Will Hutchinson Memorial - QLD

Memorial erected by the Coober Pedy Historical Society in 2008 to commemorate the life of Will Hutchinson who is recognised as the founder of Coober Pedy.

Recognised as the founder of Coober Pedy, Will Hutchinson discovered the first opal in Stuarts Range Opal Field in South Australia. A drover for Sir Sidney Kidman at the time, Hutchinson was droving cattle from Clifton Hills Station in South Australia to Glengyle when, along the way, he went for a swim in Eyre Creek. Although he was a confident swimmer, Hutchinson drowned and the reason for his death remains a mystery. Hutchinson’s body was recovered three days later and was buried nearby.