Outback Art by Ladymaggic

Outback Art Show

This was the Art Show at Blackhall in 2005

All the Paintings by Maggi Carstairs are in Private Collections.

Sapphire Mining at Gemfields Queensland

Sapphire Mining Queensland

Willows Gemfields is about a 45 minute drive west of Emerald along the Capricorn Highway. The Gemfields area is known for having unusually coloured sapphires. Fossicking in the Gemfields is easy with equipment hire available, you can even get your fossicking license in Anakie. Willows Gemfields has caravan park accommodation and also offers walk-in-mine tours and a fossicking park, where you can learn to recognise and find sapphires from the earth. Willows Gemfields service station only has unleaded fuel, and the nearest hospital in the Gemfields is located at Emerald.

http://m-carstairs.com/desertart/id15.html

Willows Gemfields is 11 kilometres off the Capricorn Highway. The turn is 24 kilometres pass the Anakie/Sapphire crossroads and about a 45 minute drive west of Emerald.

The willows Gemfields is a popular fossicking spot, as very little machinery, and no corporate mining, has been permitted in the past. 'The Willows' is known for having unusually coloured sapphires. Some of the world's most famous Sapphires have been found on the Willows Gemfields, including a 332 carat rough yellow, aptly named the 'golden Willow'.

Hand mining and/or fossicking involves digging from old creek beds, now underground, and sieving it to separate out the sand and oversized rocks. It is then washed before the sapphires can be hand sorted from the other heavy gravels.

Fossicking on the Sapphire Gemfields is easy with equipment hire and fossicking licenses available.

Willows Gemfields has caravan park accommodation and also offers fossicking park facilities, where you can learn to recognise and find sapphires from the earth. The Glenalva and Willows shallow digging areas are where you fossick near Willows Gemfields. Willows Gemfields service station only has unleaded fuel, and the nearest hospital to the Gemfields is located at Emerald.

Mt Whale Bone, Newman West Australia

Newman is 1186km north of Perth or 458km south of Port Hedland and is the largest town in the hospitable East Pilbara region of Australias North West. Built by Mount Newman Mining Company during 1967-69, and originally named Mount Newman town, it has evolved into a popular stopover destination for exploring the impressive beauty of Karijini National Park and the Hamersley Gorges.

Until the early 1960s the industry in the Pilbara was pastoral, apart from a brief stint as a potential but unsuccessful gold mining area.

In 1957, prospector Stan Hidditch discovered large iron-ore deposits within the Hamersley Ranges. During 1967-69, many facilities were constructed to facilitate the extraction of this vast stretch of iron-ore from the arid ground, including Newman Township. In addition, the worlds largest open-cut iron-ore mine was built at nearby Mount Whaleback as well as the largest privately owned railway that runs 426km from Newman to Port Headland on the coast. This huge operation also included enhancing the port facilities at Port Hedland. The mine is 85% owned by BHP Company and still runs today producing an amazing 30-million tonnes of iron ore each year.

Mining has endowed a rich heritage of infrastructure at Newman for the visitor to the town.

In 1975, over 60,000 trees and shrubs were planted around Newman to restore the landscape where in summer, it is not uncommon for temperatures in Australias North West to reach over 40C every day.

In 1981, responsibility for the town was relinquished to the local shire and the name was changed to simply oNewman. Since then, a number of tourist facilities have augmented Newmans position as an interesting and different destination for tourists exploring the surrounding areas or passing through the East Pilbara.

http://www.discoverwest.com.au/western_australia/newman.html

Sapphire Mining at Gemfields Queensland

Sapphire Mining.

I spent a week searching sapphires at Gemfields and Emerald in the far North of Queensland in sweltering heat.
I found no sapphires, but I experienced a wonderful comradeship with the people who live and love this area.



Sapphire Mining Queensland

Broome to Perth by Motorvan

I drove 3,000 kms along Highway 1 from Broome to Perth.
It took 6 days of driving in over 50 degree heat in January...Australia's Hot Summer.



Outback Australia

Broome West Australia

Broome West Australia



Broome

Abrolhos Island West Australia

Abrolhos Island is off the Coast of Geraldton in West Australia
It is accessible by air and by boat.



Abrolhos Islands

Wildflowers of West Australia

Kangaroo Paw and other wildflowers



Wildflowers of West Australia