Caloundra Lapidary Club Inc

The Caloundra Lapidary Club Inc is a well-established, incorporated non-profit organisation founded in 1968, dedicated to the art and craft of lapidary. Located in Caloundra West, Queensland, the club serves as a vibrant community hub where members can learn, practice, and share skills related to cutting, shaping, and polishing stones and making jewellery. It currently has around 70 members and offers excellent facilities including a saw room, silversmithing room, cabbing room, faceting room, museum, and tearoom.

Mission and Vision

The club’s mission is to promote and teach lapidary arts and allied crafts, fostering a supportive community where enthusiasts of all skill levels can develop their abilities. Its vision is to be a leading centre for lapidary education and community engagement, preserving the craft and inspiring new generations of lapidary artists.

Main Objectives

• Provide education and training in lapidary, silversmithing, faceting, and related crafts.
• Maintain and develop facilities that support hands-on learning and creative expression.
• Encourage community participation through events, workshops, and fossicking trips.
• Preserve and showcase geological specimens through the club’s museum and library.
• Support members with resources such as expert instruction, tools, and safety measures.

Benefiting Groups

• Club members ranging from beginners to experienced lapidary artists.
• Local community members interested in geology, jewellery making, and craft.
• Visitors and tourists accessing the museum and attending public events.
• Young people and hobbyists seeking educational opportunities in lapidary arts.

Services and Activities

• Hands-on workshops in silversmithing, cabbing (stone shaping and polishing), and gemstone faceting.
• Fossicking trips organised to local and regional sites, allowing members to collect stones under the club’s fossicking licence.
• Access to specialised facilities including cutting wheels, faceting machines, and metalworking tools.
• A museum featuring an extensive collection of rocks, minerals, and gemstones open to the public.
• A comprehensive library with books and resources covering all aspects of lapidary and allied crafts.
• Community events such as the annual Jewellery and Gem Show, which showcases members’ work and invites public participation.