Only a few Lismore signature events have been around for over 30 years: the Lantern Parade, the Lismore Show, and Gemfest.

The 33rd Lismore Gemfest is this weekend at the Lismore Showgrounds. It attracts large crowds every year, eager to view and purchase some spectacular and eye-catching gemstones, minerals, fossils and jewellery.

While Gemfest celebrates 33 years, the Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club, the organisation that puts on Gemfest, celebrates its 60th anniversary this week.

The Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club was established in May 1964. It was founded as the Lismore Gem and Mineral Society by Dick Reeve, FGAA, who presided over the inaugural meeting attended by 50 enthusiasts at the Lismore Art Gallery rooms. Dick's wife, Val Reeve, served as the first publicity officer.

The club has since evolved into one of the longest-established lapidary clubs in country New South Wales, offering a full range of lapidary activities, including gemology and regular fossicking trips. It is affiliated with the Australian Federation of Lapidary & Allied Crafts Associations and the Gem & Lapidary Council of New South Wales Inc. 

Heather Bolton is the only serving foundation member. She joined the Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club with her father in 1964.

"It's been wonderful," Heather told the Lismore App, "I've made lots of friends, and we've been to lots of places, and I've learned lots of activities. I'm more interested in landforms and geomorphology and things like that, rather than cutting and polishing stones. So, the thing about this club is you can have all sorts of different interests. Some people specialise in opals, and some specialise in faceting, and some make their own silver. It's really a great place to learn."

Heather and her Dad lived in Nimbin, which was the perfect place to encourage a lifelong hobby.

"You could go looking in the creeks, because the Mount Warning volcano left a lot of gemstones and interesting minerals. Since then, we've gone further afield; some people have gone way up to north Queensland. And because of my interest in this, when you go for a drive, you notice landforms, you notice quarries, and you stop and say, I wonder if there's something interesting here.

Heather's lifelong fascination with gems and minerals is the same as the people of Lismore and the Northern Rivers. Between 10,000 and 15,000 people go through the Lismore Showground gates to view the beautiful opals, crystals, amethyst, emerald, and quartz, to name a few.

"We must be doing something right, because we get the same dealers and the same customers year after year. And you think, maybe we should change it a bit. And you think, no, it's working."

The weather forecast is for a shower or two, something we have been used to since March, so no big deal.

The club's Vice President, Jenny Vyrenhoek, said the rain won't pose too much of a problem as the majority of the 150 tailgaters displaying their wares are undercover.

"We have the fine arts pavilion and the two large pavilions at the top of the showground, plus more undercover areas as you walk to the bottom gates," she said.

"Fingers crossed we have more sunshine than showers, but there are plenty of reasons to come and look at what the tailgaters have brought to Lismore this year."

There is parking available at the Lismore Showgrounds, and once again, there is a free shuttle bus running in a loop between the Lismore Transit Centre and Alexandra Parade from 9am to 1pm both days and 2pm to 4pm Saturday and 2pm to 3pm Sunday.

Lismore Gemfest 2025

Venue: Lismore Showgrounds

Date: Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18

Times: Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 3pm

Cost: Adults $5, Kids $1