Tourist season in Broken Hill kicks off on March 1st

Broken Hill's tourist season really gets going tomorrow on 1st March with the beginning of autumn. The main reason is the weather is not as hot as it is in summer, nor is it as cold as it can be in winter when inland cities can be surprisingly chilly.

The St Patrick's Races are being run on Saturday 16th March, with related events being held in the week before the race and a recovery day the next day at nearby Silverton on Sunday the 17th March (the actual St Patrick's day).

The Grand Guest House (centre) and Post Office (right),
town square (left) and part of Line of Lode (in background)

With the extra buzz of St Patrick's day racing festivities really setting the city alight, not to mention all the usual wonderful sights to see in Broken Hill, there is no better time to visit the city than now.

So if you have been thinking of visiting the city of Broken Hill, why not take a few days off and come and visit this wonderful city in the next few months. If you are lucky there may still be some accommodation left in mid March on the St Pat's Races weekend, which is the absolute peak of the tourist season in Broken Hill.

I say 'a few days' because, I have been reliably informed by Mandy Nelson who warmly hosts the very popular, central and comfortable Grand Guest House in Argent Street, (where I've stayed many times before), that most visitors to Broken Hill book one night in the city as they do not realise just how much there is to see and do in Broken Hill. Other tourist operators say the same. (I hope my site helps visitors to be prepared and plan for a longer stay).

A couple of other special events that are on now in Broken Hill (which I have recently written about) are the "Frock Stars" exhibition at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, see my story here (and here with the follow up photos), and the joint art exhibitions (four individual exhibitions) which are on at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery at the moment, see my story about that here.

And to remind you of some of the other must see things to do whilst in the city, I have listed them below -

Sculptures at Living Desert Sculpture Park

• Living Desert and Sculptures (9km North Broken Hill, off Nine Mile Road)
• Miner's Memorial and Visitors Centre (on top of the Line of Lode)
• Broken Earth Complex (on top of the Line of Lode)
• Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre) - corner Crystal and Bromide Streets - 08 8080 3500
• Line of Lode (big hill {tailings/mullock heap-former ore body} in middle of Broken Hill)
• Railway Mineral and Train Museum - Blende Street
• Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery - 404 Argent Street - 08 8080 3440
• Bell's Milk Bar and Museum  160 Patton Street, South Broken Hill - 08 8087 5380
• Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Bruce Langford Visitor Centre - Airport end of Bonanza Street - 08 8080 3714
• School of the Air - Lane Street - 08 8087 3565
• Trades Hall - corner Blende and Sulphide Streets - 08 8087 5258
• RSL Hall of Fame - Argent Street
• Historic Day Dream Mine (20km NW Broken Hill, off Silverton Road) - 08 8088 5682
• Argent Street - main Broken Hill shopping strip which includes beautiful old buildings such as the Town Hall Facade and the famous The Palace Hotel (internal murals, 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' movie fame amongst other things)
• Patton Village - Patton Street, South Broken Hill
• Film Studio Precinct - Eyre Street, South Broken Hill
• Clubs including 

• the Broken Hill Musician's Club (Muso Club) - 276 Crystal Street, includes gallery - 08 8088 1777
• The Barrier Social Democratic Club (Demo Club) - 218 Argent Street - 08 8088 4477
• The Sturt Club - 321 Blende Street - 08 8087 4541
• Club Legion - 170 Crystal Street - 08 8087 4064
• Silverton (ghost town about 25km west of Broken Hill) - numerous sites
• Mundi Mundi plains (just beyond Silverton a few kilometres)

The list just goes on and on. There are countless things to do and a wide variety of places to dine and don't forget to check out some of the galleries - see list of some 24 galleries at the bottom of the page (scroll down), yes for a city of under 20,000 people, there are a lot of galleries and as I have said before, they are well worth visiting.

Cheers, Jane D

Frock Stars: Inside Australian Fashion Week visits Broken Hill

Exhibition
Here are a few photos from the opening night of the "Frock Stars: Inside Australian Fashion Week" touring exhibition from Sydney's powerhouse museum, which opened earlier this evening at Broken Hill's Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre). See my previous post  (immediately below) for all the exhibition details.

Glynis Jones Curator, Fashion & Dress
 Design & Society, powerhouse museum

Don Mudie, Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum
volunteer, admiring some of the exhibits

John Fadden, Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum
assistant who helped install the exhibition

Glynis Jones and local Broken Hill artist Karrie Lannstrom

I was delighted to be able to attend the opening night. I chatted to and spotted a number of well know locals, and met some new people also including Glynis Jones Curator, Fashion & Dress, Design & Society from powerhouse museum Sydney, who officially opened the exhibition.

We all enjoyed some nibbles and drinks in the foyer before venturing in to the exhibition. Naturally, the food and drinks had to be kept separate from the exhibits. It was a really fascinating exhibition with so much to see. It is well worth a visit. I think I need to go back to see it thoroughly. Luckily the exhibition runs until 17 June 2013.


Once again, Broken Hill has succeeded in obtaining an excellent exhibition.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D

Fashion Frock Stars in Broken Hill from Sydney Powerhouse Museum

Exhibition
'Frock Stars' Inside Australian Fashion Week exhibition opens tonight at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre).  The show is a travelling exhibition from the powerhouse museum Sydney (powerhouse museum) and has been described as "an exciting and immersive insight into the history and highlights of this major event" (Australian Fashion Week).

courtesy powerhouse museum website Stefan Gosatti / Getty Images Entertainment

some of the 'Frock Stars' exhibits

powerhouse museum collaborated with IMG Fashion to create the exhibition which takes you behind the scenes of Australia's most prestigious annual fashion event Australian Fashion Week. The exhibition includes garments from key designers such as Zimmermann, Akira Isogawa, Collette Dinnigan and Ksubi.

For more details see link here to the Media Release from Broken Hill City Council's website. 

Opening night photos to come shortly after the event tonight.  The exhibition's curator Glynis Jones from powerhouse museum will officially open the show later today.

Julia Carroll  the project manager for the travelling exhibition installation was quoted in the 'Barrier Daily Truth' today as saying "it (the exhibition) has broad appeal".

'Frock Stars' is supported by Visions of Australia and Contemporary Touring Initiative, an Australian Government program which supports touring exhibitions through funding assistance to enable touring of cultural material across Australia.

The exhibition details are as follows -

Dates/time:         1 February - 17 June 2013 (opening night 1 February at 6.30 pm all welcome)
                           Monday - Friday 10 am - 4.45 pm, Saturday/Sunday 1-4.45 pm

Venue:                Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)
                           2 Bromide Street, corner Crystal Street, Broken Hill

more of the 'Frock Stars' exhibits including
Iced VoVo dress (centre) by Romance Was Born
and Ice Blue knot dress pleated dress by Dion Lee

Contact:             (08) 8080 3500
                           geocentre@brokenhill.nsw.gov.au

Entry:                  Entry fee for the GeoCentre is $5 for adults.


The GeoCentre also houses a famous 42kg silver nugget and an equally famous Silver Tree as well as many other interesting exhibits.

The GeoCentre is well worth a visit in its own right.

Cheers, Jane D