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If you’re up for a bit of poetic exaggeration, Broken Hill feels like it’s a million miles from anywhere.
Situated in the far west of New South Wales, this bustling outback city of 16,000 people is just over 1,100 kilometres from the state’s capital Sydney, 500 kilometres from Adelaide, and 800 kilometres from Melbourne. But you get the idea — it’s remote.
Broken Hill was founded in the 1880s and is best known for its mining heritage, which began with the unearthing of the Line of Lode — one of the world’s largest ore seams of silver, lead, and zinc. It earned the far-flung outpost the nickname ‘Silver City’ and has been continuously mined for the past 130 years. The seam’s discovery led to the formation of Broken Hill Proprietary — now known as BHP — one of Australia’s most iconic companies.
The wealth yielded by the stony ground gave rise to what is now a breathtaking cache of fine period architecture, and in 2015 Broken Hill was the first (and to date, only) Australian town to be added — in its entirety — to the National Heritage List. It’s also, understandably, a trove of mining history.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Broken Hill.
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1. Visit the Line of Load Miners Memorial
One of Broken Hill’s most distinctive features is the vast ‘mullock heap’ (pile of waste mining rock) that cuts the city in two. Some might call it ugly; others, starkly beautiful. Positioned on top of the heap, the Line of Load Lookout and Miners Memorial pays poignant tribute to more than 800 miners who lost their lives while working on the Line of Lode. The memorial is accessible by car and offers spectacular views of the surrounding region. It’s a must-visit.
2. Do a self-guided heritage walking tour
Next, grab your camera, don some comfortable shoes, and set off on a self-guided walking tour of the grand boom-era buildings that make up Broken Hill’s city centre. You can pick up a map from the excellent Visitor Information Centre on Bromide Street.
Take some time out en route to explore Trades Hall, which played a significant role in the development of trade unionism in Australia. It houses a fascinating collection of memorabilia — and make sure you look up and take in its soaring ceiling. History was made here in the 1920s when miners forced the mine owners to improve wages and safety standards. If only these walls could talk; there were probably plenty of colourful words exchanged at the time!
As you pass the Broken Hill Council Chambers, look for the bronze busts of the ‘Syndicate of Seven’. These are the men who founded Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP).
3. Ride the rails back in time at Sulphide Street
You don’t have to be a train spotter to enjoy the Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum, because it’s actually five different museums in one! The main building is the original Broken Hill railway station — the terminus of the Silverton Tramway — and dates back to 1905. There are heritage trains to explore (including carriages from the famed Silver City Comet), and a wealth of rail related artefacts on display. The site is also home to the Broken Hill Migrant Heritage Museum, Hospital Museum, Transport Pavilion, and Mineral Collection, and they’re all peppered with interesting bits-of-this-and-that.
4. Sip a sweet retro treat
A visit to Bells Milk Bar on the southern side of town is like stepping straight onto the set of the movie Grease. The original store that occupied this site (circa 1892) sold candy and cordials. The Bells you see today was born in the 1950s and carried on the tradition of serving syrupy slurp-fests. There’s a rainbow of milkshake and soda spider flavours to choose from.
5. Take in galleries galore
The parched beauty of the outback has long inspired artists and Broken Hill has more than twenty arts facilities to explore. The excellent Broken Hill City Art Gallery, the oldest in regional New South Wales, holds everything from historical works to cutting-edge contemporary pieces.
The city was home to the famous ‘Brushmen of the Bush’ in the 1970s and 80s — Jack Absalom, Pro Hart, Hugh Schulz, John Pickup, and Eric Minchin. These five artists’ love of painting the surrounding desert landscape saw them exhibit as a group worldwide and raise money for various charities, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The late Kevin ‘Pro’ Hart’s quirky and humorous work, including some large-scale public sculptures, can be spotted around town — and a visit to the family-owned Pro Hart Gallery should not be missed. Clock Pro’s muralled Roller in the garage.
6. Follow in the footsteps of diamantied divas
Broken Hill’s Palace Hotel famously featured in the iconic Aussie movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and the interior has to be seen to be believed. The first thing you’ll notice is the very large stiletto that stands proudly in the foyer. Then feast your eyes on the epic Australiana murals that cover the walls (most of which were painted by Indigenous artist Gordon Waye in the 1970s). Enjoy a drink or meal and soak up the theatrical interior of this grand old establishment. The hotel’s popular Broken Heel Festival is held each September.
7. Sample a selection of top distilled drops
An award-winning parmi (the best in regional NSW according to the Australian Hotels Association) is one good reason to visit the Tydvil Hotel in the city’s north; the newly opened Broken Hill Distillery in a stone building at the rear of the pub is another. This boutique gin-maker is destined for big things and offers a mid-morning tour and tasting for $20pp (at the time of writing). You get that back if you make a purchase, and choosing between the likes of their Gunpowder Gin and Outback Moonshine is no mean feat. Stay on at the pub afterwards for lunch.
8. Head down under on a mine tour
You’ll no doubt be planning a day trip out to the tiny heritage town of Silverton, twenty-or-so kilometres north-west of Broken Hill. Make your first stop the historic Day Dream Mine (take the right-hand turn off Silverton Road). This former silver mine predates the formation of BHP and offers an informative guided tour. You’ll learn about the hardships faced by those who worked underground in the 1880s — some just children as young as eight. Mind your head and hold on to the handrails as a guide leads you down three levels of narrow tunnels. It’s quite an eye-opener.
9. Go on set in Silverton
A short drive further on from the mine turnoff will bring you to the quirky Silverton township. Set against a backdrop of the sprawling Mundi Mundi Plains, this rustic settlement is renowned for having featured in several blockbuster movies — including Mad Max 2, A Town Like Alice, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The Mad Max 2 Museum, complete with some of the movie’s bizarre motoring hardware parked out the front, is a mecca for hardcore fans. Speaking of which, owner Adrian relocated from the UK specifically to run the museum!
Note: Mad Max 2 fans should also do the short drive from Silverton to Mundi Mundi Lookout. You’ll recognise the hill where villainous marauder Wez (played by Vernon Wells) meets his gruesome end in the tanker crash scene.
You can’t leave town without visiting the Silverton Hotel. It’s everything you would expect from an outback Aussie pub. Oh, and watch out for the free-roaming donkeys that plod around town (especially if you happen to be eating an ice cream!).
10. See sculptures in the desert
Standing like silent sentinels on a hilltop overlooking the vast expanse of the outback, the Living Desert Sculptures are possibly Broken Hill’s most popular attraction. The twelve large sandstone artworks were created by a mix of local and international artists, and unveiled in 1993. The best time to see them is just before sunset, but keep in mind when planning your visit that it’s a nine-kilometre drive from town. You can drive right up to the sculptures or do a 1.5-kilometre walk to the peak through the John Simons Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Those opting for the latter should bring a hat and plenty of water.
The setting sun bathes the works in warm hues and generates endless photo opportunities. If you’re there at the right time of year, you may get a prized pic of the glowing orb of the sun shining directly through the circle of the Aztec-inspired piece.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.brokenhillandtheoutback.com.au.
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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to do in Broken Hill? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Cover image: Destination NSW. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Dixie Lamers is a freelance writer and travel blogger. When she is not writing about travel, you will find Dixie and her partner enjoying an Aussie caravanning lifestyle.
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
