Broken Hill

Carmen Friend
Mar 19, 2018
2 min read

Broken Hill is the only city in Australia heritage listed. It is also the only city in NSW that is on The South Australian time zone. Broken Hill is built on mining namely silver. It is the longest running mining town in Australia.

When looking around Broken Hill, you see lots of history- the many pubs, the buildings dating back to the 1880’s, the houses (a house and building history tour is fascinating especially to see the changing architecture), the miners memorial and of course mining remnants.

Again Charles Sturt, Burke and Wills passed through this area naming ranges and camping on the Darling River - the main gateway. Founded in 1830, by Charles Rasp after he discovered what he thought was tin but turned out to be lead and silver. He founded BHP and mining continued until 1939.

Much of the mining was completed by hand which was very dangerous. The memorial that stands on the tailings overlooking Broken Hill tells the tail of how some of these deaths occurred.

Not everything is doom and gloom here of course! Visiting near by Silverton which has a history of being used as a film set - Mad Max 2 and Last Cab to Darwin to name a couple. The Silverton Pub is very popular with 400 meals being made daily peak season!

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is also famous out her with memorabilia plastered on the walls.

School of the Air is also here. It has 110 students based on outback stations scattered across the desert. Teachers have 30 minute lessons daily with their students and the remainder of the students lessons are completed by parents or governors (govies) at home. Students complete lessons by satellite with their teacher. All students have a computer and a dedicated school room at home which they are in 9am to 3pm daily as if at school. They meet other kids at events in Broken Hill or on other stations.

Visiting the school was assembly day so the kids all hook in and see the principal. Various awards, discussions and interactions are had the the children - really fascinating to see how it works. Lots of dedication from parents and teachers to ensure these children are all educated.

Royal Flying Doctors are also in Broken Hill and you can visit the information center. Really great to have a look around and learn the history of the service.