New South Wales West Broken Hill
Population 24,466
Broken Hill lies in the Barrier Ranges in outback New South Wales, near
the South Australian border. It is a long way from anywhere - 1170km (727
miles) from Sydney; 882km (548 miles) from Melbourne; 510km (317 miles)
from Adelaide.
Climate
The city is 304m (997 ft) above sea level, and has an average rainfall
of 235mm (9.25 ins) which is spread fairly evenly throughout the year
with the greatest fall usually in June. As a rule the temperature only
climbs above 38C (100F) eight or nine time a year. Maximum summer temperatures
are generally in the low 30s (around 85F), but this causes little discomfort
due to the low humidity. The nights are cold throughout the year. The
winter months of May, June and July can be quite cold during the day
as well.
Characteristics
Broken Hill is first and foremost a mining town, and in earlier days the
dust problem appeared insurmountable, but due to a regeneration scheme
started in 1930s, this problem has been largely overcome, at least as
far as local storms are concerned. It has one of the richest silver and
lead deposits in the world. Recently its popularity in the tourist market
has grown.
Tourist Information
The Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre is on the corner of Blende and
Bromide Streets, (08) 8087 6077, email tourist@pcpro.net .au. It is hopen
8.30am - 5pm daily.
How to Get There By Bus
Pioneer have a Sydney/Adelaide service via Broken Hill.
Greyhound have a service from/to Melbourne.
Stateliner have a service from Adelaide.
By Rail
The Indian Pacific (Sydney/Perth) and The Alice (Sydney/Alice Springs)
stop at Broken Hill.
By Car
From Sydney, via the Great Western Highway to Orange, the Mitchell Highway
to Nyngan, then the Barrier Highway.
From Melbourne, via the Calder Highway to Mildura, then the Silver City
Highway.
From Adelaide, via National Route 32.
Accommodation
Here is a selection of accommodation with prices for a double room per
night, which should be used as a guide only. The telephone area code
is 08.
Broken Hill Overlander Motor Inn, 142 Iodide Street, 8087 7013. 12 units,
heated swimming pool, spa, sauna, barbecue - $85-105.
Daydream Motel, 77 Argent Street, 8088 3033. 12 units, swimming pool, barbecue
- $65.
Charles Rasp Motor Inn, 158 Oxide Street, 8088 1988. 20 units, swimming
pool, spa, barbecue - $95-110.
Miners Lamp Motor Inn, 357 Cobalt Street, 8088 4122. 32 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, barbecue - $90-100.
Silver Spade Hotel/Motel, 151 Argent Street, 8087 7021. 14 units, licensed
restaurant, swimming pool, barbecue - $60-65.
Sturt Motel, 153 Rakow Street, 8087 3558. 19 units, swimming pool - $55-60.
Caravan Parks
Broken Hill City Caravan Park, Rakow Street, 8087 3841. (Pets allowed in
a restricted area) 173 sites, barbecue, heated pool - powered sites $18
for two, on-site vans $32 for two.
Lake View Broken Hill Caravan Park, 1 Mann Street, 8088 2250. (Pets allowed
under strict control) 137 sites, pool - powered sites $20 for two, on-site
vans $30 for two.
Eating Out
Broken Hill has plenty of restaurants, cafes, clubs and hotels serving
meals. Here are some you might like to try.
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant, 357 Cobalt Street, 8087 3679.
Oceania Chinese Restaurant, 423 Argent Street, 8087 3695.
Silver City Workingmen's Club, 402 Argent Street, 8087 5337.
The Haven Restaurant, 577 Argent St, 8088 2888.
Betina's, 271 Kaolin St, 8088 2999.
Points of Interest
Broken Hill has two Tourist Drives - the Silver Arrow tour 1 and 2, and
maps are available from the Tourist Centre.
Walking Tours depart from the Information Centre Mon-Fri and Sun at 10am,
and are of approximately one and half hour's duration.
The Sundown Nature Trail, situated in the rocky Sundown Hills on the northern
edge of the city Common, winds through the countryside for 2.8km (2 miles)
and affords an opportunity to examine the sparse vegetation up close. It
takes about one and a half hours, and is at its best just before sunset
or just after sunrise.
Interesting and informative inspections of the surface workings of North
Mine are conducted every afternoon Mon-Fri, and the Information Centre
has details. NB solid footwear must be worn.
Underground tours are available Mon-Fri 10.30am and Sat 2pm, 8088 1604,
but children under 8 are not admitted. The Daydream Mine, 8088 5682, near
Silverton, 45 minutes away, also has underground tours with no age limit.
For tours of the Royal Flying Doctor Base, enquire on 8080 1777. The School
of the Air is open weekdays, and bookings for this are handled by the Information
Centre.
At the Whites Mineral Art and Mining Museum, 1 Allendale Street 8087 2878,
you can see life size replicas of current and old-time mining procedures.
The Railway Mineral and Train Museum, Blende Street, 8088 4660, has a large
display of old railway machinery.
Broken Hill has more than twenty-one Art Galleries open for public viewing.
Here are a few names and addresses:
The Broken Hill City Art Gallery, cnr Chloride and Blende Streets, 8088
5491, open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, with guided tours Tues-Sat at 11.30am.
Pro Hart Gallery, 8087 2441, 108 Wyman Street, open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm.
Hoppy Hopgood Gallery, 589 Fisher Street, open daily from 9am.
Facilities
Car Hire: Avis, 8087 7532; Budget, 8087 9151; and Hertz, 8087 2719.
Taxi services: Yellow Radio Cabs, 13 1008.
There are two laundromats, 3 Council run libraries, 3 swimming pools (one
heated), golf, horse riding, lawn bowls, indoor cricket, squash and tennis.
The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia has an office at 261
Argent Street, 8088 4999.
Outlying Attractions Menindee
Situated 110km (68 miles) south-east of Broken Hill, there is a series
of natural lakes stretching 50km (31 miles) north and 35km (22 miles) south
of the town of Menindee, and areas have been developed for caravan parks,
weekend cottages, speedboats, water skiing, sailing, safe swimming and
good fishing.
The Kinchega National Park, on the western bank of the Darling River adjacent
to Menindee, is a significant example of one of the major landscape categories
of the arid and semi-arid regions of New South Wales.
The Menindee Regional Tourist Association is in the Railway Station, Maiden
St, 8091 4274.
Silverton
On a sealed road 25km (16 miles) north-west of Broken Hill, is Silverton,
once a thriving community of over 3000, but now a ghost town where many
films have been shot, eg A Town Like Alice, Mad Max II and Razorback,
and several commercials and documentaries.
The Sturt National Park begins just north of Tibooburra, which is 337km
(209 miles) north of Broken Hill, and reaches to the spot where the New
South Wales, Queensland and South Australian borders meet. At the three-state
corner the dingo fence can be seen. It is part of the 'longest fence in
the world'.
White Cliffs
The well-known opal field and township of White Cliffs is 295km (183 miles)
north-east of Broken Hill. There you can try your luck at fossicking,
see the superb opalised Plesiosaur skeleton, and the dugouts where many
of the residents live. Facilities include a hotel, motel, general store
and cafe. Fossicker's Licences are available from the Tourist Information
Centre in Karara Road, 8091 6611.
