Opals - Fire in the Desert

Coober Pedy is also known as the Opal Capital of the World. Most of the world’s opal comes from this tiny Outback town and is located in the harsh outback of South Australia. The town is 845kms north of Adelaide and 685 kms south of Alice Springs along the Stuart Highway. About 95% of the world's precious opals come from Australia. And 85% of them are found right here in the 70 opal fields in the region.  But it’s not only famous for opals, but also for its unique accommodation, and legendary stories of courage and endurance. This program tells the story of Opal mining in the outback town of Coober Pedy and one man, “Iron Man” Jim Shaw who in 1920 pushed a loaded wheelbarrow across the desert in the height of summer from Tarcoola to the opal fields and became a legend of the outback.