60 years of uncovering hidden treasures
The Bundaberg Gem and Mineral Society is celebrating 60 years of uncovering hidden treasures, and there’s no better way to mark the milestone than with its annual Bundaberg Gemfair, happening the first weekend of November at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct. Proudly supported by Bunnings, the event promises a dazzling display of Queensland’s natural brilliance — from rough stones straight from the earth to sparkling handcrafted jewellery.
What started in the 1960s with a small group of passionate fossickers has grown into a buzzing hub for gem lovers, collectors, and lapidary artists. Society members regularly meet to cut, polish, and shape gemstones, swap stories, and organise fossicking trips to some of Queensland’s most colourful corners.
Bundaberg itself is no stranger to hidden treasures. Cordalba is famed for its richly patterned agate and about an hour south-west, near Lowmead, fossickers can uncover quartz varieties like amethyst, citrine, and smoky quartz.
It’s all the thrill of discovery, without the long road trip.
Queensland as a whole is a playground for treasure hunters. The Central Queensland Gemfields — Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie, and Willows — are world-famous for sapphires in shades of blue, green, yellow, gold, and multi-toned “parti-colours.” But these fields aren’t just about sapphires; they also yield zircon, garnet, black spinel, and topaz.
Venture further west and the outback glitters with its own treasures: Boulder Opal near Winton and Quilpie, the rare and prized Black Opal at Lightning Ridge, Australian turquoise, emeralds, rubies, and even gold in historic fields like Clermont and Forsayth.
Other eye-catching finds include Agate Creek’s famous agates and “thunder eggs,” amethyst and garnet near Cloncurry, and fascinating fossilised specimens like petrified wood scattered across inland regions. Each stone is a little piece of Earth’s story, just waiting to be discovered.
For anyone keen to try fossicking, you’ll need a Queensland fossicking licence, available online or by calling MyMines on (07) 3199 8133. Print it out before you head out — mobile reception in rural areas can be patchy. Some fossicking zones allow camping with a separate permit, and local businesses often provide tools and sieves for hire.
If you want to avoid the labour of fossicking, the Bundaberg Gemfair is the perfect place to start your treasure-hunting journey. Watch live cutting and polishing demonstrations, admire collections from local enthusiasts, and browse stalls offering everything from raw minerals to handcrafted jewellery. Seasoned fossickers are on hand to share tips and reveal the best local spots to strike it lucky.
After six decades, the Bundaberg Gem and Mineral Society continues to shine as a cornerstone of the local community, proving that Bundaberg’s treasures aren’t just in its beaches and cane fields, but deep beneath the surface.
And sometimes, the best gems in Bundaberg are the ones you dig up yourself.
Chitchat Newspaper. November 2025.