MONDAY 14 DECEMBER     RUBYVALE

We got up early and got out to Mt Leura about 8.30am. Due to the heat, it makes sense to get an early start.

We went “specking” with JJ and his mate L, who lives in another cottage on the property.

We found a couple of bits of sapphire at their specking place. Then we followed them while they drove to explore another area. It was not promising at all, but it was interesting country. We found some lovely orchids growing there.

Where we stopped to open a gate, saw a Bustard – it just stood still with its beak in the air, looking very aristocratic. It is a large bird, as big as a goose. Early settlers called it the Plains Turkey, which was a clue as to how they used it!

Back at the cottages, we chatted with JJ for a while, then went back to the van for lunch.

In the afternoon, walked around the town, especially looking (again) at the jewellery at Old Mick’s shop and at the Rubyvale Gallery, which had absolutely beautiful pieces. There was really high quality settings and presentation there. Some single cut stones on display were large and unusual. One orange sapphire was priced at $90,000. I knew, from the earlier experiences of friends who had been up here, that sapphires come in a range of colours, but was surprised at the depth of colour in the orange one.

We then walked up Bedford Hill Road, and around much of the town, in a big circuit. John was really interested in the machinery on the claims we passed, the dwellings that were cobbled together on the claims, and the general set-ups in this area of many claims. Up on Bedford Hill most of the mines are shafts that go down maybe twenty metres – well outside the realm of the casual fossicker!

Building regulations must be pretty non-existent in these parts.

We gather that there are a lot of miners and fossickers here, who exist on pensions and live in the shacks and shanties built on claims. Just making do as they can. I suspect that, quite often, their finds are sold in unofficial circles, for whatever they can get. Everyone seems to know everyone in Rubyvale. As less than 700 people live here, that is not surprising.

Part of the township is called the Town Common – and it actually has cattle wandering about.

Our walk was a long one!

Tea was cold roast lamb with salads.