Broken Hill
Broken Hill has a rich history as one of the world’s most famous mining towns. The city is a great location to explore the vast outback of NSW including stunning national park wilderness. A short drive from Broken Hill is Sundown Hill, the site of the Living Desert Sculptures. Follow the walking trail past these beautiful sandstone sculptures, even more striking in this desert setting.
About Broken Hill
Broken Hill is great destination to begin your discovery of the vast and beautiful outback of NSW. The famous mining town was built on the world's largest silver, lead and zinc mine run by Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, now BHP Billiton, one of the world's largest resources companies.
Charles Rasp and two friends established BHP here in 1885 after pegging out a mineral lease at a rocky outcrop known as “the broken hill”. Many tours of the outback begin in Broken Hill, including trips to Mutawintji National Park where you can see examples of ancient Aboriginal rock art.
Nicknamed the Silver City, Broken Hill has plenty of places to stay and things to do and see, including mining tours, museums, art galleries and heritage walking trails that take in many 19th century buildings. Many big-budget films have been shot in and around Broken Hill and in nearby Silverton.
Visit the Silver City Art Centre and Mint to watch a local silversmith smelt, cast and manufacture local silver jewellery, which is available for purchase. While there, you can also indulge in Broken Hill's finest chocolate.
Explore the Living Desert Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, a short drive from town, where sculptures sit on top of hills in the desert reserve. For a panorama of the city, visit the Line of Lode Miners Memorial, a striking architectural structure that commemorates more than 800 miners who lost their lives on the job.
You can travel from Sydney’s Central Station by train to Broken Hill and on the way enjoy breathtaking views of the countryside. The train journey takes 13 hours. Alternatively, Rex Regional Express airline services Broken Hill’s airport from Sydney.