Townsville Gem and Mineral Club’s annual show set to delight emerald enthusiasts

Beautiful ancient creations will be on display this weekend in Townsville. See where.

Riley Hudson, 12, and Dayne Lee, 11, check out the Townsville Gem and Mineral Club's chock-a-block display cabinet, as the club prepares for its largest fundraising event of the year, the annual gem show, to be held on July 22 and 23. Picture: Blair Jackson

Sapphire savants, amethyst admirers and opal obsessives need look no further than the Townsville Gem and Mineral Club’s annual show this weekend.

The show will be held at the club’s Gulliver centre on Saturday and Sunday.

Organiser Teresa Hudson said the state’s vast and sparse landscapes make Queenslanders particularly keen on their gemstones.

“There’s such a vast area in Queensland to go seeking and looking for your own stones and gemstones, and it’s such a family-orientated activity,” Ms Hudson said.

Riley Hudson, 12, and Dayne Lee, 11, ahead of the Townsville Gem and Mineral Club’s annual gem show, to be held on July 22-23. Picture: Blair Jackson

Learning to search, identify and then polish gemstones to presentation could turn into an obsessive pastime, she said.

“All the club members here talk about it as an addiction. Once you start you get addicted to it.”

The club has been putting on its annual gem show for more than 20 years. It runs 9am to 4pm on Saturday, and 9am to 2pm on Sunday.

There’s fossicking, panning, sapphire washing and more than 50 vendors.

Originally published as Townsville Gem and Mineral Club’s annual show set to delight emerald enthusiasts