MILDURA opal enthusiasts have transformed what was once a hobby into a fully fledged family business.

The traders, who did not wished to be named, started cutting and polishing opals from White Cliffs about 30 years ago, before first setting their eyes on Boulder and Yowah Nut opals from south west Queensland.

"We discovered quite a bit of good opal up there, we kept on going back ther...