Broken Hill NSW May 12, 2015
We gave ourselves some time off this morning, not bothering to get up until 9!
The biggest attraction in Broken Hill really isn't in Broken Hill at all, it's 25km up the road to the original township of Silverton. Before we stopped here we went a bit further out to the Mundi Mundi lookout, which showcases the vast empty plains stretching to the northwest and is just stunning.
Then back to Silverton. Silverton was first established in the 1880's when silver deposits were found in the area. At one time it had about 5000 people living here in a range of buildings from stone, timber and tent. They built their own railway line across to link up with an existing line in Cockburn in South Australia to transport people and ore to Adelaide.
There are a few stone buildings left, some are even original, but (sadly from my perspective) most have been restored and repurposed as art galleries and cafes. Since we were here in 2002, there have also been a number of new houses built, but thankfully in style sympathetic with the area and its history. Speaking of history, BHP was formed at a meeting in the Silverton Hotel, but struck the big time at its mine in Broken Hill, and the rest, as they say is history, including Silverton as
the town.
Oh, and they have this thing about Mad Max the movie, which was filmed out here, hence the odd MadMax cars scattered around the place. I notice that the hotel has lost the one they did have, a Ford Falcon, looked the part, and replaced it a Volkswagen that looks not-so-good. But then, not having seen any other than the original MM, I can't really comment!
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| Silverton NSW |
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| Silverton NSW |
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| Silverton NSW |
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| Silverton NSW |
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| St Carthage 1886. Silverton NSW |
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| Silverton NSW |
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| Silverton NSW |
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| Cafe, Silverton NSW |
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| Ruins of a 'half house, the Rectory of St Stephens. 'Silverton NSW |
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| Silverton NSW |
As the proper mine in Broken Hill no longer does tours (it's owned by the Chinese and they are actively mining again, the old head-frame is now an airshaft) we detoured to the old Daydream Mine, one of the ones that started it all in 1880. At some stage it closed down but was reopened in1982 by a single fellow as silver prices were on the up and up. I have no idea what happened to him, but today there is another couple running their own little 'goldmine' in the form of tours and scones-and-tea.
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| Daydream silver mine. Broken Hill NSW |
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| Daydream silver mine. Broken Hill NSW |
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| Daydream silver mine. Broken Hill NSW |
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| Daydream silver mine. Broken Hill NSW |
You just can't help stopping to snap the dry river beds.
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| Gum tree. Broken Hill NSW |
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| Dry river bed. Broken Hill NSW |
Just to keep us on our toes, a bunch of wild goats darted out onto the road in front of us.
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| Wild goats. Broken Hill NSW |
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