Australia's first Heritage Listed City Broken Hill is brilliant in so very many ways says Melbourne Australia's Jane Deany.
With fantastic art and galleries, history (Silver mining - BHP) and the fabulous desert colours too .... I just love it as my blog says!
ABOUT ilovebrokenhill.com , was first published on 8 December 2011 by Jane Deany. My blog is all about the famous outback Australian National Heritage Listed City namedBroken Hill, located in the state of New South Wales. I first visited #BrokenHill in 2002 and have returned many times since then. ilovebrokenhill.com will help you discover what's great about this historic mining city, where in the mid 1880's the line of lode, a rich ore body of silver, lead and zinc was found. You will find stories about anything related to Broken Hill.
I learned about NSW indigenous Australian Muriel Hunter on a recent Landline episode on the fabulous ABC. Muriel was one of the group of 2018 'Heywire' winners. Her family background is from a large family in the Barkindji and Wonkamarra tribes in the Wilcannia and Bourke regions of north central New South Wales. At age six, she, together with five of her six siblings, was taken into foster care in Broken Hill. She poignantly says "I thought I'd done something wrong."
I won't spoil her story, which you can find by following thislink to the story which appears on the ABC website's 'heywire' section http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/heywire-winner-muriel-hunter-broken-hill-nsw/9156412 I found her story inspiring and you may too. You can see her telling her story in a brief two or so minute clip, as well as read about her by following the above link. After some challenging times, she is well on the way to realising her career dreams to become a nurse and midwife, so as to help her community. I love stories like that. Heywire has been running since 1998, so twenty years as of this date. It aims to give young Australians the chance to tell a story about their life in their regional town, and potentially 'win a money-can’t-buy experience' (quoting the ABC's heywire website). Cheers, Jane Deany
The Broken Hill (and Silverton) art galleries list has been updated on my ilovebrokenhill website. See the footer below. Please scroll to bottom of the site for an up to date list of all the galleries in #BrokenHill and #Silverton. There are over 25 galleries. There could even be more which you may stumble upon. New ones seem to spring up quite often. As of this date, the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is hosting several art exhibitions. The gallery has an active exhibition schedule. See their website for details. The West Darling Arts at the Town Hall Facade space has a current exhibition and the Broken Hill Art Exchange (BHAE) has just moved to the Grand Guesthouse this week. The BHAE is just finishing setting up after their move, so not ready for visitors for a week or so. All three exhibition spaces are in #BrokenHill's main street - Argent Street. See my gallery list for the exact addresses. Enjoy. Jane Deany
I have just spent five days wandering around the heart of Broken Hill. The city is buzzing with energy and it's great to be back. My last visit was July 2017. Renewable energy projects are on the go in a number of locations. A water pipeline from Wentworth to Broken Hill commenced construction earlier in 2018, and when finished at the end of the year, will create water security for the city. Many houses have new roofs courtesy of a hailstorm back in November 2016, so although a shock at the time, a lot of good has come out of that natural weather event. There are lots of jobs too for the roofing crews. The pipeline project is said to create 150 local jobs, with a peak construction workforce of around 500 jobs. Mining related jobs are also cropping up, as there is still quite a bit of mine activity. Maybe more on that another time. I came up from my hometown Melbourne to catch the tail end of the inaugural Heritage Festival which ran for two weeks. It was fantastic to hear the fascinating talk given by Professor Simon Molesworth AO, QC on the final evening of the event last Friday. The setting for the talk was the historic Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery situated in Argent Street, Broken Hill's iconic main street. Prof. Molesworth was one of the key drivers in helping #BrokenHill to become the first National Heritage Listed City in January 2015. I then took the opportunity to attend the biannual two day Agfair at the Broken Hill racecourse. With exhibitor numbers up on 2016, and coming from far afield and locally, my first Agfair was a lot of fun. There was a sold out fundraiser ball on the final night. The charity being the Royal Flying Doctor Service. I missed out on that one with all 500 tickets sold. Next time perhaps. There seems to almost always be an event on in Broken Hill. That's one of the many reasons "I love Broken Hill." There is so much happening in the city it is hard to know what to write about. So I will save it for another time. I will just finish by saying that the weather has been glorious every day - low twenties. Sunny mostly, still, and beautiful clear starry nights. This afternoon was yet again a fabulous opportunity to take some more photos. See my photo of Browne's Shaft Headframe at Junction Mine. Cheers, Jane Deany
Thinking of you today #BrokenHill on this day about love. You're hot! Well not too bad today 15 - 33 degrees celsius. Sounds very pleasant. Changing the subject, to a heavier note (sorry), but just wanted to share this idea pronto. I came across this great suggestion by Scott Hammond of Broken Hill Lifeline on Twitter via ABC (when searching what was going on in Broken Hill at the moment #BrokenHill) -
The CEO of Broken Hill's Lifeline Scott Hammond recently told me that society should rate suicide first aid courses with the same importance as regular first aid training or swimming lessons. Here are some signs that someone may be feeling suicidal: https://t.co/yJSjfX4iZC
Happy New Year Broken Hill from Melbourneblogger Jane Deany.
