s most prolific sapphire region & the world’s richest mineral diversity belt… Increasingly, fossickers are flocking to Glen Innes Highlands’ to try their luck. You don’t need a licence, it’s simple, cheap & fun for the whole family with the opportunity to strike it rich.
If you are coming to Minerama and have a few hours to spare, you can try your luck at the various free public fossicking sites around Glen Innes Highlands.
Ever since sapphires were discovered in the creek and gullies west of Glen Innes, professional and amateur fossickers have been drawn to the area in search of the deep blue stones for which Glen Innes is famous. You may also uncover topaz, zircon and other fine gems.
Most of the stones are found in a layer of earth called the wash, which sits between the clay bed and the subsoil. Culverts created by creeks expose the layers of earth, making it easy to dig into the wash.
You don’t need much equipment to go fossicking. Basic gear includes a sieve, a miner’s pick, a scratching blade, a shovel and a bucket. You can bring your own gear or hire it in town.
Download a guide or pick up a hard copy from the Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre at 152 Church Street, Glen Innes, or the Visitor Information Marquee at the Minerama show.
You can also book private fossicking experiences directly with the providers listed in the guide. You may need your own equipment and private experiences are subject to the provider’s fees and charges.
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