history of Grawin and the Grawin club in the scrub

Grawin was established in 1908 with the discovery of opal at Hammond hill; but it wasn't until the 1970s that it became a major field in its own right. further discoveries in 1920 at Richards hill; put the unofficial village on the map.

-it was at Grawin that the largest opal the 'light of the world' was found in 1928 

- since the first discovery of opal in the region, people have come and gone in tides with each new strike, seeking their fortune in search of the beautiful rock.

-the "club in the scrub" was started in the mid 1970s (about 1976), after a few of the miners and their families got together in protest after a pub up the road put the price of beer up during the flood (as he had to fly the beer in) but didn't lower them when the roads cleared. it has been entirely built by volunteer labour; the main material is cypress pine, as white ants don't like it. 

-it wasn't until 17/01/1990, that the club became a registered club with a club liquor license. up until it got its license the police would come out and do a raid one or two times a year even though members would have their names on cartons of beer.

-it is one of the few clubs left in NSW that has no from of gambling- i.e. poker machines, keno, or tab. the club survives from sales across the bar, members doing volunteer shifts behind the bar, donations of money and goods from members.

-we can boast that we have a member in every state and territory of Australia