Broken Hill visitor information recent snapshot + where it began for me

Snippet
The Big Chair / Bench / Seat in Broken Hill is 2.5 times bigger that your usual seat/park bench. It is painted red and lives on top of the Line of Lode. You can enjoy a great view across Broken Hill from up there. Check it out. It is also a good photo opportunity spot.

The "Big Bench" and me with part of Broken Earth Complex
(left) and Miner's Memorial (centre)

The "Big Bench" and me, yes it is 'big'

There are a couple of photos of me with it here from my visit earlier in the week. Two structures are visible behind me. The one on the far left is part of the Broken Earth Complex and the one to my immediate left is the Miner's Memorial. All three are worth checking out. The Bench was erected in September 2002 as part of the 'Landscapes and Backgrounds' exhibition*.
(*source wikipedia)

Review
I have written more than 100 articles over the last 13 months so there is a lot to look at if this is your first visit to www.ilovebrokenhill.com.

For this reason, I've put together some links to a few of the articles which are all relevant to what's on right now in Broken Hill. Even the final two links listed are, I believe, still useful and current, as they will give you a good feel of the city and surrounds to help you know what to expect when you arrive in Broken Hill (which I hope you do!).

Entertainment

Summer School Holidays in Broken Hill (posted 28 December 2012)

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/12/summer-school-holidays-in-broken-hill.html

Enterprise
See It My Way App worth a look (posted 31 December 2012)

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/12/see-it-my-way-app-for-broken-hill-worth.html

Tourism
Broken Hill Visitor Information new website launched 18.12.2012 (posted 21 December 2012)

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/12/broken-hill-visitor-information-new.html

Reminder of big events still on this January 2013 (including one on until 3 February)

Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill
Three Special Exhibitions now on a Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/11/three-special-exhibitions-now-on-at.html

Patton Village
Patton Street Park (opposite the shops), South Broken Hill
Summer VibesFestival 30.11.12-27.01.13 Sth Broken Hill

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/11/patton-village-summer-vibes-festival.html

Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)
Corner Crystal and Bromide Streets, Broken Hill

The Odditoreum exhibition now on in Broken Hill

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/11/odd-in-broken-hill-powerhouse-museums.html

Broken Hill Station with Miner's Memorial, Broken Earth Complex and Line of Lode in background

Now, on a more personal note -

A little bit of shameless self promotion for this next article –

www.ilovebrokenhill.com blogger Jane Deany aka me makes the news! (posted 28 October 2012)

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2012/10/wwwilovebrokenhillcom-blogger-jane.html

And finally,

My passion for Broken Hill, where it all began for me (links to the first two posts!)

Broken Hill or bust .. the first trip … 2002 (posted 8 December 2011)

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2011/12/broken-hill-or-bust.html

2005 and I've returned to Broken Hill at last (posted 15 December 2011)
(this was my 2nd trip, more photos and more of a sense of Broken Hill with this, my 2nd post) -

http://www.ilovebrokenhill.com/2011/12/i-have-returned-to-hill-again-yeah.html

Okay, that’s enough reminiscing for today.

Cheers, Jane D

Summer School holidays in Broken Hill

Entertainment
Summer school holidays are upon us and what better time to explore my favourite place Broken Hill than now. Okay it can be hot but it's Australia and it's summer everywhere so apart from Tasmania or the Australian Alps there are few cold places to be found at this time of year. It's not peak season so there aren't too many crowds, peak season is Spring and Autumn.

Broken Hill Regional Aquatic Centre
courtesy Destination NSW website

I have been to the city several times in summer and it's lovely sunny dry heat. There's the fantastic Broken Hill Regional Aquatic Centre if you feel the need for a swim or if you could visit the Menindee Lakes either on your way to or from Broken Hill. They are about 110km south east of the city. When full, which they are now, I'm told they are about twice the size of Sydney Harbour - so quite big!  It's a good side trip. Some folk from Broken Hill have holiday homes in that area. There's also the beautiful Kinchega National Park there too. In fact there are several  wonderful National Parks in the Broken Hill region that could be incorporated into your itinerary. The new Visitor Information website lists them and other local attractions.

Anyhow back to Broken Hill. There are the key attractions and galleries to see many of which I have written about in this blog, so you feel free to browse past posts for some ideas.  Also, the Visitor Information Centre corner Bromide and Blende Streets - tel. 08 8080 3560 and the associated Visitor Information website are great places to start for ideas.

Brochure courtesy
Powerhouse Museum Sydney

Right now there are several events/exhibitions that are all worth a visit and I have mentioned these in earlier posts but here they are again -

The Patton Village Summer Vibes festival in Patton Street South Broken Hill.
The festival runs every Friday 6pm - 9pm, from 30 November 2012 to 27 January 2013 see my article here.

The Odditoreum exhibition at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre) running between 23 October  2012 - 22 January 2013, corner Crystal and Bromide Streets. The GeoCentre is worth a visit in it's own right.

The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, 404 Argent Street, has another wonderful combined exhibition on, which you can read about here in my article.

Other ideas include -

View of Line of Lode, Miner's Memorial (left of tree), Broken Earth Complex (right of tree)

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
• Galleries - there are many galleries -
  see list of 24 galleries at the bottom of this site (scroll down) famous galleries include -
• Pro Hart Gallery (Brushmen of the Bush fame) - 108 Wyman Street - 08 8087 2441
• Silver City Mint and Art Centre (including 'Big Picture') -
  66 Chloride Street - 08 8088 6166
• 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

The Palace Hotel

• 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 (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 24 or so galleries - see list of 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 they are well worth visiting.

Accommodation
On that note, perhaps you should book another night or two, you may need it and there is a wide variety of accommodation available - see the Broken Hill Visitor Information website for some accommodation suggestions www.brokenhillaustralia.com.au.

Dining
Of course there are plenty or restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs and takeaways to enjoy a great meal and parks to enjoy a picnic.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D

The Odditoreum Exhibition now on in Broken Hill

Exhibition
Okay it's not quite breaking news but it is odd and it is in Broken Hill.  Yes the Sydney Powerhouse Museum's "The Odditoreum" exhibition is currently on show in Broken Hill.  I had a sneak preview the day before the opening night (as unfortunately I had to leave the city prior to the actual night) and I highly recommend a visit if you are passing through town or of course if you are a local.  It's quite fascinating.

Opal mausoleum for the
world's smartest budgie

Just your average oddities

The GeoCentre

Photography is welcome and as you can see I took a number of photos, some of which I've added here.  Enjoy.

The exhibition details are as follows -

Dates and time:      23 October 2012 - 22 January 2013
                               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

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

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

I should add that the GeoCentre houses a famous 42kg silver nugget and an equally famous Silver Tree as well as many other interesting exhibits.  It's well worth a visit in its own right.

Cheers, Jane D