Our History
About Us | What We Do | Our Team
The Australian Opal Centre began in the late 1990s as Lightning Ridge Opal and Fossil Centre, an economic development project at Lightning Ridge, led by community members seeking to diversify a local economy reliant upon opal mining and agriculture.
A high quality, high profile attraction with education, research and community functions would strengthen tourism, create new opportunities and buffer against the impacts of regional and global economics on demand and prices for opal.
Importantly, the concept also addressed a century of neglect of one of Australia's most feted and spectacular natural treasures: opal. Opal was a national icon, yet there was no place in Australia dedicated to opal science, art, heritage and culture; no centre of opal-related education, training or industry development; no public collection of the country's National Gemstone.
As the project grew, its national significance became evident and in 2007, it was renamed the Australian Opal Centre.
Australian Opal Centre Milestones
2004
Commenced operations from exhibition space and office in rented premises
Design brief developed for new building
2005
Design and engineering team assembled
Concept design for building developed by architects Murcutt + Lewin
Deductible Gift Recipient status granted
First item donated to collection
2007
Lightning Ridge Opal & Fossil Centre became Australian Opal Centre
2008
Title secured on 3.1hectare development site
Development Approval granted for new building
Showroom refurbished and opened by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and acting Governor General of Australia
First scientific publication on AOC collection item (mussel shell with vertebrate bite marks)
2010
Scale model and architectural rendering of new AOC building
2011
Black Opal Heritage Shed constructed
Reception at Government House, Sydney, for the Australian Opal Centre and for Black Opal, State Gemstone Emblem of NSW
2013
Site prepared and excavated for new AOC building
Brilliant Ideas (research project and exhibition about invention and adaptation of opal mining machinery) developed with the Australian Society for the History of Engineering and Technology and Lightning Ridge Historical Society
Participated in the 1st Changsha Mineral and Gem Show in China
New species of meiolaniid turtle from Lightning Ridge published
2014
First annual Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig
2015
Australian Geographic Society partnered in Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig
2016
Rented further workshop space
Ran first AOC opal carving courses
Commissioned and completed Concept for Complementary and Ancillary Development for the Australian Opal Centre
Developed SPARK, an outdoor cinematic experience shown 3 nights per week in Lightning Ridge
Lightning Claw (Lightning Ridge megaraptorid dinosaur) published
2016-17
Detailed financial projections developed for new AOC
2017
AOC Founders campaign launched
Business case and benefit/cost analysis completed for new AOC
Suite of planning documents (Procurement, Project Management, Asset Management and Risk Management plans) completed for new AOC
Opalised fossil pterosaur and ankylosaur (dinosaur) fossils from AOC collection published
2018
Weewarrasaurus (new species of dinosaur from AOC collection) published - first new NSW dinosaur species named in more than 80 years
Agreement to stage construction of the new AOC
AOC Founder commitments reach $1 million total
2019
$19 million in government funding committed to new AOC ($2 million Walgett Shire Council, $7.5 million NSW Government, $9.5 million Commonwealth Government)
Project manager, quantity surveyor and design consultant team appointed
Late 2019, detailed design commenced for new AOC
Fostoria (new dinosaur species from AOC collection) published
New fossil crocodile from AOC collection, and new dating of Lightning Ridge sediments, published
2020
Opalised sauropod dinosaur teeth from AOC collection published
2021
AOC and partners host world first online Science of Opal Formation symposium
Design and tender documentation of AOC Stage 1 completed
AOC Stage 1 tenders received
LROFC members resolve to transition to not-for-profit company limited by guarantee
Building project put on hold December 2021 due to impacts of pandemic on construction prices
2022
First CEO and General Manager of Operations appointed
Successful additional fundraising for building project; funding from NSW Government
Recruitment of non-executive Directors for Board of Australian Opal Centre Ltd
2023
Lightning Ridge Opal & Fossil Centre Incorporated transitions to Australian Opal Centre Ltd; Board forms
Building project and tender recommence
Barpa Pty Ltd appointed head contractor (builder) for new AOC Stage 1
Fossil fish from AOC collection published
SPARK sets new audience records
Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig celebrates its 10th year