Welcome to a rich and unforgettable Outback experience. White Cliffs is full of character from underground houses and hotels that provide shelter from the heat, to the town’s fascinating opal history. Travellers have been coming here since the 1880’s in search of Opals.
White Cliffs was once part of Momba Station, one of Australia’s largest pastoral leases. The exact date of the first Opal find is still debated. It is widely believed to be sometime around 1884-86 however documented evidence is only available from 1890. It is agreed that a party of Kangaroo shooter employed in the area to cull the wildlife in an attempt to reserve the precious water for stock, were the first group to take a sample for valuation. It was this discovery and the valuation that followed that lead to White Cliffs becoming the first commercial seam Opal field in the world. For 35 years it was the worlds only producer of Opal to the world market.
It is said that the name ‘White Cliffs’ originated after the miners began their search for Opal thereby upturning the white shale that is seen today. The exact location seems to have moved around a bit until a small settlement was established in 1890 and remains in its current location. The discovery of Opal saw a rush of pioneers heading outback in an attempt to find their fortunes. By the end of the 1890’s the population peaked at around 5000. Just 2 years later White Cliffs experienced a severe drought which coincided with the first Opal being discovered in Lightning Ridge. These 2 events caused the majority of the population to pack up camp and walk the 700km to the new field. By the end of 1903 the people in town number around 200 and that number remains today
Today around 200people live in White Cliffs during the year, dropping to 60 people during the summer boasts a population of around 200.
