Sherman Archives - Early days in Coober Pedy ~ 1930's
The following series of photographs form a small part of older photographs Opal Academy is digitising and preserving for the Sherman Archives. Graciously provided by Peter Sherman. Some of these photos will have captions and stories, in other photos, some of the details of the people are unknown or lost in history. Opal Academy invites anyone who can provide further identification, information or stories are invited to contact the Opal Academy to discuss and update. We want to record and preserve as much information as is available to be preserved.
Ernie Sherman communicating with some local aboriginals at Coober Pedy, date Unknown, Thought to be Circa 1930’s
Ernie Sherman with colleagues outside a dugout in Coober Pedy (Date and people unknown)
An early photo of the Commonwealth Bank and Post Office dugout Coober Pedy, (Date unknown, People Unknown, although it is possible the gentleman in the hat and suit is Ernie Sherman.
Ernie Sherman with colleagues and some mechanical devices used at the time, more information needed for this photo!
Ernie Sherman “Snipping Opal”, Coober Pedy”
Miners examining opal in the field, old time windlass in the background
Opal miners on the fields, Coober Pedy
Opal Miner using the windlass, Coober Pedy.
Charlie Bryant an opal buyer examining a parcel of opal rough on the fields, Coober Pedy
A group of Aboriginals on the fields at Coober Pedy, Gentleman in the background unknown at this time.
Opal Miner outside a dugout, with a bush annex.
Opal miner outside a bush lean to.
Ernie Sherman bagging opal in preparation for transport, picture outside his dugout in Coober Pedy, circa early 1930’s
Ernie Sherman (left) with opal miners in “ Snake Gully? 12 miles from Coober Pedy
Accommodation at Coober Pedy, (People unknown)
Opal Miners outside the dugout (people unknown)
Unknown Opal miner outside a dugout.
Opal Miners outside a dugout, people unknown at this time.
Travelling to and supplying the opal fields in South Australia
Ernie Sherman and others (names unknown) with a Tiger Moth for transport to Coober Pedy Opal fields (Date Unknown)
Other forms of travel in the Opal fields, Coober Pedy.
CURATORS NOTE:
We have reproduced these photographs from original negatives in the Sherman archives. In some ways details of people pictured in some photos has not been recorded, so if you are viewing these photographs and have information that may improve or assist in our vision at Opal Academy to record our opal history please contact the curator!
LITERATURE:
A short list of other historical information providing historical information regarding opal, opal mining and opal history is available here:
“Opal Men”, P. Vin Wake, Published 1969, AH and AW Reed, Sydney. National Library of Australia registry No. Aus 69-544
“White man in a hole”, 1971, Rena Briand, Phuong-Hoang Press Melbourne.
“A journey in Colour”, 2006, Volume Three, Len Cram. A History of South Australian Opal 1840 - 2005, Kingswood Press Brisbane - ISBN 0 9757214 0 2
“Opal Dreaming, A short history of Coober Pedy”, Sue Britt, 2020. Coober Pedy Historical Society, National Library of Australia and ISBN 978-1-925263-48-0
