Opalton is a outback rural locality in the Shire of Winton, Queensland, Australia. It is known for the Opalton Opal Field, one of the largest and most extensively worked opal deposits in Queensland. In the , Opalton had a population of 59 people.

Geography There are two protected areas within the locality: Bladensburg National Park in the north-west of the locality Lark Quarry Conservation Park in the centre of the locality Apart from the protected areas, the land use is grazing on native vegetation.

History The Cork homestead was established in the 1870s. It was built from sandstone. It was partly owned by Thomas McIlwraith, Premier of Queensland. It is now a ruin.

Demographics In the , Opalton had a population of 64 people.

In the , Opalton had a population of 59 people.

Education There are no schools in Opalton. The nearest government primary and secondary school is Winton State School (Prep to Year 12) in neighbouring Winton to the north-east. However, only students in the north-east of Opalton woud be within range of a daily commute to Winton. The alternatives are distance education and boarding school.

Attractions Lark Quarry Conservation Park is at the end of Lark Quarry Access Road (). It has the world’s only known dinosaur stampede site.

Scrammy Lookout is in Bladensburg National Park ().

The Opalton Opal Field is popular with tourists as a place for fossicking.

References