By Catherine James

ABC Western Plains

Topic: Libraries, Museums and Galleries

Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at 7:02 am

A picture of the Australian Opal Centre design by Wendy Lewin with DunnHillam.

In short:

The Australian Opal Centre got $1 million from the NSW government to pay its debts.

The organisation had $30 million from the government before it stopped building.

What's next?

The Australian Opal Centre will cut staff and scale back operations before a planned relaunch in 2027.

The not-for-profit organisation behind the opal museum got a $1 million government bailout.

The building of the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge stopped after $30 million in government grants ran out.

An independent audit found the organisation had a big cash loss and might not be able to continue.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development gave the $1 million lifeline.

The money will help pay debts to contractors and consultants connected to the building project.

"They'll be paid out in full," said chairperson David Lane.

Mr Lane is 95% confident the board can turn the business around now that debts are taken care of.

The project to build a national monument to Australia's opal was halted before it could be finished.

Staff and shopfront were cut in scale-back.

The organisation's two remaining staff were made redundant, and the shopfront closed.

Years of operational losses went unaddressed while the previous board focused on completing the new building.

The operation side of the business didn't get the attention it deserved.

The plan is to "revamp" the organisation by scaling back and rebuilding it.

The organisation will cut things that don't make money and pursue new opportunities.

A stripped-back program of events will go ahead, including the Australian Opal Tour.

The future of the semi-built Australian Opal Centre museum remains undecided.

AOCL on notice

The building project got $9.5 million from the federal government and $17.5 million from the NSW government.

The NSW DPIRD said the additional $1 million will be funded in the 2025-26 NSW budget.

The NSW DPIRD said project timeframes and delivery remain the responsibility of Australian Opal Centre Limited.

It was unclear when the Australian Opal Centre site would be finished.

David Lane is confident the board can return the organisation to a sustainable model.

Options include a greater role for the Walgett Shire Council to oversee the project.

Independent MP Roy Butler said the grant would allow decisions to be made without financial stress.

The grant protects the opal collection, including opalised dinosaur fossils, from being sold or borrowed against.

Lightning Ridge is home to visually spectacular opalised fossils.

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Wednesday, 3 June 2026, at 7:02 am

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