Explore a world like no other at Chambers of the Black Hand, an extraordinary underground Art Gallery at Lightning Ridge. This one-of-a-kind experience takes you deep beneath the outback to an artistic wonderland carved entirely by hand. Venture 12 metres below the surface to journey through 26 underground chambers showcasing over 900 stunning sandstone sculptures carved and painted in the sandstone walls and pillars.
Local artist and former opal miner, Ron Canlin has carved pop culture icons like Jack Sparrow and Shrek. There are Terracotta Warriors, majestic lions, chimpanzees, and 5-metre-tall Buddhas. Every chamber is filled with captivating characters and incredible detail. Visitors love Ron’s take on ‘Australia’s Mount Rushmore’ – a sandstone wall featuring all Australian Prime Ministers. Discover, explore and shop all in one unforgettable outback experience.
Chamber of the Black Hand is more than just an art gallery. It’s an immersive underground journey that’s filled with surprises at every turn. Explore superhero statues, an Australiana chamber and the awe-inspiring Tutankhamun chamber, complete with a replica of an Egyptian tomb. The Jungle Room has lions, tigers, chimpanzees, elephants and cute meerkats.
Descend another six metres into a 100-year-old opal mine, where a local miner will take you on the only fully guided underground opal tour in Lightning Ridge. You’ll hear fascinating stories of old-time miners, see real opal seams, and discover how opal mining has evolved through the decades.
After your tour, browse through Lightning Ridge’s only underground gift shop, packed with unique souvenirs and opals. Whether you’re into art, history, mining, or just after something truly unforgettable, Chambers of the Black Hand is a must-see Aussie outback experience you’ll be talking about long after you resurface.
The Chambers of the Black Hand is a remarkable underground attraction born from resilience and creativity. In 1997, after spending years chasing elusive black opals and earning just $1,000 a year, opal miner and artist Ron Canlin transformed his failing opal mine into a unique public experience. Opening a mine to the public was unheard of at the time, but Ron had a vision.
He hand-dug an 18-metre staircase to welcome visitors and began demonstrating the opal-cutting process. Inspired by the soft sandstone, he started carving intricate sculptures directly into the walls, gradually turning a ‘dud’ claim into a subterranean wonderland filled with hundreds of carvings and artworks.
Today, the Chambers of the Black Hand is a must-see destination in Lightning Ridge, celebrating Ron’s determination and the incredible beauty that can emerge from persistence and passion. What began as a mining disappointment is now a global attraction unlike anything else in the world.
Bathurst and Mount Panorama are around 205 kilometres from Sydney. The trip by road takes approximately 3 hours travelling via the M4 and Great Western Highway.Yes! Chambers of the Black Hand has the only underground shop in Lightning Ridge. It’s packed with unique souvenirs and opals and a beautiful range of opal jewellery, including pendants, rings, bracelets, and earrings.
The Chambers of the Black Hand features around 900 hand-carved sandstone sculptures by artist Ron Canlin, with the exact number varying slightly. These intricate carvings are spread across 26 themed chambers within the disused opal mine, highlighting a wide variety of subjects.
Chambers of the Black Hand is located up to 18 meters underground, featuring both an underground art gallery and a 100-year-old opal mine. Visitors can descend the 84 steps or use the small available lift to experience the sculptures carved into the sandstone walls and the workings of the historic mine.
Yes! You can take photos of the artwork or anything in the mine, just no photographs while traversing the stairwell.
On the sculpture level, the temperature averages about 16 to 17 degrees, while the opal mine level is around 13 to 15 degrees. It is recommended that visitors doing a mine or package tour wear long sleeves or a light cardigan.
Our team is always happy to help if you have any questions about us or our tours. Fill out our form and we will get back to you soon.
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We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
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