THE “missing” Lady Mayoress opal gifted to an overseas mayor is not on public display but is instead in guarded storage, fuelling calls for it to return to Adelaide.

The Advertiser revealed on Saturday how the $50,000 opal was sent to the Texas capital city, Austin, more than 30 years ago amid a bitter internal feud and legal threats.

Adelaide City Council is investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding how the gem stone was removed from a necklace and sent to America to celebrate a new sister city initiative.

It has now emerged the jewel, the showpiece of the 18ct yellow gold necklace along with eight “brilliant” cut diamonds, is not on public display in Austin.

After being contacted by The Advertiser officials in Austin said it was stored in a secured safety deposit box in the local authority’s Treasury Office, which it responsible for managing its “investments” and cash.

There are mounting calls for the return of the stone, which was bought by the council for $10,000 in 1980 and now worth five times that amount.

Current Lady Mayoress Genevieve Theseira-Haese, who asked the council’s archival team to review the mystery, said she was pleased the stone had been located.

“I am happy it has been found and it is safe,” she said. “Now it is up to the residents of Adelaide if they want to see it again.”

Councillor Anne Moran will formally ask the council’s administration at a meeting on Tuesday night to examine options on having it returned to South Australia.

“If it is stored away in the pool room we could trade it for something we have in our pool room,” she said.

Former Lord Mayor Steve Condous, and his wife Angela, also support efforts to have it returned.

“What the good is that having it in storage, it means then you can’t see it,” said Mr Condous, who failed to locate the gem while in office in the 1980s.

“We are dealing with really good Texans. They are very friendly, decent people.”

The stone was part of a lavish Lady Mayoress ceremonial piece commissioned by former Lord Mayor James Bowen, for his wife Natalie.

But in 1983, a fierce internal row erupted between council officials including Mr Bowen and his successor Arthur John Watson.

Dr Watson’s wife, Diana, refused to wear it because of a superstition the opal brought bad luck.

Her husband then ordered it be removed, and presented during an official sister city signing but his decision provoked a bitter council split. The row never leaked until last week. Mr Bowen also supports its return.

Austin Council spokesman David Green said it “remains in possession of the opal” but any decision to have it returned would require an official decision from the elected body.

Originally published as Case of the missing Mayoress opal is solved, sort of