Chapter 4 – The Australian Outback – Back a Bourke!
By Me
They say that the outback is anything that lies North or West of this arid town which seems to lay on the edge of semi civilization. I was looking forward to our arrival purely to experience the expression ‘Out the back of Bourke’ and that’s exactly where we were heading. Here’s an interesting point; the famous writer Henry Lawson spent 6 months sleeping in his swag out here realising the harshness of Australian bush life which inspired much of his subsequent work. Apparently many bush poets spent time in the back of Bourke. Henry Lawson said “if you know Bourke you know Australia”.
The Australian National Gemstone -The Opal was proclaimed Australia’s national gemstone on 28 July 1993.
Australia is the world leader in opal production and produces 95 per cent of the precious gemstone. As such, opal is regarded Australia’s national gemstone.
The gem is known in Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs, New South Wales; Mintabie, Coober Pedy; Andamooka, South Australia; and in several areas in Queensland such as the Quilpie district, Yowah district and the Winton district.