|
Broken
Hill
The
largest
town
in the
west
Broken
Hill
stands
on the
richest
silver-lead-zinc
deposit
yet
discovered
and
has
so far
yielded
minerals
worth
over
1.5
billion
dollars.
The
town,
situated
in one
of the
driest
areas
of Australia
is surprisingly
green
and
leafy
thanks
to water
piped
from
the
reservoir
at Lake
Menindee
110km
away.
Broken
Hill
was
named
in 1844
by explorer
Sturt
but
the
mineral
riches
were
not
discovered
until
1883
by Charles
Rasp
after
which
a town
grew
almost
instantly
to a
population
20 000
within
eight
years.
The
town
is a
fascinating
place
to visit
and
has
been
described
a "living
museum"
or a
"museum
without
walls".
The
town
and
area
can
be explored
by following
"The
Silver
Trail
- A
Guide
to the
Heritage
of Broken
Hill"
available
at the
Information
Centre
which
has
a detailed
guide
to the
walk
and
drive
trails.
The
walk
trail
covers
most
of Broken
Hill's
central
business
district
and
is fully
sign-posted.
The
drive
trail
is over
40km
long,
features
113
points
of interest
and
will
take
over
two
hours
to complete.
A favorite
place
for
photographers
are
Keenan
and
Block
10 lookouts
with
impressive
views
over
the
city.
Excellent
aboriginal
art
can
be seen
at the
Aboriginal
site
at Mootwingie,
in the
Bynguano
Range.
Many
excellent
artists
have
also
grown
from
the
area
and
have
become
known
as the
"Brushmen
of the
Bush".
Silverton
Situated
25km
north-west
of Broken
Hill
this
once
thriving
community
of over
3000
is now
a ghost
town.
The
gaol,
which
closed
in 1943
has
now
been
restored
as a
museum
and
houses
many
interesting
relics
from
the
past.
The
town
is also
a popular
place
for
film-makers
having
been
the
location
for
Mad
Max
2, A
Town
Like
Alice
and
Razorback.
White
Cliffs
Born
from
the
discovery
of seam
opal
in the
1890's
this
is Australia's
oldest
commercial
opal
field.
This
unique
area
resembles
a moonscape
with
over
50 000
craters,
the
result
of 100
years
of mining.
The
population,
once
5000
in its
heyday,
now
fluctuates
and
most
inhabitants
live
underground
in dugouts
to escape
the
summer
heat
and
winter
cold.
A fascinating
place
to visit
attractions
include
tours
through
the
dugout
homes,
opal
showrooms,
and
the
historic
opal
fields.
Menindee
Situated
on the
banks
of the
tree
lined
Darling
Menindee
is an
oasis
in the
Outback.
Menindee
sits
amongst
the
Overflow
lakes
that
form
the
Menindee
Water
Storage
Scheme.
The
lakes,
at maximum
capacity
hold
three
and
a half
times
more
water
than
Sydney
Harbour
and
covers
an area
some
seven
and
a half
times
greater.
The
lakes
and
river
offer
excellent
water
skiing,
sailing,
safe
swimming
and
good
fishing
whilst
being
home
to a
great
variety
of waterbirds.
The
lakes
and
surrounding
wetlands
are
an important
breeding
habitat.
Wilcannia
Once
the
third
largest
inland
port
in Australia
Wilcannia
was
once
known
"Queen
City".
Sandstone
was
quarried
during
the
boom
years
of the
1880's
and
several
beautiful
buildings
still
remain
as a
remnant
of that
era.
The
court,
goal
and
post
office
are
all
of interest
as well
as the
Red
Lion
Brewery
housed
in the
golf
club
house.
Tibooburra
This
tiny,
remote
township,
the
hottest
in Australia
on most
summer
days
is perfect
to experience
what
the
outback
is all
about.
Surrounded
by the
Sturt
National
Park
there
is an
abundance
of wildlife
and
wildflowers
(in
a good
season).and
many
attractions
including
the
old
courthouse,
Mt Stuart
Aboriginal
Artifact
Collection
and
Tiboora
Outback
School
of Air
Distance
Education.
|