Yarra River at #sunset
As the sun set last night, by the Yarra River (left) at the end of my street, it was good to be in Melbourne at this time of year, when many people are away. But I'm looking forward to my next #BrokenHill visit as soon as I can get back up there. After all, it's only an 840kms drive. I very much enjoyed my last visit in July 2017. There have been at least two changes since then, which I'm very keen to experience upon my next trip. The Silly Goat has moved to a newer, bigger premises; and The Broken Earth Cafe has re-opened, after being shut for a long time. No doubt there are many other changes. I hope the summer isn't too hot for you all. And, in my annual 'plug', it's a great time to visit this fabulous outback, heritage listed city, (Australia's first heritage listed city) during the school holidays. Why? You will have a great time! I always do. And, it's only about a day or so drive from Melbourne, Adelaide (513kms approx.), or Sydney (1144kms approx.). You can fly, or catch the train - 'Indian Pacific' from either Adelaide or Sydney. Cheers, Jane Deany
Six years ago today I started www.ilovebrokenhill.com and you know what I still love visiting #BrokenHill and talking about this fabulous outback city. Stay tuned as the coming year will be a more active one after taking a little time out from my regular blogging. Cheers, Jane Deany
Shelita Buffet AKA Brendan Barlow (L) and Christina Kneesup AKA Chris Harvey (R) calling the bingo numbers at drag bingo in Broken Hill
Drag Bingo - Broken Hill There's a regular thing happening monthly on a Tuesday night in downtown #BrokenHill. What you might ask? It's 'drag bingo'. Where you might ask? At The Palace Hotel Broken Hill no less. Or should I say - no surprise. Tonight it was a full house and the room was buzzing and very colourful language was flying as the #bingo numbers were called. If you're not into bingo, it might still be worth a look for something different to do. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Don't worry if you forgot your drag outfit, that's optional. The number callers more than make up for it. I recognised local Palace Hotel staff member Brendan Barlow (red head) AKA Shelita Buffet. Her 'fellow' bingo caller (assistant?) is Chris Harvey AKA Christina Kneesup. Cheers, Jane Deany
The winners of the annual Pro Hart Outback Art Prize were announced on the exhibition's opening night Friday 30 June 2017, and the exhibition runs until 13 August 2017. Congratulations to the winning artist Abdul-Rahman Abdullah with his distinctive piece 'Footprint'.
Congratulations to Abdul-Rahman Abdulllah, winner of the 2017 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize! 2nd: Kristin Haskett Encouragement: Andre Schmidt pic.twitter.com/oW92ZBayKp
— Broken Hill Council (@BrokenHillCity) June 30, 2017
Kristin Haskett's 'untitled' work won second prize. Andre Schmidt won the encouragement award with 'River-Flats Evening'. This year the judge was art journalist Kon Gouriotis. Two hundred and sixty four entrants 'addressed' the theme 'outback'. From these, 43 finalists were chosen. Here's a link the ABC Broken Hill's report about the opening night. I was lucky enough to attend the awards opening night two years ago and it is one of the social calendar highlights for #BrokenHill. The prize has been renamed from 'Outback Open Art Prize' to 'Pro Hart Outback Art Prize' to honour Pro Hart and his family's contribution to the arts. Pro's wife Mrs Raylee J Hart and the Broken Hill City Council generously support the prize. Cheers, Jane Deany
2017 NAIDOC week has begun. It runs from 2 - 9 July 2017. This year's theme - 'Our languages matter'. "The importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages will be the focus of national celebrations marking NAIDOC Week 2017."
Art Scene On this International Women's Day 2017, in Broken Hill recognition of women includes Gaara Arts' exhibition 'Out of the Zone - Gaara Arts Cabinet Exhibition' at Broken Hill's fabulous Regional Art Gallery.
