News

HOBART GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOW 2024 February 27 2024

This year's Hobart Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show will be at a new location.

On March 16-17th, the weekend event will be held in the Main Grandstand at the Elwick Racecourse - 6 Goodwood Road, Glenorchy.

The usual blend of natural, polished, crafted gemstones, minerals and crystals, will sit amongst some of the world's life-history, held in the form of fossils. A number of stallholders will have done their own fossicking, finding what they now present on their tables. Information via maps and books will also contribute to shared knowledge, especially with regards to Tasmania and its varied geology. 

Whilst there will be stalls that displayTasmanian material, there will be a wide range of Australian and overseas specimens, with jewellery, often hand-made,  a feature of the show. There will be childeren's acvtivities, lapidary displays, club information and the usual raffle - in other words, an event to interest collectors and those who appreciate beauty either natural or crafted. 

TIMES: Saturday 16th March - 12pm - 5pm   Sunday 17th March  - 9am - 4pm

                                             ADULTS - $5      Children - $1

 Though Lunaris Gemstones won't be attending this year's  show,  we'll be at Salamanca Market on Saturday 16th March.


Lunaris Gemstones at the Launceston Gem & Mineral Show 2023 November 12 2023

Hello,

we will be attending the two-day Launceston Gem & Mineral Show at the Elphin Sports Centre next weekend - November 18-19th.

Lunaris Gemstones will have a variety of fossils, minerals, polished and facetted stones, lapidary slabs and jewellery - with our usual focus on Tasmanian material, plus, we'll also have some books about Tasmanian gems and fossils on our table. 

Chrystine and Boris


WINTER NOTICE June 01 2023

For winter this year, we've decided to alter our times of opening, for those three months. Whilst we've already stated on our Home page that our showroom is open from Sunday to Thursday, our opening hours will be from 10am - 4pm.

We are still attending Salamanca Market in Hobart, on Saturdays.

Also over this winter, we're hoping to sort through our various mineral and fossil stock - a good time to do so. As we are not fossicking much these days, we're still trying to maintain a focus on, and expand our range of Tasmanian specimens.

So we're interested to look at any Tasmanian minerals and Lune River fern fossils, that people may have to sell. Please call Boris: 0447 001 601

 


THE HOBART GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOW in a new location March 09 2023

 Hobart's Gem, Mineral & Fossil show will be in a new location this year. It will be located at 103 Melville Street, now known as Swisherr (old K&D hardware store). This spacious venue gives the show its first really central location, close to Hobart's CBD. The show is to be held on the 18th & 19th of March, with regular stall-holders including lapidary club members, interstate dealers and some new stalls. 

      Saturday - 9am - 5pm     Sunday - 9am - 4pm

         ADMISSION - Adults $5           Children $1

SALES - CRYSTALS - JEWELLERY - BOOKS - CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES -  RAFFLES & DEMONSTRATIONS  

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For those interested in the mineral world... the beauty and form of crystals, gemstones and other earth history, including fossils, the show provides a wonderful opportunity to see a wide range of specimens - a good place to share your interest.

We will see you there.....Chrys and Boris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Launceston Gem & Mineral show - Lunaris heads north October 19 2022

Lunaris Gemstones will be travelling north to attend the Launceston Gem and Mineral Show on Saturday and Sunday 19/ 20 November. The event will be held at the Elphin Sports Centre. This will be our first time at this event, and we are gearing up in readiness.Whilst we have cut and polished some new Lune River material, we will also be showcasing an extensive range of facetted Tasmanian stones - sapphires (blue, green, yellow), topaz, peridot, pink spinel, amethyst and smokey quartz - even some citrine!

Our attendance at this event means we won't be at Salamanca market on the 19th  November...but we extend an invitation to all those interested in minerals and beauty, to consider going to the northern show. (please note - we won't be at Zeehan's mineral show this year).

Please see attached image for show details.Launceston Gem Show flier


FOSSICKING AREAS in TASMANIA Booklet - now available August 13 2022

It's great to see the reprint of the Fossicking Areas in Tasmania booklet, produced by Mineral Resources Tasmania. Having been out of print for some time, this new version includes the addition of a new collecting location (Tunnel Marsh), bringing the number of sites open to the public, to eleven. The glossy pages and coloured photographs are a new feature of the booklet, which contains the usual guidelines, information and any special conditions that may apply to sites. The booklet also includes maps regarding each fossicking location, listing what can potentially be found there..

Great to see the booklet available again - copies are available at our shop and at our Salamanca stall on Saturdays (near Davey Street end). 


A World of Faceted Stones from Tasmania June 20 2022

We'd like to let people know that we now have some Tasmanian faceted stones for sale. Stones include peridot, sapphire, amethyst, topaz, clear & smokey quartz, pink spinel and citrine. Whilst we've had Flinder's Island topaz before, mostly from our own fossicking adventures, and a beautiful batch of the famous Sister's Creek zircon, it is wonderful to now have this new selection of other gemstones to offer. You can visit our Salamanca market stall on Saturdays....or visit us at our Lune River show-room. Please phone in advance, to confirm that we're open.

