Across South Australia to Broken Hill

Friday, 19 October and Saturday, 20 October 2012
We travelled quickly across the top of the Eyre Peninsula as we had made the same trip last year. After camping at a rest area 25km west of Port Augusta, we climbed slowly up and over the South Flinders Range to the east of Port Augusta passing through Wilmington and Orroroo before stopping for a lunch break at Peterborough. While in Peterborough we visited the Steamtown Rail Museum which was very interesting. We gained more of an insight into the early days of rail transport in this area and viewed the details of the different gauge lines used in different states. Some of the carriages were very luxurious and some very basic.






After lunch we followed the main east-west rail line towards Broken Hill. Along the way we passed through Yunta, Mannahill and decided to stay at the rest area opposite the hotel at Olary. These town are virtual ghost towns with only a hotel or roadhouse still operating and a scattering of occupied houses. Olary was the most interesting of these town as the young locals were amusing themselves by doing wheel-stands on a motorbike along the main road in front of the pub while their mates sat in the back of a ute lined with a tarp and filled with water to act as a swimming pool. Several other travellers called in to watch the silly antics.
Sunday, 21 October 2012
We arrived in Broken Hill before lunch and after gathering some information from the Tourist Centre we commenced exploring the town by firstly driving a few kilometres out of town to view the Living Desert and the Sculptures Symposium. The Living Desert has breathtaking views of the Barrier Range and the surrounding plains. There is a flora and fauna walk trail as well as a cultural walk trail. Unfortunately we were too late to see the wildflowers and the plants were very dry as it has been a very dry winter.
We then drove to the nearby Sculptures which were created in 1993 and have become an icon of Broken Hill. 53 tonnes of sandstone was transported from the Wilcannia area and in its uncut form was, after a huge logistical exercise, roughly arranged in tow columns on the top of the large hill some 12km from Broken Hill. 12 sculptors from many countries turned these sandstone blocks into works of art with the support of the local council and community. 







Monday, 22 October 2012
Silverton was our destination today and after bouncing our way through the 39 dips in the 25km of road we reached Silverton. We drove another nine kilometres to the Umberumberka Reservoir, Broken Hill’s water storage facility, a very pretty site. Along this road we also viewed the Mundi Mundi Plain where several movies were filmed e.g. Mad Max 2, Mission Impossible2 and A Town Like Alice. We then returned to Silverton and spent the rest of the day wandering around the old mining town which was the original mining settlement before Broken Hill but is almost a ghost town now. There are many old buildings remaining including the hotel, churches, shops and homes. The old gaol now houses the museum and we spent at least two hours there. The Mad Max car, other memorabilia and quirky things, as well as arts and crafts can be seen around town. Movie making in Broken Hill has become another artistic activity and movies such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Razorback and Reckless Kelly have scenes filmed in this area.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012 to Thursday, 25 October 2012
We spent the day looking around Broken Hill, the lovely old elaborate buildings and museums. The Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum houses a world class display of Broken Hill minerals. It is also home to the “Silver Tree”, once owned by Charles Rasp, one of the original founders of BHP. The tree is made from 8.5kg of silver and was originally a table decoration. We also visited the Silver City Art Centre and Silver City Mint. The Centre has a very large variety of art, souvenirs and a chocolate factory. At the back of the Centre we viewed “The Big Picture”, a painting 100 metres in length and 12 metres high. This is an incredible mural/painting which circles a viewing area and portrays Broken Hill’s surrounding landscape. This centre is also an outlet for the silver jewellery produced from local silver.
We also visited the late Pro Hart’s Studio. Pro was a prolific artist who started his working life in the mines but with the encouragement of his wife became a full time artist. He was a very interesting character who didn’t like attention and was also a very talented shooter, musician and a weightlifter. Broken Hill has many art galleries, lookouts and memorials. The Miner’s Memorial overlooks the town and honours those who have died in the mining industry in this area. There are also several memorials to the unionists involved in the improving of miners working conditions and rights. Another interesting art display is at the Palace Hotel, where the publican has painted giant murals in the hallways, bar area and the stairwell. This is the hotel featured in the movie “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”.