about the opal shaft
OUR HISTORY
The Opal Shaft - “Established in 2025 as a Tribute to my late parents Barbara & James Walker. I am continuing to cut and polish opals they mined over twenty seasons at their Lightning Ridge mines at Nebia Hill and Grawin, along with the extensive collection selection sourced from other miners from Opal fields around Australia.” - Debra Walker-Lohrere
The Beginning
My parents Barbara & James Walker developed their enthusiasm and appreciation for the Wondrous Beauty of Opals in 1970’s, after their first trip to the Opal Fields at Coober Pedy.
They lived in Victoria, but in the late 80’s they purchased the Walker Family Mine on Nebia Hill at Lightning Ridge and also had part shares in two mines at Grawin. Each season they travelled up from Springvale, Victoria to carry out their mining at their ‘Off the Grid’ camp, which was powered by solar and batteries, with a Gas Fridge and Gas cooktop as well as an outdoor BBQ and Firepit for the camp oven meals that Barbara loved to cook.
They thoroughly enjoyed their time at the fields of the Ridge and the companionship of their fellow Gem Club prospectors who often met up with them there. Barbara processed some of the opals that they mined, cutting & polishing them and then setting a lot into jewellery settings that she designed and often hand created using her silversmithing skills. James polished some opals, but preferred to facet stones, especially working with Topaz, Cubic Zirconia, various shades of Quartz Crystals and other stones, which Barbara also set into jewellery and began selling at Gem Club Shows with the Opals in Lightning Ridge and all over Australia. She eventually become a Judge for the Ballarat Gem Club Shows.
Now - As a Tribute to my late parents The Opal Shaft was conceived as a way to bring to fruition their years of hard work and continue to cut and polish our rough opals from the Shaft and those collected from other Australian Opal fields - to finally unveil and reveal the unique hidden beauty of a sparkling creation that took millions of years to create and now seen for the very first time by human eyes.
The original MINERS CAMP AND LOCATION OF THE WALKER opal mine ON NEBIA HILL AT LIGHTNING RIDGE
Located along what is today the “Green Car Door” Tourist Track (Dirt Road) at Lightning Ridge, NSW, on top of Nebia Hill just set back out of view from the road stands the original Western Lands Lease Opal Mining “Camp” bought by my Mum & Dad back in the 1980s and still in the family today.
After working in a crystal & gem gift shop, joining up with several gem clubs and associations and travelling around to numerous Australian Opal fields, beginning with Coober Pedy in 1972, where their love of Opals first turned from an admiration into a passion, my parents Barbara and James Walker purchased our Family Mine on Nebia Hill where they sunk the mine shaft and began uncovering precious gems.
THE OPAL SHAFT - Our Current Model is Online Only
Coming 2026 - I will be opening an outlet in Opal Street, Lightning Ridge during the season.
Owner/Operator Debra Walker-Lohrere Wholesale/Retail Sales Opals,Gems & Jewellery
We stock an outstanding range Opal Jewellery including Triplets, Doublets and Solid Opals. Our Australian Opals which were mined from The Walker Family Mine on Nebia Hill at Lightning Ridge, two partnered mines at Grawin as well as Opals sourced over many years direct from the miners at other Australian Fields. These include Coober Pedy, Mintibie, Andamooka, Koiroit, Yowah, TIntenbah, White Cliffs, Grawin, Winton and Opalton. Types of Opal in stock include rare Black Opals, Dark Opals, Light (White) Opals, Crystal Opals, Boulder Opals, Koiroit Nuts, Andamooka Matrix (treated and untreated stones) and Painted Ladies .
Our stunning range of natural Black and Dark Opals from The Lightning Ridge Opal Fields have lovely brightness levels and are clean and pleasing to the eye. We sell Rough Opal, Rubs, Solid Polished Opals and Opal, Crystal & Gemstone Jewellery.
These precious gemstones are a quality resource for Opal Jewellery Designers as these great specimens can be hand crafted into outstanding pieces for any High End Jewellery Design Collection.
Our Gem quality opals display multi directional vivid play of colour so look beautiful from every viewing angle.
NEW RELEASES
We are constantly polishing new stones from our stock of rough opals and will be continually showcasing both polished stones and new Opal Jewellery & Collectables.
Opals were gouged from the solid sandstone walls of the mine with a sense of excitement and wonder as the astounding colors began to be unearthed. (Dad even bought some little hand weights to build up his muscles for the jack hammer).
All sales will be sent by Australia Post Express Post and dispatched same day or next working day if on a weekend.
All our Opals are cut and polished with love and passion to uncover the never before seen beauty hidden within the outer potch or sand layer
Become the proud owner of an OPAL SHAFT Solid Lightning Ridge Dark Opal today.
Opal is Australia’s National Gemstone