Have you been to the Gemfields Festival? For 2023, everything “Gems & Jewels” will be encompassed in the one site at Roy Day Park at Sapphire, Queensland!
If you love gems and fossicking – then add this August 11-13 event to your list!
All the close knit settlements of Sapphire Central, Rubyvale and Anakie put on events for one and all.
The Jewel of the Gemfields is open all three days 8am-2pm, here’s what is on:
- Demonstrations – skin polishing, cabochoning, silversmithing, faceting
- Rock and mineral display
- Mining display
- Mini-lectures
- Workshops (bookings essential)
- Faceting competition (sapphires dug from the local Gemfields!)
- Food trucks and markets run all weekend!
Are you keen to fossick and stay longer?
Sapphire Central
A popular place for ‘Grey Nomads’ to set up a base, working their mines for their required time usually over the winter months.
This is due to all the amenities in the area, with added bonus of digging for precious gems!
Sapphire Central has a Medical Clinic, Swimming Pool, Skate Park, Public Toilet, Chemist, Post Office, Water-point, Fuel, Takeaway food, Multi-Purpose Community Centre, Ambulance, RSL with dine in meals Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in the tourist season, Meals on Wheels, Fire Brigade, Op Shop, cafe and fuel, Bric a Brac Shop, jewellery shops, water-point, plus dump point if needed.
It’s important to note that the good people of the Gemmies are community minded and supportive. Their activities include the Lapidary Club, Craft Club, Patchwork Club, Yoga Group, Riding for the Disabled, Garden Club, Shooting Club, Camp Drafting, Walking and health groups, country markets in both Sapphire Central and Rubyvale.
The whole area has multiple hands-on educational tourism businesses highlighting the varies methods of local mining.
It’s an eclectic community, with helpful and supportive people.
Rubyvale
Just 6 km apart – all within the Gemfields, which has a well stocked grocery store, pub with counter meals, PO, coffee shops, and an eclectic range of gem shops, laundromat, library and Progress Association.
Midway between the two towns is another water point, dump point and tip plus a well stocked hardware store.
Anakie Siding
Nearby Anakie Siding has a Primary School with buses connecting to both Primary and secondary schools in Emerald.
The large town of Emerald, with everything you’ll need is just 30 – 40 minutes away. Major supermarkets also deliver to the Gemfields once a week.
The event is a joint effort with The Gemfields Lapidary & Craft Club Inc. in conjunction with The Gemfields Festival in Central Queensland, The Multipurpose Centre alongside The Gemfields Markets and Lapidary Club.
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