Andamooka’s Art Scene Flourishes: Advocacy, Opal, and Art at the Heart of a Transformative Year

Over the past year, Andamooka has defined itself through three powerful themes: Advocacy, opal, and art. With growing ministerial engagement, artistic innovation, and strengthened tourism connections, the outback town proves that regional creativity, opal mining, and economic development go hand in hand.

In January 2023, Hon. Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, and Territories, and Hon. Clare Scriven MLC, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, toured Cal the Stoner’s Intricarved Stone Sculpture Studio. Their visit sparked broader discussions about how opal mining, art, and tourism can work together to strengthen
regional economies.

Momentum grew when Hon. Zoe Bettison MP, Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs, toured the Outback in March, 2024, beginning in Roxby Downs and Andamooka. She officially opened the Andamooka Underground Art Gallery during her visit and met with local opal miners and artists at Cal the Stoner’s. Minister Bettison’s enthusiasm for supporting regional arts,
tourism and liveability improvements reinforced what locals have advocated: outback communities need economic support and cultural investment to thrive.

Tourism Meets Art: Outback Stories Told on a National Stage

Andamooka’s rich opal mining history and rugged landscape have long drawn interest, but this year, the town’s artists brought that story to life on a national stage.

At the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Floods of Fire event, Andamooka creatives presented A Flood Fable— a puppet show inspired by the town’s legendary flash floods. Through characters like Bloke (a true-blue outback miner), Baby Beardy (a baby bearded dragon), and Queen (a wedge-tailed eagle), the show merged storytelling, visual artistry, and Andamooka’s connection to the natural landscape and wildlife.

· Written by: Cal the Stoner
· Produced & Directed by: Leila Day

 

The performance gained the attention of Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, who attended A Flood Fable at the Adelaide Festival.

Moved by the storytelling and the creative spirit of Andamooka, the Governor expressed her desire to visit the town and learn more about the community behind the performance.
Her interest in Andamooka wasn’t just about the arts—she had also heard about the community’s ongoing lobbying efforts to upgrade the Andamooka airstrip for RFDS operations.

As a patron of the RFDS, she recognised the importance of this infrastructure for remote healthcare and wanted to show her support for the community’s efforts. This recognition at the highest level is a testament to the impact Andamooka’s artists, miners, and community leaders are making beyond their region.

Opal, Advocacy & Recognition: A Legacy for Andamooka

At the heart of this movement is Cal the Stoner, whose dedication to Intricarving—a term now officially recognised by Wikipedia in 2024—has positioned Andamooka as a destination for one-of-a-kind stone sculpture.

His work has gained national attention, with ABC’s Back Roads featuring Cal in the first episode of 2025, calling his gallery “The most Aussie Art Gallery Ever!” Meanwhile, InDaily Magazine described his sculptures as “a must-see big thing on a tour of Australia.” This level of national recognition benefits the entire community. With Andamooka already known for its world-class opal fields, the town is now attracting a new wave of visitors—art lovers, cultural travellers, and experience-seekers

 

Workshops, Festivals & Strengthening the Region’s Creative Economy

This growth hasn’t happened by accident. Over the past years, local and state partnerships have helped expand artistic opportunities and foster new skills. · Arts South Australia, Country Arts SA, Creative Partnerships Australia, Lang Family Foundation, Foundation SA, Nature Festival, Andamooka Observatory, Dukes Bottle House Motel, Andamooka Opal Miners, Andamooka Opal Showroom and Underground Opal and Mineral Museum, Andamooka Primary School, and Arid Recovery collaborated on artist-led workshops. These workshops resulted in large-scale dinosaurs and plesiosaurs, opal and art projections onto the mullock heaps, and a film screening of Mara Jean Quinn’s feature film – ‘Andamooka’ for the inaugural Opal Evolution Festival in October 2024, linking the town’s prehistoric opalised fossils with its present-day arts and mining scene. · The May the Fourth Be with You, hosted by the Andamooka Opal Fields Tourism Association Inc. and the Opal Evolution team, merged sci-fi, music, and interactive art. · A lighting and projection mapping workshop led by Nic Mollison trained local creatives in high-tech stagecraft. These skills were immediately used at the fundraiser and are expected to enhance future tourism and arts events.

What’s Next? Keeping the Momentum Going

Andamooka’s artists, miners, and community leaders have sent a clear message this year: Advocacy works. The region has gained ministerial attention, national arts collaborations, and growing investment in liveability. Opal mining and art belong together. The creative sector is helping redefine Andamooka’s identity beyond mining, making it a compelling destination for visitors. Tourism and the arts are merging. As Andamooka gains recognition for its artistic and cultural contributions, more opportunities are emerging to attract travellers, events, and long-term investment. For opal miners, this means more visibility for their industry as tourism operators begin incorporating live demonstrations, artist collaborations, and immersive storytelling into their offerings. For government and regional decision-makers, this proves that investing in outback communities through culture and tourism strengthens local economies, improves liveability, and supports industry diversification. For the tourism industry, Andamooka is shaping to be one of South Australia’s most unique visitor destinations, where opal mining, art, and storytelling intersect. With growing momentum, 2025 is set to be another landmark year for advocacy, opal, and art in Andamooka.