Australian Outback Travel Guide

Broken Hill
New South Wales

Broken Hill is an isolated mining town in the far west of outback New South Wales, near the border with South Australia. The closest capital city is Adelaide in South Australia, and because of this Broken Hill (and the surrounding region) observes Australian Central Standard Time, or 30 minutes behind the rest of New South Wales.

Broken Hill is often referred to as The Silver City and is Australia's longest-lived mining city after discovering silver, lead and ore in 1883, the largest and richest of its kind in the world. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) was launched by a Syndicate of Seven in 1885, and is now known as BHP Billiton. There are mines that still operate in Broken Hill, but the town is becoming increasingly known as a vibrant art community, with many artists setting up galleries and studios.

The Wiljakali Aborigines were thought to have settled around Broken Hill, but because of the lack of water it was probably only intermittent. In 1841 Major Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor General of New South Wales visited the area, followed by Charles Sturt in 1844 while searching for the inland sea. It wasn't until 1850 until pastoralists first started settling, with the main trade route being along the Darling River.

Today Broken Hill is a living museum with its spectacular buildings from days gone by.

Broken Hill Attractions

The Living Desert Sanctuary

The Living Desert Reserve is nestled amongst the Barrier Ranges and is located 9km from Broken Hill on a 2,400ha reserve. The topography, scenery and views within the reserve are breathtaking and are captured throughout the numerous walking trails.

Within the Living Desert Reserve there are two must see major attractions which are the nationally known Sculpture Symposium and the Flora and Fauna Sanctuary.

The Sculpture Symposium comprise 12 Sandstone artworks which highlight the skyline, all with a story to tell. Located on a majestic hilltop within the centre of the Reserve, the Sculptures were completed in 1993 by artists from around the world.

Access to the Sculptures can be by vehicle after gaining a key from the Visitor Information Centre or by walking trail from the picnic area. Fees do apply so ensure you got the Visitor Information Centre before heading up there.

Also settled within the reserve amongst the tranquillity of the gullies and rocky outcrops is the 180ha Living Desert Flora and Fauna Sanctuary which is bordered by an electric predator proof fence. The Flora and Fauna Sanctuary will allow visitors to gain an educational and cultural experience to further enhance and understand Aboriginal Heritage and to instil the importance of preservation of the environment for the benefit of future generations. Aboriginal attractions display past culture and recent contemporary story pole artwork.

The Silver Trail

Pick yourself up a brochure from the Visitor Information Centre and drive around the surrounding area on the 40 km Silver Trail self-drive tour. It covers 113 interesting sites and takes about 2 hours to complete.

Broken Hill Heritage Trail

The Broken Hill Heritage Trail is a 2 hour sign posted walking tour past many outstanding Victorian architecture buildings, including the Palace Hotel (1889), the Afghan Mosque (1891), Broken Hill Post Office (1890-1892), Trades Hall (1898 - 1905), and the Broken Hill Court House (1890). There are many other buildings and they are highlighted in brochures available from the Visitors Centre.

Menindee Lake System

If you would like to do some bird watching then approximately 100kms from Broken Hill is the Menindee Lakes System. There are four main lakes that make up the area, Lake Menindee, Lake Cawndilla, Lake Pamamaroo, and Lake Wetherell, and they were created from a series of natural depressions that filled during floods.

The Menindee Lakes and Darling River were a lifeline for early explorers and it was thought the Darling would provide a means to develop Australia's interior. However the lakes were an unreliable source of water, filling out during flood periods and disappearing when the river level dropped. As early as 1894 plans were put forward for conservation of the resource but a water storage scheme was not implemented until 1949 and completed in 1960.

Kinchega National Park

Also found within the Menindee Lake System is the Kinchega National Park which extends westwards from the Darling River, encompassing all of Lake Cawndilla and the southern half of Lake Menindee. The 44 000-ha park was created in 1967 from land that was previously a part of Kinchega Station.

