The Black Queen in Lightning Ridge

The Black Queen (taken from owners’ website)

The Black Queen was hand built by a very dedicated and amazing woman, Joan Andrews, who while recovering from breast cancer, became a stonemason and extraordinary artist at 60 years of age.

It took Joan nine years (1979 -1988) to complete the construction of the Black Queen incorporating the usage of some 14,000 bottles into 34 of the world’s most beautifully designed feature walls.

When we stumbled upon the Black Queen it had been up for sale for five years and Joan was 84 years of age still conducting tours.