The Big Sapphire
Height
3 metres
Year Built
2000
Address
Central Queensland Gemfields
The Lowdown
The Big Sapphire is a dazzling tribute to Australia's sapphire mining industry. Australia is one of the world's largest producers of sapphires, with the Central Queensland gemfields around Anakie, Rubyvale, and Sapphire producing high-quality stones since the late 1800s. This oversized gemstone sculpture celebrates that heritage, sparkling in the Australian sun as a monument to the prospectors and miners who have sought their fortune in the region's gem-rich earth. The Queensland gemfields remain a popular destination for fossicking, where visitors can try their luck at finding their own sapphires.
Did you know?
"Queensland's gemfields have been mined since the 1870s"
History
Australia has been mining sapphires since the late 1800s, with the Central Queensland gemfields becoming one of the world's most significant sapphire producing regions. The gems found here range from blue to yellow to green, and the industry has attracted prospectors from around the globe. The Big Sapphire celebrates this heritage, marking the heart of Australia's gem country where visitors can still try their hand at fossicking.
More Fun Facts
- •Australia is one of the world's largest sapphire producers
- •Queensland's gemfields have been mined since the 1870s
- •Visitors can go fossicking for their own sapphires
- •Australian sapphires come in many colours, not just blue
- •The largest sapphire found in the region weighed over 2,000 carats
Visiting Tips
- 💡Book a fossicking experience at local mines
- 💡Visit the gem shops in Rubyvale and Sapphire
- 💡Bring sun protection - the gemfields can be hot
- 💡Consider buying rough sapphires and having them cut locally
Opening Hours
Outdoor sculpture
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