Our Story
Built on sapphires, stories and country hospitality.
Real fossicking. Real stories. Real Gemfields hospitality — since 1974.
Where It All Began
The Pats Story
From Humble Beginnings to Sharing the Experience
Pat’s Sapphire Central was founded by Pat and Dave, built on a simple idea: let visitors fossick for themselves rather than just look at gemstones behind glass. Wash real wash, learn the process, and feel the same anticipation that comes with searching for a sapphire of your own.
In the early days, Pat and Dave brought practical Gemfields knowledge and real local mining experience into every fossicking experience. Visitors learned how to work through locally sourced wash, recognise natural sapphires and zircons, and understand why each stone reflects the country and mining history of Queensland’s Sapphire Gemfields.
Past
Over the years, Pat’s warmth, humour and practical knowledge helped transform a first visit into something people remembered. Families returned with children, travellers told friends, and generations began making Pat’s part of their Gemfields journey.
Today
In 2022, Pat’s Sapphire Central passed into the hands of a new local family — proud members of the Gemfields community who took on its history and kept the doors open. The same real fossicking experience continues: first-time fossickers are guided through the process, families learn together, and experienced visitors enjoy the familiar thrill of searching through Gemfields wash.
The experience now sits alongside gemstone-cutting demonstrations, jewellery and gifts, food, and visitor information. Real fossicking. Real gemstones. Real Gemfields history — connected to the place where the gemstones come from.
Passing the Story On
For many visitors, the best part of a sapphire fossicking experience is not only what they find, but what they learn along the way — the chance to slow down, work with their hands, and share the excitement of discovery with the people around them.
The new family behind Pat’s today remains proud to introduce fresh generations to a real Gemfields fossicking experience: good guidance, local wash, practical knowledge, and the possibility that the next stone turned over might be blue.
That continuing connection between visitors, gemstones and the region is what keeps the sapphire fossicking experience at the centre of the Pats story. It links the mining beginnings of the business with the visitor experience of today and helps keep the character of the Sapphire Gemfields alive for the generations still to come.
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
From a family mining story to one of the Gemfields’ best-known visitor experiences.
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01
Tourism Beginnings
Pat and Dave built Pats around genuine Gemfields knowledge, local hospitality and sharing the region with visitors.
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02
Sharing the Experience
Visitors were welcomed to wash local material, recognise gemstones and understand the work behind every discovery.
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03
A Gemfields Favourite
Fossicking grew alongside gemstone displays, cutting demonstrations, country food and friendly local guidance.
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04
New Local Ownership
In 2022, Pat’s passed to a new local family who kept the doors open and carried the tradition forward for a new generation of visitors.
See the Experience
A reel-style look at the discoveries, people and places that bring Pats to life.
Use the left and right arrow keys to move through the experience photos.
More Than a Tourist Attraction
Proudly Gemfields
Pat’s Sapphire Central combines real fossicking with gemstone-cutting demonstrations, jewellery and gifts, good food, and the relaxed country atmosphere visitors remember.
The team proudly shares local mining heritage, supports regional businesses, and encourages travellers to explore Sapphire Central, Rubyvale, Anakie, The Willows and the wider Central Highlands.
New family, same promise: real experiences, practical guidance, and a welcome that feels personal.