There are three self-guided drive tours you can do within the park. The River Drive meanders for about 20 kilometres through the red gum woodlands on the banks of the Darling River. The Lake Drive follows the shores of Lakes Menindee and Cawndilla and the interconnecting Morton Boolka Swamp. Sand hills on the northern and eastern margins of the lakes are ablaze with daisies following spring rains. The Homestead Loop is ideal for those who have limited time. This circuit takes visitors past the original Kinchega homestead and cemetery, which in its peak in 1881 covered on million acres and have 143,000 sheep.

The park also provides good opportunities for bird watching, cycling, painting and photography.

There are 35 shaded camping areas scattered along the banks of the Darling River and there is also accommodation available in the Shearers Quarters. Enquiries can be made at the Menindee Visitors Centre, or phone +61 8 8080 3200.

Kinchega National Park

Broken Hill Art

Broken Hill's renaissance started in the 1960's with the Brushmen of the Bush, which included Pro Hart, Eric Minchin, Hugh Schulz, Jack Absalom and John Pickup. The five locals joined forces with exhibitions and opened their own galleries. Today there are more than 50 artists, with many private galleries and studios where you can find all sorts of art ranging from paintings on canvas, acrylics and watercolours, photographs, sculptures, crafts and pottery.

A must see when visiting Broken Hill is The Big Picture, measuring almost 100 metres long and 12 metres at its highest point. Painted by Ando and opened to the public in 2001, The Big Picture is the world's largest acrylic painting on canvas by a single artist.

The Big Picture
Silver City Miny & Art Centre
66 Chloride Street
Broken Hill.

Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is the oldest regional art gallery in New South Wales. It was established in 1904 through the efforts of Dr Brian James Booth and following the bequest of three major artworks by Mr George McCulloch, one of the founders of Broken Hill Propriety Limited (BHP). The bequest included Lynmouth, North Devon, 1867 by James Webb, After the Bath, 1890, by Harriette Sutcliffe and Memories, 1891 by John William Godward RBA.

The Gallery is housed in the historic Sully's Emporium near the centre of the city and features an annual program of locally curated exhibitions along with touring exhibitions from major cultural institutions. A selection of works from the collection is on permanent display in the upstairs gallery. The annual program also includes work by established and emerging Aboriginal artists from around the Far West region of New South Wales.

404 - 408 Argent Street
Broken Hill
Telephone: +61 8 8080 3440
Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
artgallery@brokenhill.nsw.gov.au

Broken Hill Art Galleries

Pro Hart Gallery 108 Wyman Street Broken Hill Telephone: +61 8 8087 2441 admin@prohart.com.au www.prohart.com.au	Julie Hart Gallery 65 William Street Broken Hill Telephone: +61 8 8087 4448 admin@juliehart.com.au www.juliehart.com.au	Absalom's Gallery 640 Chapple Street Broken Hill North Telephone: +61 8 8087 5881
Amanda Johnson Artist 191 Argent Street Broken Hill Telephone: +61 8 8088 6888 amanda@amandajohnsonartist.com.au www.amandajohnsonartist.com.au	The Art of Deirdre Edwards 34 Williams Lane Broken Hill Telephone: +61 8 8088 3913 www.djdee.com.au	The Horizon Gallery Cnr William & Bromide Streets Broken Hill Telephone: +61 8 8088 6025 artspace@bigpond.com www.horizongalleries.com.au

Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre
Corner Blende Street and Bromide Street
Broken Hill
Telephone: +61 8 8080 3560
tourist@brokenhill.nsw.gov.au
www.visitbrokenhill.com.au

Broken Hill Weather - Average Temperatures and Rainfall

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. Max (°C)	32.8	32.2	29.0	23.9	19.2	15.6	15.1	17.3	21.1	24.9	28.6	31.4
Avg. Min (°C)	18.5	18.2	15.6	11.8	8.6	6.2	5.3	6.4	8.9	11.7	14.7	17.1
Avg. Rain (mm)	23.8	23.9	19.5	17.4	22.5	22.0	18.9	18.6	20.4	24.4	20.2	21.5
Avg. Rain Days	3.2	3.1	2.7	2.9	4.4	5.2	5.6	5.2	4.3	4.6	3.7	3.4