Stonebridge Green

Mick Stonebridge with his famous green

In 1938, local identity Mick Stonebridge dug his famous 202-carat green sapphire from between two granite boulders, eight metres (26 feet) down a shaft at the crown of nearby Norman’s Hill. Decades later, in the early 1960s, the Stonebridge Green was stolen from his hut, along with a number of other sapphires.

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The thief sold the gems to Brisbane buyer McCracken, who then contacted Rubyvale cutter Ernie Goerg to cut his new stone. Ernie immediately recognised it as Mick’s stolen gem and alerted authorities. To his credit, McCracken returned all of Mick’s stolen stones.

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Mick’s diary entry – July 14, 1962:
Received back my special sapphire with four more blues that had been stolen from me some time back.
Mick’s diary entry – July 28, 1962:
Posted a parcel of stones to McCracken to compensate him for his loss.

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Stonebridge Green

Stonebridge Green through the cross-table

Once the Stonebridge Green was returned, Mick wore it in a pouch around his neck and proudly showed it to anyone who expressed interest. You can learn more about Mick and his story at the panel located at Stonebridge Place, Rubyvale.

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After Mick’s death in 1978, his gem and stamp collections were handled by the Public Trustee while they searched for a rightful heir. In October 1980, the sapphire collection was graded, sorted and sold at public auction to around 120 interested buyers. Machinery miner Willie Litz was the successful bidder on the famous green gem at $30,000.

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The Stonebridge Green has never been cut and has since passed through several hands. The famous stone is currently held in a private collection here on the Sapphire Gemfields.

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