Little Queen of Sheba – Rubyvale

The story of one local character and how he was the unusual inspiration for a unique race that began years after he was gone.

Bill Darkie Garnet was a colourful character who came to the Sapphire Gemfields in the early 1900s, pushing all his worldly possessions in a wheelbarrow. Mining right here at the Little Queen of Sheba on Scrub Lead, Darkie amassed and lost at least two sizeable fortunes! 

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One such fortune was lost on a trip to Sydney. Not knowing anyone there, he hired a brass band, bought himself a top hat and tails, and had the band precede him through the streets. The people didn’t know if he was the Governor or royalty, so they clapped just the same. According to Darkie, “blowing brass is thirsty work,” so every few blocks he and the band would stop at pubs. As the days turned into weeks, the band kept getting bigger and his fortune got smaller.

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The police finally stepped in, telling Darkie he would have to move on as he was creating too much noise and had tied up almost every band in the city. 

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Back on the Sapphire Gemfields, Darkie’s time here ended when he was again without a fortune. He was last seen heading north, once again pushing his wheelbarrow containing all his worldly possessions.

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Darkie Garnet

From folklore to footrace 

It was this legend that inspired the unique Gemfields Ironman Wheelbarrow Derby decades later.

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The race was a gruelling 18.3-kilometre sprint that saw ironmen and ironwomen from all over the country vying for the generous prize money. Contestants had to push a wheelbarrow containing a pick, shovel and billy boulder (10 kg for the men and 5 kg for the women). Starting from Anakie Hotel, they’d then reach Sapphire to throw out the boulder, use the shovel to fill a bucket of wash (gravel), dump it into the wheelbarrow, and then continue to Rubyvale on the corrugated dirt track. 

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Local identity Peter Brown won the inaugural race in 1980, came 2nd the following year to an outsider drawn to the big prize money, before regaining the title in the third year. 

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Wheelbarrow Derby start line
Peter Brown wins the inaugural Ironman Wheelbarrow Derby, 1980
Wheelbarrow Derby finish line

First prize was $1,000 cash and a piece of sapphire jewellery valued at $1,000; 2nd prize $500 cash and $500 sapphire jewellery; 3rd prize $250 cash and $250 jewellery.

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That was just for the men’s and women’s categories. There were also veterans’ and masters’ prizes; draws for the wheelbarrow sponsors; cash prizes for the 1st local, and the 25th person past the Tropic of Capricorn sign; and a lucky draw cash prize for anyone who finished the race within three hours! And finally, everyone who finished got a sapphire. 

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This event was held annually for 20 years. As you stand here and look at the surrounding terrain, imagine just how difficult this race would have been.

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Location

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Where to next?

Welcome to Rubyvale – ///autopilot.assumes.meadow

Boom and Bust – Rubyvale – ///timed.eclipse.untaxed

Public Toilets Polling Booth – Rubyvale – ///chivalry.overheard.triples

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