Thousands of locals and visitors have poured through Gemboree 2011 which is currently being held at Bathurst Showground.

Publicity officer Alan McRae said the event has been overwhelmingly successful with up to 3000 spectators passing through the gates by late Saturday afternoon.

Gemboree continued yesterday and will run until 1pm this afternoon.

Participants started arriving last Monday, making themselves comfortable in approximately 220 camping sites set up around the showground. A large number of participants were also housed off site.

An informal get together was held on Thursday night so everybody could get to know each

other.

This was followed by a very popular talk by Bathurst’s Ray Pickard who spoke to a big gathering about meteorites.

Last night Dehne McLaughlin of Tasmania gave the Jack Taylor Memorial Lecture on the fascinating subject of Azurites Suns.

Mr McLaughlin has been mining the rare mineral in the Northern Territory. It is much sought after for its beauty and its rarity, particularly overseas.

The azurite blue suns range in colour from light sky blue to dark blue.

Mr McRae said more than 1200 entries were received from every state and territory in Australia.

A number of people from New Zealand also made the journey.

On top of the enthusiasts there were also 40 professional dealers on site.

The last time Gemboree was held in Bathurst was in 2005.

It is very rare a town gets Gemboree back a second time but the location and old buildings have made it a favourite.

“This is the largest one held in Bathurst,” Mr McRae said.

“It has been overwhelmingly successful and we have received lots of favourable comments about the organisation of the event.”

While in the area visitors have also taken the opportunity to head out to Hill End and Sofala looking for gold, Oberon searching out

sapphires and garnets, to Lithgow for fossil leaves and Trunkey and Abercrombie Caves searching for quartz.

This also brings money into these smaller communities.