Who is Gaara Arts you might ask? It's Broken Hill's all women art group. See link here for details about the exhibition together with several other current exhibitions, which include the Far West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prize. https://www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au/explore/regional-art-gallery/exhibitions Cheers, Jane Deany
Sign on the Silver City Highway heading north after Wentworth.
Tomorrow, 1 March 2017 is ... the beginning of the annual tourist season in Broken Hill, so start planning your trip to Australia's first heritage listed city now. Autumn is one of the best times to visit #BrokenHill as the summer heat starts to fade. The picture at left is a sign you should encounter on the Silver City Highway as you head north from Melbourne, Mildura and/or Wentworth towards Broken Hill, AKA the Silver City. Cheers, enjoy your trip and I recommend more than a one night stay as there's so much to see and do. Jane Deany
Happy New Year for 2017. Today is all about the passing of time. One interesting fact about Broken Hill is that although the city is situated in New South Wales which runs on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), #BrokenHill actually uses Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), the time zone used by South Australia. The reason being that the city is relatively close to the South Australian border and the nearest capital city is the South Australian city of Adelaide.
Silver City Highway, 40 km south of Broken Hill
When you drive north up the 683 km Silver City Highway, about 40 km south of Broken Hill you will come across a sign, see pictured, advising that you should turn back your clock/watch by half an hour. Broken Hill is unique in Australia because of this arrangement. I remember my second trip to Broken Hill on New Year's Eve 2005-6. It was fun for me to be able to celebrate two New Year's Eves, the first one back home in Melbourne Victoria which is another one of the Australian states using the Australian Eastern Daylight Time, and then half an hour later, celebrating again with everyone else in Broken Hill. That's a little bit of trivia about Broken Hill to start 2017. Happy New Year everyone. Cheers, Jane Deany
I recently tweeted about www.ilovebrokenhill.com's 5th anniversary. The image I used, which is currently this blog's header image and the picture in this post, prompted the query, is that Browne's Mine? The question was posed by an ex Broken Hill resident. I must say 'well spotted' to them. And I admit, I was initially actually unsure of the headframe's name, so I rang the very helpful #BrokenHill visitor information centre, and together with their help and also reference to Elizabeth Vines' 2010 "Broken Hill A guide to the Silver City" we confirmed the details. The picture is of Junction Mine's wooden headframe that was erected over Browne Shaft in the 1890's. It is the oldest remaining headframe on the #lineoflode. You can see the mine and associated buildings on the Menindee Road, just on the edge of Broken Hill. The image was taken by me around 7am in January 2013. Isn't the light lovely. It's one of the features that Broken Hill is know for i.e. great light and natural vivid colours. It is another reason why Broken Hill is so popular with artists. Enjoy. Cheers, Jane Deany
Mystery* mine headframe near visitor centre Broken Hill
It is www.ilovebrokenhill.com's 5th birthday today 8 December 2016. Thanks to the over 172,000 people who have visited my blog over the past 5 years. Broken Hill has often been in my thoughts over this year. May the city thrive and prosper in the coming years. I will continue to post on a semi random basis. Please stay 'tuned'. Cheers, Jane Deany *Okay, so the mystery mine headframe is from the Kintore Shaft at the Central Mine. The headframe was moved to the 'Kintore Reserve' in Blende Street, from Central Mine in 1984 to make way for open cut mining activities.
She coordinated the Fringe Festival in
2014 and 2015. Ann supported Patton Village where the Festival was
held, in many ways.
She was previously the General Manager of the
Broken Hill Legion Club.
I met Ann several years ago when I
approached her to look at running a social media course at Robinson
College. She was very open to the idea. The main stumbling block for
myself to run the course was the logistics of it all (given I am
based in Melbourne).
She will leave an incredible gap in the
Broken Hill community.
