A remote mining city in New South Wales, known for its 1880s silver mines, art galleries, and stark red desert landscape. The world's largest mining company, BHP, began here.
Broken Hill emerges from New South Wales' outback, defined by mines, creative energy, and adaptation. Walk along streets named Cobalt and Chloride, where metal buildings mirror the dry surroundings. Watch the sun dip behind the Living Desert Sculptures, descend into mine shafts, or stand where Mad Max 2 filmed on Mundi Mundi Plains. As Australia’s initial city with National Heritage status, Broken Hill holds union milestones like the 35-hour workweek victory, runs the Royal Flying Doctor Service base, and hosts desert festivals that pull visitors from coastal cities.
Mining History and Industry
Mining built Broken Hill after silver, lead, and zinc deposits were found in 1883. Go to the Line of Lode Miners Memorial, perched on mining waste, where etched glass honors 900 workers killed on the job or by lung illness. The Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum displays rocks from the region and explains how digging ore changed the area. Join guided tours through working mines to see cramped tunnels and hear about daily risks. The Trades Hall, now used for weddings with its stained glass and wooden interiors, marks strikes that won shorter work hours nationwide. You’ll feel mining’s impact everywhere—from union murals to safety rules still shaping Australian workplaces.
Art and Music in the Outback
Artists have gravitated to Broken Hill’s raw scenery for decades. Twelve carved sandstone figures at the Living Desert Sculptures catch golden light before dark. Pro Hart’s gallery presents paintings of desert skies and mining life, while the Palace Hotel’s iron-wrapped exterior—longest in the state—gained fame in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Catch live music at pubs hosting Broken Hill-born acts like Thelma Plum or The Screaming Jets. Architecture reveals resilience: the ornate Town Hall front stayed intact when the rest was demolished in the 1970s, and the School of the Air still teaches kids on distant farms via radio.
Desert Landscapes and Exploration
Drive 37km northwest to Mundi Mundi Plains, where flat earth stretches until the horizon bends. Stop in Silverton, an abandoned settlement with a pub featured in films, then sip a beer at Mundi Mundi Lookout as day ends. Menindee Lakes, part of the Darling River network, fill with waterbirds and kayakers across 16,000 hectares when rains come. Near town, replanted native shrubs stabilize soil, creating green zones between rust-red hills. Book a flight with Silver City Scenic Flights to see mine ruins and saltbush deserts from above.
Festivals and Community Events
Plan your visit around March’s St Pat’s Race Meeting, where locals don cowboy hats and floral dresses for outback horse races. In August, the Mundi Mundi Bash brings live bands like Missy Higgins to the plains, with camping under vast night skies. Smaller events—union history walks, gallery exhibitions, or mine safety demonstrations—highlight how locals celebrate their distinct way of life.
Getting There and Getting Around
Fly from Sydney or Adelaide in 90 minutes with Regional Express, or drive 10 hours west from Sydney on the Barrier Highway. CDC Broken Hill runs town buses, but hire a car to reach Silverton’s film sites or Menindee’s waterways. Sleep at the Palace Hotel with its movie ties, motor lodges decorated with mining gear, or caravan parks where stars outshine city lights. Pick up Heritage Trail maps at the Blende Street visitor centre to explore landmarks like the 1891 Post Office and Delprat’s Mine Cottage with its 1930s design.
Life in a Mining Town
Broaked Hill’s corrugated iron homes—uncommon in other Australian towns—show how residents use what’s available. Rail tracks and mining waste divide neighborhoods, reminding you of industry’s grip. Dust storms occasionally sweep through, turning skies ochre before settling abruptly. This city feels remote yet linked, serving as a pit stop for Simpson Desert travelers or Adelaide-bound road trippers, but always prioritizing its own tough, creative spirit.
