Rock on in Nambour

Do you have a love of rocks, always been fascinated by gemstones? It’s time to dig into the wonderful world of rocks and gemstones with the Nambour Lapidary Club.

by Rebecca Mugridge Lapidary from the Latin ‘lapidarius’ is the art of shaping stones, gemstones and minerals into ‘cabochons’ or ‘faceted gems’. The Latin word 'lapis' means stone and it is said the word evolved into ‘lapidarius’ around the 14th century, referring to those who were expertly skilled at working with precious stones and gems.

The Nambour Lapidary Club was first established in March 1965 after a meeting of enthusiasts in the Cane Growers Building on Lowe Street in Nambour. Following this meeting a building was secured in Ann Street and the club was formed. Nine years there and then two further moves before eventually finding its home at the Nambour Showgrounds, in ‘Gem Lane’.

Members attend and use the club’s equipment to work with stone and facet gems. They also go out hunting rocks. One of the very first trips members did was out to Wappa Falls, searching for stones they could shape, cut and polish. This year the club has members heading off much farther from home.

Club President, Keith Millington, says many members are looking forward to their fossicking trip. “We have about one third of the club members going up to Mount Surprise in North Queensland in a couple of weeks, that is a big expedition,” he smiles before holding up a beautiful pendant, worthy of a mention in a Tolkien novel.

“This is an example of the sort of thing they will find. This is a topaz that I found up there [Mount Surprise] many, many years ago. Pure crystal form that is,” Keith says, as it catches the light. “All that’s been done is put it into a silver setting and then with our gold plating machine, gold plate it.”

And it is quite an adventure ahead, with Mount Surprise being 1,710 km north-west of Brisbane; a tiny place with just a caravan park, café, pub and petrol stations. Interestingly, surrounded by Undara Lava Tubes, Cobbold Gorge and O’Brien’s Creek and what they are going for most of all, Mount Surprise Gems - the exciting topaz field that is a further 42 km north-west of Mount Surprise.

One member going on the trek is Trevor, who Keith says has been associated with the club for many years. “He has been a past president and is a lifelong member. He is one of the key members of the club. He probably also has the best [lapidary] museum in the state, he has a fantastic collection.”

Trevor’s private, professional museum of stones and gems is a catalogue of years of work and dedication. He says getting involved in the lapidary club was like many things, “Don’t wait to try it if you have always wanted to!”

Along with working with the stones and gems, the club is also involved each year with the Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show, complete with a fossicking experience for kids, plus the Garden Expo, and they run Gemfest each year.

They are excited that they have been chosen to host the Australian Gemboree in 2026, right here in Nambour. The last time the event was here was 1974, so this is a massive milestone and a huge plus for tourism. The Gemboree is expected to see thousands descend from overseas, interstate and all over Queensland. It is an opportunity to not just show off the Nambour and the Sunshine Coast, but to improve the facilities of the clubhouse, and even potentially the showgrounds, says Keith, who hopes to galvanise action soon.

The growing popularity of the club has also recently extended to Rob Skelton MP, whose son has a love of rocks and has just become the club’s Patron.

Keith says there are many kids that love rocks, and the club also wants to look at including something for them.

“We are always looking for, and welcoming, new members to come and learn. We also have silversmithing courses, and we are looking at introducing an arrangement where parents come in with children because there are plenty of interested kids.”

The idea, Keith explains, is for the kids to learn lapidary with their parents watching and supervising, a bonding experience they can enjoy together.

For more information visit: nambourlapidaryclub.com.au