Gaara Arts Inc is Broken Hill's all women art group. Also on display is an exhibition by Gayle Rodgers titled "Inspired" and the 2016 Far West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prize exhibition. Exhibition details - Date - From Friday 29 January 2016 Place - Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery Address - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill Phone - 08 8080 3440 Hours - Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm For more details see the following link to the Broken Hill City Council's website. The exhibitions will all run until 13 March 2016. The timing of the Gaara Arts exhibition is designed to coincide with International Women's Day which this year is on 8 March - today. I congratulate the women of Gaara Arts for their continued contribution to the rich art scene in Broken Hill. Enjoy, cheers Jane Deany
Art Scene/Community Event In the lead up to International Women's Day 2016, Gaara Arts Inc is opening their annual art exhibition titled "Looking Forward, Looking Back - A Woman's View" tonight at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. Gaara Arts Inc is Broken Hill's all women art group. Also opening tonight is an exhibition by Gayle Rodgers titled "Inspired". Exhibition details - Date - Friday 29 January 2016 Time - 6pm Place - Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery Address - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill Phone - 08 8080 3440 Hours - Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm For more details see the following link to the Broken Hill City Council's website. The exhibitions will both run until 13 March 2016. The timing of the Gaara Arts exhibition is designed to coincide with International Women's Day which this year is on 8 March. Enjoy, cheers Jane Deany
Art Scene/Community Event The 2016 Far West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prize (FWATSIAP) Exhibition opens tonight at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. Details - Date - Thursday 28 January 2016 Time - 6pm Place - Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery Address - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill Phone - 08 8080 3440 Hours - Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm The prize is presented by Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery and West Darling Arts and is supported by Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation. The FWATSIAP comprises 4 awards. A. Open 2 Dimensional Art Prize (1st prize awarded - value $1,500) B. Open 3 Dimensional Art Prize (1st prize awarded -value $1,500) C. Young Artists (1st prize awarded - Art pack to the value of $100) People's Choice Award ($500) For more details see the following link to the Broken Hill City Council's website. The exhibition will run until 13 March 2016. This is an alcohol free event. Enjoy, cheers Jane Deany
Broken Hill Post Office (right) and Town Square (far left)
Community Event Today Broken Hill will officially celebrate the first anniversary of the city's National Heritage Listed City status in celebrations at the Town Square in Argent Street (opposite the Post Office). Time - 9am - 12 noon Official proceedings 9.30am-10am (Central Standard Time). Cost - Free The official proceedings will be live streamed via Periscope@BrokenHillCity (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers required to view). You can find out more information from the Broken Hill City Council website - www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au/events No doubt it will be lots of fun.
Searching Twitter with #BrokenHill took me to Instagram this time for a story idea for my first www.ilovebrokenhill.com blog post for 2016. Okay, the topic isn't new to my blog, but it's a good one nonetheless. And before I go on about one of my favourite subjects, namely Broken Hill, I wish readers and everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope 2016 is a wonderful year for you all in every way. Back to the Tweet -
A photo posted by Royal Flying Doctor Service (@royalflyingdoc) on
which as you can see, relates to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in Broken Hill. Today I want to highlight this important service yet again, not just because it provides a great tourist attraction experience for Broken Hill visitors, but because it relies on donations for much of its work and I want to support the fantastic work that they do. Why? Because your and my life may one day quite literally depend upon the RFDS.
The RFDS plays a vital role in the
care of sick and injured people in remote areas such as #BrokenHill
and the Far West Corner of New South Wales.
Broken Hill is in the South Eastern
Section of the RFDS. The RFDS operates in remote areas around Australia and covers over 7.3 million square kilometres.
The Bruce Langford Visitor Centre is at
the RFDS located at the Broken Hill Airport in South Broken Hill and
is open daily. The Centre won the Silver Award for the Tourism Services Category at the Inland NSW Tourism Awards in July 2015.
Visitors are welcome to browse through the Centre and
watch a film about RFDS operations at Broken Hill.
Guided tours are available which
describe the full extent of the RFDS's aeromedical services. Visitors
can view the communications room and, via a viewing platform, they
can see the medically outfitted aircraft and the hangar.
Visitors also have the opportunity to
see a working RFDS in action, every day of the week.
Royal Flying Doctor Service merchandise is available
for purchase at the souvenir shop (or from the RFDS online shop). All
proceeds from sales and admissions go directly towards the vital work
of the RFDS.
Hours - 9 am-5 pm M-F, 10am-3pm S-S and
public holidays.
Closed - Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New
Years Day, Australia Day and Good Friday.
Cost - Adults $8.50, children up to 12
years $4, family $20.00 (2 adults & 2 children under 12 years),
concession & student card holders $7 groups 10 or more $7.
Address - Airport Road, (South) Broken Hill.
Contact - 08 8080 3714
There is also a new medical centre at the Base.
The RFDS in Broken Hill is supported financially in various ways by numerous Broken Hill locals and groups.
If you would like to financially support the RFDS you can donate via a link from their website - www.flyingdoctor.org.au.
I highly recommend you put the RFDS Base and Visitor Centre on your itinerary when you visit Broken Hill. It's a great experience.