New Book Release & Hobart Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2022 February 21 2022

If you've looked in the Book section of our website recently, you will have noticed a new book called Tasmanian Agates. This book reflects the interest in, and appreciation of this gemstone by John Richmond, a long-time fossicker and collector of agates who has journeyed to many parts of the state, in search of these beautiful stones. Full of colourful, well-taken photographs by Nancy Preuss, the text is informative as to the agates diversity, discusses formation and location. Designed to reflect his own personal interest, this book is a wonderful addition to Tasmania's earth history, revealing the beauty of agate.

Hobart Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show - 19th & 20th March 2022

This annual show in the Grandstand Hall, Hobart Showground, Glenorchy, is on in just under a month. Many of us who are stall-holders have been preparing specimens and stones in readiness, over the past few months. At Lunaris, we have continued with processing more Tasmanian, more Lune River material in our workshop, hoping to present some new and attractive stones and fossils. This show is of great general appeal - to all ages and interests, particularly relating to earth history..... show-casing beauty and our learning, science-based or otherwise. 

  Hours -Sat 9am to 5pm ; Sun 9am to 4pm 

         Adults $5, Children $1

 


Our Spring update October 21 2021

Well the Spring has encouraged us to do more in our workshop, in response to the wet weather over September. Much cutting and polishing of rock, with most of it from the Lune gemfields, was all in Boris's hands. Some lovely agates, fern fossil and petrified wood are now finished and being taken to our stall at Tasmania's Own Market (ex-Salamanca Market), as well as on display in our shop at Lune River. We plan to select a few new specimens, to put online as well                              Also we'd like to let you know that this year we will not be attending the Zeehan Gem & MIneral Fair on 6th & 7th November. This year the event will be held in the old Gaiety Theatre, with other activities also planned around the Heritage Centre. To find out more, contact the West Coast Heritage Museum who are now the organisers for the Fair. Chrystine & Boris

Autumn's spell April 07 2021

          well the GEMBOREE has come and gone. for us, the event was very worthwhile, both with sales and the socialising with fellow-enthusiasts. Whilst it is a national event, there were few actual mineral collectors, though enough of the local and interstate visitors to keep a variety of enquiries and stories going. we plan to miss this coming market (Sat.10th April), and simply enjoy being home, with Lunaris Gemstones rock-shop open, of course. There are still enough travellers around, wanting fossicking info, or happy and curious to look at everything - minerals, fossils, gemstones and jewellery - both on display and for sale.

     After any show, we usually have a day or two cleaning up the shop, and yesterday and today was no exception. We spent more time and effort painting, waxing bench-tops etc......revitalising the whole room, including changing layouts. 

      So with Autumn rains about, it can be a very nice time of year to actually fossick down here, after the harder summer ground of the past few months, though the generally cooler Summer meant fewer snakes, march-flies and mozzies about.   

       So thank you to all who attended and supported the show, and especially to those who volunteered to organise the whole event. . 

regards,

       Chrystine and Boris

 


The National GEMBOREE, here in Hobart, Easter 2021 March 25 2021

We'd like to let you know about the upcoming National GEMBOREE, planned for the four days over Easter. This mineral, gem and fossil show occurs annually, in a different state each year; this year in Hobart - at the Hobart Showground in Glenorchy. A wonderful event for those interested in stones, minerals, jewellery and fossils. There will be traders from interstate alongside Tasmanian businesses, lapidary club members and hobbyists. Outside, there will be an area for 'tail-gating', where  people with their 'earthen wares', will sell from their vehicles or marquees.

This event will present a fantastic range of gemstones, fossils and crystals, including including stone-based jewellery or facetted stones.. Exhibits and competition work will be show-cased amongst other displays. The last time Tasmania hosted this 4 day event was back in 2016, so we're very fortunate to have the opportunity to do so again, considering the Covid situation that emerged last year. (Note: the event will operate under a Covid-19 Safety Plan).

A very unique exhibit will be on display, called the The Jonesonian - a miniature,  one-twelfth scale of a gem, mineral and fossil museum;  its external shape representing a cluster of crystals. Inside this remarkable museum, the contents are made from genuine agates, stone and fossils. Such a skillful recreation, well-suited to the Gemboree show.

At the fourd day show, various clubs or societies will have stalls and information/publications and there will be an interesting 'collective' pool of knowledge and information to be shared.

Dates:April 2nd-5th at The Grandstand Hall     

We will update this Gemboree information, should there be any changes. 

Days of opening::

Friday - 12 noon - 5pm  Sat. - 9 - 5pm  Sunday - 9 - 5pm  Monday - 9 - 2pm

 Admission:    Adults - $8,    Concession - $5,    Children under 16 - $2

 


Now trading each Saturday at Salamanca Market December 15 2020

We are back each week at Salamanca market trading at the Davey St end. In fact we are the first stall you come across if walking in from the city end. Hours are 0830 - 1500.

New stock this week includes small fossil fish, amethyst crystals and polished dragon stone jasper as freeform pieces. Also popular small fossil dishes are back in stock. Tasmanian Buttongrass Jade, stichtite, crocoite and Lune River fossils are available. Large decorator pieces include malachite, labradorite and agate. Over 300 crystal/mineral specimens to choose from. Come and browse for that special gift.