“Jump in your ute, set up your winch, and hope for the big one! Looking for the hidden treasure. Every morning when I get up I feel excited; that could be the day that all your dreams come true, but usually by the afternoon I'm dragging my feet, disappointed because nothing's there, no opal. There's always tomorrow; have another go.”

“ We were a tough mob, there were no deaths while we were on the field which was a tribute to the skill of old Tom Scanlon who had charge of the medicine chest which contained castor oil, Epsom salts, Aspros, iodine and a few bandages and most of all in importance, brandy. Occasionally the hat went round to replenish the chest and next Saturday night Jacobís supplies would include half a dozen bottles of brandy. It was surprising how many would be crook in the guts the next week. Amongst the sick was usually old Tom.”



	Underground Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in Coober Pedy South Australia Opal Capital of the World:

		Koska Hill Dugout: Traditional B and B in-house underground accommodation in Anne and Joe's spacious dugout home, with full hot breakfast provided. One family-share bathroom/shower. Our own dugout home very close to the main street of Coober Pedy offers a hand-dug bedroom with 2 single beds, or a bedroom with a queen-sized bed which has an original hand-dug opal mine shaft for a skylight, and the 1939 opal mine shapes part of the walls. The kitchen and loungeroom were also hand-dug, giving the dugout a pleasant character. Cool, comfortable, quiet underground accommodation in central Coober Pedy. Smoking outdoors.


		Sleep in a bedroom which was an opal mine hand-dug in 1939, with the old shaft as a skylight overhead, at Koska Hill Dugout (It's actually a comfortable, carpeted bedroom with a queen-sized bed). Together with Anne's knowledge of local history and partner Joe's opal mining experience, it's an unforgettable place to stay.
	Tariffs For Koska Hill Dugout: 2 bedrooms: 1 queen-sized bed,double $100 single $90 child $25 2 single beds, double $100 single $90 child $25

	digging around coober pedy A new book by Anne Johnson This book explores Coober Pedy life and makes its history come alive through 148 pages of over 200 interesting photos, with a lengthy text that includes 30 quotes by locals.
	Coober Pedy has always fascinated the outside world, and Digging around Coober Pedy tells why this is so, and what makes it an Australian icon. Within this little far away South Australian bush community there are opal miners, Aboriginal people, international travellers, bush people, and residents who have come from around the world, who you will enjoy meeting on these pages. You will be amazed by the diverse mixture of gutsy people who have persevered in this harsh climate and unusual underground lifestyle, by the first European explorer who struggled through without seeing opal, and remarkable water stories and photographs that tell the intriguing, colourful history of this desert place. You will be captivated by the eight opal miner's own stories from different times, photos of the unique mining machines they have invented, surprising Coober Pedy pet stories, tales of things that go boom in the night, and why life here can be fascinatingly boring. “Jump in your ute, set up your winch, and hope for the big one! Looking for the hidden treasure. Every morning when I get up I feel excited; that could be the day that all your dreams come true, but usually by the afternoon I'm dragging my feet, disappointed because nothing's there, no opal. There's always tomorrow; have another go.” “ We were a tough mob, there were no deaths while we were on the field which was a tribute to the skill of old Tom Scanlon who had charge of the medicine chest which contained castor oil, Epsom salts, Aspros, iodine and a few bandages and most of all in importance, brandy. Occasionally the hat went round to replenish the chest and next Saturday night Jacobís supplies would include half a dozen bottles of brandy. It was surprising how many would be crook in the guts the next week. Amongst the sick was usually old Tom.”
	To order Digging around Coober Pedy, send a cheque or postal money order for $29.95 plus $7.00 postage in Australia, along with your name and address to: Sandstone Press, P. O. Box 240, Coober Pedy, SA, 5723. For overseas orders please contact by email for shipping cost: Email: annejohnson@ozemail.com.au Adelaide South Australia purchasers can find the book at Mostly Books, Mitcham Shopping Centre.
	Telephone: In Australia: (08) 8672 5541 International: 61-8-8672-5541 Mbl. 0408 948 746 Email: annejohnson@ozemail.com.au Postal address: Post Office Box 240 Coober Pedy, S.A., 5723 Australia Please follow this link to a printable location map for Koska Hill.