1869 Blackall Station overseer finds Boulder Opal on Listowel Downs near Adavale
1871 Pride of Hills first Opal mining lease near Toompine
1871 Eromanga fields discovered
1873 Opal miners Berkleman & Lambert launch Barcoo Opal at International Exhibition
1875 Bond takes up leases Aladdin, Scotchman and Cunnavalla mines in the Kyabra hills
1878 Fermoy Opal fields discovered
1879 Herbert Bond floats a company in London for 2500 pounds
1884 Yowah’s first opal mining lease registered
1884 White Cliffs in New South Wales discovered by Kangaroo Hunters
1886 Colonial & Indian Exhibition attended by Mr Bond with a gem and Opal cutting display
1887 Joe Bridel takes parcel of opal to Silverton NSW displaying at office of F.E. Harris.
1887 Opalton discovered
1888 Craggs Boulder Opal mine first Opal claim registered in NW Qld
1888 Tully Wollaston goes to meet Opal miner Joe Bridle out of Eromanga
1889 Tully Wollaston bought the first parcel of White Cliffs Opal
1889 Tully Wollaston’s first London trip with Opal deals with Hasluck Bros a conduit to US market
1890 Jundah discovered
1891 Duck Creek discovered
1893 Yowah: Herbert Bond & Co obtain lease @ Southern Cross
1894 Kynuna discovered
1895 Opalton’s Great Opal Rush
1896 Opalton proclaimed mining district, 500-600 men on the field
1897 Koroit discovered
1901 Yowah: German syndicate takes on Bond’s lease at Southern Cross
1901 Tully Wollaston takes White & Boulder Opal to Empire Exhibition London
1902 Yowah’s population reaches 100
1902 Lightning Ridge in New South Wales discovered
1915 Coober Pedy in South Australia discovered
1957 Gift & Gem established in Winton by Vince Evert
1967 Quilpie Pharmacist Des Burton begins Boulder Opal mining and processing
1970 Vince Evert starts Opal mining
1975 Eric Lenton buys ‘Flame of the Desert’ a thumbnail stone found at Redspot by Robbie Martyr and John Jackson
1993 1st ‘Boulder Opal Auction’ now an annual Tradeshow held in early July by QBOA
2005 Quilpie hosts the 3rd National Opal Symposium
2009 Winton hosts the 5th National Opal Symposium