Just been informed that the dirt track into Porters has been closed. Mackka
Porters Retreat
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Nug4me2
John
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Great pictures. I never realised how much work had been done around this area. Went there for a bit of a scratch around a couple of years ago but didn't find anything worthwhile. The track in is definitely closed at the moment. Drove past on the way to Orange.
WalnLiz
In remembrance, April 2024
Was the best Sapphire spot in NSW during the late 70's. My best stones back then was a 115ct clear party colour and a Garnet that went 95ct......the good old days. 
Nug4me2
John
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Nice stones Wal. Did you keep them?Was the best Sapphire spot in NSW during the late 70's. My best stones back then was a 115ct clear party colour and a Garnet that went 95ct......the good old days.
WalnLiz
In remembrance, April 2024
Cut the big one into 3 stones ...a yellow green and two blue green. still have the garnet somewhere in my collection. Got a similar stone from Grabben Gullen but smaller in size...I'll cut it into two stones one day when I get time 
The pic below is the one from Grabben Gullen and went 34ct. Almost identical in colour to the Porters Retreat stone only much smaller. No flaws so should get two really nice stones out of it, a blue and a golden.
The pic below is the one from Grabben Gullen and went 34ct. Almost identical in colour to the Porters Retreat stone only much smaller. No flaws so should get two really nice stones out of it, a blue and a golden.
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Nug4me2
John
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Beautiful. That's great that you have kept them. Some of the sapphires that my brothers have found and sold have given them regrets for selling later on in life. I like to keep all of my gems, not that i have any large ones thoughCut the big one into 3 stones ...a yellow green and two blue green. still have the garnet somewhere in my collection. Got a similar stone from Grabben Gullen but smaller in size...I'll cut it into two stones one day when I get time
The pic below is the one from Grabben Gullen and went 34ct. Almost identical in colour to the Porters Retreat stone only much smaller. No flaws so should get two really nice stones out of it, a blue and a golden.
WalnLiz
In remembrance, April 2024
Liz and I are avid gem cutters but time has been a problem for quite a while now. 
We tend not to sell many of our precious stones and have a large quantity ready to be cut...problem is gold detecting seems to always get in the way. Sometime down the track we will have to start faceting again, especially with the price of Sapphires these days.
We tend not to sell many of our precious stones and have a large quantity ready to be cut...problem is gold detecting seems to always get in the way. Sometime down the track we will have to start faceting again, especially with the price of Sapphires these days.
Interesting note on the price of Sapphires as I read yesterday that in the Qld Gemfields sapphires that were selling for $100ct ten years ago is now selling for $1,000ct. Noice!Beautiful. That's great that you have kept them. Some of the sapphires that my brothers have found and sold have given them regrets for selling later on in life. I like to keep all of my gems, not that i have any large ones though
WalnLiz
In remembrance, April 2024
If you were in it for the money then Sapphires would give you a far better return than gold. Problem these days is most can't get access to the better locations....Those who are lucky enough to have access cherish your permission as you are amongst the lucky few.
Problem these days is most can't get access to the better locations....Those who are lucky enough to have access cherish your permission as you are amongst the lucky few.
I have been given the name of a contact in the Gemfields if i can ever get up there, not holding my breath. Mackka
Still quite a few places around the Inverell Glen Innes area to go Maccka. The QLD gemfields have some fantastic stones with incredible clarity and great colours but my number 1 choice for colour is the Inverell area, the cornflower blues and royal blues from there are second to none, in my opinion. .
It's interesting about the price of stones though, I've been told by a few people that the Thai buyers would come over and buy a lot of stones, take them back, heat treat and sell them as Ceylon sapphires for top dollar. Aussie labelled stones have never been appreciated fully globally though no wonder as the best of the best were usually sold overseas and labeled as from elsewhere.
I reckon Australia has the best sapphs in the world and they were very undervalued for a long time, good to see them going up in value.
Some nice Inverell stones in the pic below, not mine but a bloke I know from Inverell. Not all there are a great colour but a few are and the rest are still pretty decent.
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John
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We used to enjoy going up to '7 Oaks' propery near Inverell and camping for a few days sapphiring each day. Picked up some nice stones there, especially after the rain and walking along the road specking. Unfortunately they closed that area to the public now.
Not sure what is open up there these days as it has been a while since the brother-in-law and our wives used to go there every year for a week. Nice area and good times.
Update on Porters Retreat (Little River):
Dirt road is closed (barricaded), however fossicking is still ok with a 5 min walk from the main road.
I walked down and saw 2 vehicles down there, I suspect they moved the barricade.
Dirt road is closed (barricaded), however fossicking is still ok with a 5 min walk from the main road.
I walked down and saw 2 vehicles down there, I suspect they moved the barricade.
I would have thought that if the road was barricaded, it would mean “ keep out” and not to be entered by vehicle or on foot, but i stand to be corrected. Mackka
yea good point, I forgot to add that I spoke to oberon council. Road is closed for vehicles due to damage from weather and open to pedestrians.
Any update on whether council has fixed the road into Porters Retreat, or is it still barricaded.
I haven't been back since, so I'm not sure sorry. If you're planning on going I suggest calling oberon council, they were very friendly last time I spoke to them.
Best of luck!
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