Yowah is a small town in the outback in western Queensland , Australia . The place is 132 kilometers from Cunnamulla and 813 kilometers from Brisbane . According to a 2016 census, Yowah had a population of 141 people. The number fluctuates because there are occasional opal hunters there.
The site is known for its opal finds and was built in the Yowah Opal Mining Fields , which were later renamed Yowah Nut Fields . In 1883 the first opals called Yowah nuts were mined. These are nut-shaped iron concretions that contain opals in their core.
About 25 kilometers south of Yowah is a small opal field Black Gate and the Leopardwood Mine . In this area opals are found, the Yowah nuts, black opals, so-called crystal opals and also fossils . Opal seekers need a license to search for opal and are only allowed to work with manual tools.
The place is a rural transit center with a library, tourist information, café and internet café. Only a few years ago the place had electricity, water, telephone and television via satellite.
There is a hiking guide for the area and the Yowah Opal Festival is held annually in July .
Yowah has the smallest elementary school in Queensland .
