Are you visiting Lightning Ridge and wondering what the unmissable attractions are? Perhaps you’ve found some great lists with way too many options and you’re wondering if Chambers of the Black Hand is worth a visit.
The Chambers of the Black Hand is one of the most unique experiences in Lightning Ridge and you just cannot miss it while you’re in town – it is simply unbelievable. Read on to find out everything you need to know before you visit; where it is, what you can expect, the history of the Chambers and more.
1. It was carved completely by hand, by just one man
Ron Canlin is the mastermind and extraordinary artist behind each and every carving in the Chambers of the Black Hand. The Chambers were originally dug to search for opal, but with years of digging and no luck on the opal front, Ron discovered that the walls were perfect for intricate carvings.
He used nothing but a blunt butter knife to carve every single piece of art that is on the walls today, and opened the Chambers to the public in 1997. What’s left of that very butter knife is even on display in the Chambers.
When you start your self-guided tour, you will be shown to the first chamber and given a quick run-down on the history. If you miss any information at the start, there are two specially built chambers complete with carved benches, set up with a screen showing a video of the history and interviews with Ron. You’ll also get a map which has a little bit of extra information to take home with you.
2. It’s in Lightning Ridge, NSW
The Chambers of the Black Hand is located in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. Lightning Ridge is a world renowned, small outback town located 8 hours south-west of Brisbane. It is famous for its opals and is the only place in the world that Black Opal is found and mined.
Black Opal also happens to be the most valuable of all opals in the world. But you wouldn’t believe that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of opals have been found in Lightning Ridge over the years – it is still very much a small mining town.
Opals have always existed at Lightning Ridge but were not exploited until the early 1900s. Lightning Ridge is home to the Yuwaalaraay people. They were displaced and pushed out of the place by the British colonialists, first when they began using the land for pastoral activities and later as the opal fever took hold.
Visiting Lightning Ridge gave me an eerie feeling, leading me to question our relationship with nature and the exploitation mindset that sees us constantly walking out of step with our mother earth.
3. It’s 12 metres under the ground
The Chambers of the Black Hand is located in an old opal mine – about 12 metres below ground level. The artworks are carved into a layer of sandstone which sits above the opal-rich clay layer. The staircase leading down into the Chambers was hand-carved too.
If you want to pay a visit to the Chambers you will need to walk down the long staircase, there is currently no wheelchair or lift access available. Don’t forget – you’ll have to go back up the staircase to get out, so save some energy for that!
If you’re claustrophobic then I would highly recommend giving this one a miss – the Chambers are an underground labyrinth of tunnels and narrow walkways.
4. You have to book a Sculpture Tour to see the Chambers
If you want to visit the Chambers of the Black Hand it is essential to book a tour in advance. I would recommend the self-guided tour because it allows you to spend as much time as you like wandering the chambers and admiring Ron’s work. At the start of the self-guided tour you will get a 5-minute history of the mine and artwork, and then you can use your map to navigate the chambers. You can book online here.
There are plenty of green EXIT signs everywhere and all the tunnels eventually lead back to the same place, so don’t worry about getting lost.
Make sure you have at least 2 hours set aside for your visit to the Chambers if you really want to marvel at everything Ron has created. The self-guided tours cost $45 for adults and $15 for children, and you can spend as much time as you like there.
5. You can also do a mine tour – and it’s 18 metres below the surface
Not only are there hundreds of carvings at the Chambers of the Black Hand, you can also visit the old opal mine on the level below the carvings.
Located 18 metres under the surface is the old opal workings which are over 100 years old. You can take a tour of this level and learn about the stories, history, successes, and failures of this mine as well as other opal mines in the area. Learn from a local opal miner about mining techniques and the opal fever – ponder how your own personal search for riches and meaning compares to the miners.
Prices for the Mine Tour are the same as the Sculpture Tour, and if you book both together you can save $10. You can make your booking on their website.
6. It’s a 5 minute drive from the town centre
One of the great things about Lightning Ridge is how close everything is. Most of the attractions in town centre around the opal mines – which form an underground system akin to an ants nest. The Chambers of the Black Hand is located only a 5 minute drive from town.
7. You can buy opals and jewellery underground!
If you catch the opal fever on your visit to the Chambers of the Black Hand you will be able to peruse their shop for a piece of your own opal to take home. Remarkably, there is a complete opal and jewellery shop located 12 metres underground. Once you’ve finished admiring the amazing carvings, browse the shop in search of a local opal to take home as a souvenir.
8. There are over 900 sculptures and 26 themed chambers
The endless walls of insanely detailed carvings must be seen to be truly believed. There’s over 900 individual sculptures making up the Chambers of the Black Hand, each one carved by hand, by Ron Canlin.
They are grouped into the ‘Chambers’ – 26 different chambers each with a unique theme. From Egypt to Australiana, Under the Sea, ‘Fantasy’ and Famous Faces, you will find something that sparks your personal interest.
The other awesome thing about the Chambers is that you can take as many photos as you like, they just ask that you look but do not touch. The sandstone is very soft and fragile – perfect for carving which also makes it very easy to accidentally destroy with a few touches. Keep your distance and avoid touching, that way Ron’s artwork can continue to be enjoyed by others for years to come.
9. They’re open 7 days a week but closed in the hotter months
Lightning Ridge has an average high temperature of between 34°C and 36°C during the Summer months – ridiculously hot! Because of these extreme temperatures, the Chambers of the Black Hand typically close during the hottest months of the year (usually February). For the rest of the year, it’s open 7 days a week.
There is currently no wheelchair access or lift – the only way in and out is the 12 metre staircase. There are no facilities underground, but there is a toilet located just behind the carpark.
Visit and Be in Awe
Your visit to Lightning Ridge will no doubt open your eyes to an intriguing way of life in the outback and make you ponder your humanity. A visit to the Chambers of the Black Hand will allow you to marvel at just how much one person can achieve with very few resources. A little bit of imagination and a lot of hard work goes a long way!
Leave a comment below if you have your own tales of the Chambers of the Black Hand, I’d love to hear what you thought about this incredible place.