In 1964 myself (René), Nelleke my significant other

Chicago Underground City In 1964 myself (René), Nelleke my significant other, and our little girl Iefje emigrated from Holland to Australia. I was 29 years of age and Nelleke a couple of years more youthful.

We live in the tropics of Far Northern Australia, a spot obscure to numerous individuals around the globe.

Icy climate and a yearning for enterprise was the primary motivation to leave The Netherlands. We found an occupation in the tobacco fields. Amid that time we met a person from Macedonia and he acquainted us with a spot called Agate Creek. I had never even heard the word agates. This was my first prologue to the universe of semi valuable stones and specifically agates.

In later years, 1965 to 1968, we went to Agate Creek with an old Nissan Patrol. It had extremely primitive suspension, there were repulsive street conditions and arriving took two entire days.

Relatively few other individuals were there, burrowing for these potato looking fortunes. The supposed surface material was at that point passed by then. To uncover an opening to 3 meters with pick and scoop in dry hard soil was diligent work. The warmth, the a large number of flies and continually being shy of drinking water, were the brutal circumstances we needed to adapt to. In any case, the prizes were so energizing.

Burrowing for the agate knobs was something that was not for the purported "city slickers"! Be that as it may, getting back home following 12 to 14 days to Atherton with packs loaded with agates compensated for every one of the rankles and distress, notwithstanding the reality, that exclusive 30 to 35 %, in the wake of cutting, are useful for gatherers around the world. We are, extremely specific and sort out the ones with defects, cracks, uninteresting examples and expansive crystallizations in the middle. However, the ones that are great are so wonderful in shading, examples and configuration, that it is difficult to discover correlation with different agates somewhere else on the planet. The unstoppable force of life made a brilliant showing with regards to!

An exceptionally fascinating book about agates as a rule, including Agate Creek agates is accessible from http://www.agate-nodule.com/class/productions

Nowadays Agate Creek is still an extremely intriguing spot to visit and is significantly more available than in the days of yore. Presently, there is an outdoors ground, crisp water and dazzling individuals to call attention to spots, where despite everything you can uncover a few agates.

In 1996, Nelleke and I, with the two young ladies backpedaled to The Netherlands to attempt and offer the unpleasant agates. It was not a brilliant move by any stretch of the imagination, as the Dutch individuals did not recognize what they were and what to do with these "Stones".

What now? I chose to begin making adornments from the agates. That worked and we begin bringing home the bacon once more. In 1969 we opened, with acquired cash, a Museum called "De Oude Aarde" (The Old Earth) in a spot called Giethoorn, close Zwolle.

Despite the fact that not our own any longer it is still one of Holland's most fascinating mineralogical Museums. An unquestionable requirement if going to in Europe.

In 1977 we came back with the 3 young ladies to Northern Queensland, to our dearest Atherton Tablelands. Following 3 years relaxing I chose to begin another historical center. This time a-blessing from heaven rhapsody exhibition hall, to stir individuals to the marvel of precious stone arrangements from around the globe. With money related assistance from Australia's improvement bank I fabricate a tremendous semi-underground reenacted cavern gallery, an enterprise land, a fable for all age bunches. Guests are supplied with a digger's protective cap with light and a list. To finish this small campaign takes around 60 minutes. It's been the greatest accomplishment in my life. Guests from everywhere throughout the world have gone to this energizing and at the same instructive cavern historical center, with its fantastic gathering of the most awesome examples from around the globe in plain view. A considerable lot of the bigger examples are detached and can be touched. This is quite refreshing as you can read frequently in our guests book.