Broken Hill grew up on one of the richest silver-lead-zinc orebodies ever found, discovered in 1883 by boundary rider Charles Rasp. The Broken Hill Proprietary Company — BHP — was founded to mine it. The city sits on Wilyakali Country in the far west of NSW, and its wide streets, ornate hotels and union history earned it a place on the National Heritage List in 2015.
Things to do in Broken Hill
Line of Lode Miners Memorial. Perched on the mullock heap above the city, the memorial honours the hundreds of miners who died in Broken Hill's mines, and the lookout gives sweeping views.
Living Desert Sculptures. Twelve sandstone sculptures carved in 1993 by artists from around the world stand on a hilltop in the Living Desert Reserve. Come for sunset, when the stone glows against the plains. The reserve also has walking trails and a flora and fauna sanctuary.
Royal Flying Doctor Service. The RFDS base at the airport has a visitor centre and museum explaining how the service delivers aeromedical care across remote Australia — an essential outback story.
Art galleries. Broken Hill is famous for its artists, from the late Pro Hart to the "Brushmen of the Bush". Visit the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, the Pro Hart Gallery and the many private galleries.
Heritage streets. Walk Argent Street to see the Palace Hotel (with its painted ceilings, made famous by Priscilla), the Trades Hall, the post office and the Town Hall façade.
School of the Air. Broken Hill's School of the Air has taught children on remote stations since the 1950s; check with the visitor centre about visitor sessions.
Day trips
- Silverton — 25 km north-west, with the Silverton Hotel, galleries, the Mad Max 2 Museum and the Mundi Mundi Plains lookout.
- Mutawintji National Park — rugged ranges and Aboriginal rock art about 130 km north-east (unsealed roads).
- Kinchega National Park and Menindee — river red gums, lakes and the historic woolshed, about 110 km south-east.
- White Cliffs — opal fields and underground homes, a long day trip or an overnight.
Getting there
Broken Hill is about 1,150 km west of Sydney via the Great Western and Barrier highways and about 510 km north-east of Adelaide. NSW TrainLink's Outback Xplorer runs from Sydney, the Indian Pacific stops on its Sydney–Perth journey, and the airport has regular flights.
History and Country
The Wilyakali (Wiljali) people, part of the wider Barkindji nation, are the Traditional Owners of the Broken Hill area. Charles Sturt passed through the Barrier Range in 1844 and noted a "broken hill" — the jagged ridge of the line of lode. In 1883, boundary rider Charles Rasp pegged a claim on the ridge, believing it held tin; it turned out to be part of an enormous silver-lead-zinc orebody. A syndicate of local men formed the Broken Hill Proprietary Company in 1885, which went on to become BHP, one of the world's largest mining companies.
Broken Hill grew rapidly into a city of tens of thousands. Because the closest port and railway were in South Australia, the city's trade and time zone have long been oriented towards Adelaide. It also became a stronghold of the trade union movement, with major strikes in 1892, 1909 and 1919–20 winning better conditions, including a 35-hour week for underground miners. In 2015, Broken Hill became the first Australian city to be included in its entirety on the National Heritage List.
Mining today
Mining has continued for more than 140 years, though at a much smaller scale than in the boom years. The Line of Lode, the mullock heap that divides the city, remains its visual centre. Mine tours have operated in some years; check with the visitor centre for current options.
Art city
Broken Hill's light and landscape have inspired artists for generations. The Brushmen of the Bush — a group that included Pro Hart, Jack Absalom, Eric Minchin, Hugh Schulz and John Pickup — exhibited together from the 1970s and helped make the city famous for outback art. The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, founded in 1904, is the oldest regional gallery in NSW. Dozens of private galleries and studios are open to visitors.
On screen
The city and surrounding plains have appeared in many films, including Mad Max 2, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Wake in Fright. The Palace Hotel's murals became famous after Priscilla.
A three-day itinerary
Day 1 — City. Visitor centre, Argent Street heritage walk, the Palace Hotel, the Regional Art Gallery and Pro Hart Gallery. Late afternoon at the Line of Lode Miners Memorial.
Day 2 — Silverton and the plains. Morning in Silverton, the Mundi Mundi lookout and Umberumberka Reservoir, then back for sunset at the Living Desert Sculptures.
Day 3 — Flying doctors and the desert. RFDS visitor centre, the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, and a drive out to Mutawintji or Menindee for the afternoon (check road conditions).
Seasons
Broken Hill is hot and dry. Summer maximums are frequently above 35°C, while winter days are mild and nights cold. Spring and autumn are ideal, and wildflowers can bloom after good rain.
Where to stay and eat
Hotels, motels, heritage B&Bs, apartments and caravan parks. Broken Hill has a full range of restaurants, cafés and clubs.
Safety
Beyond the city, roads to Mutawintji, Menindee and the Queensland border include unsealed sections that close after rain. Check Live Traffic NSW and carry water.
More things to do
The Palace Hotel. The official Broken Hill tourism site describes the Palace Hotel on Argent Street as an iconic heritage building whose walls are covered in Renaissance-inspired and fantasy Australian landscape murals. It's famous from The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Visit NSW notes you can stay in themed rooms, including the Priscilla Suite.
Bells Milk Bar. A trip back to the 1950s, with old-style malted milks and soda spiders.
Silver City Mint and Art Centre. An art gallery, silversmiths and a chocolate factory rolled into one.
Pro Hart Gallery. Browse the work of one of Australia's best-known artists, who lived and painted in Broken Hill.
Broken Hill City Art Gallery. Visit NSW calls it the oldest regional gallery in NSW. Its collection includes the Brushmen of the Bush (a group of five artists including Pro Hart, Eric Minchin and Jack Absalom) and Aboriginal works by artists such as Badger Bates, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri and Emily Kame Kngwarreye. It also hosts the national Pro Hart Outback Art Prize.
Heritage walk. Argent Street is lined with grand buildings, including the 1905 Trades Hall. The visitor centre can point you to self-guided and guided heritage walks.
The Living Desert and Sculptures. About twenty minutes' drive north of town. Visit NSW says the sandstone sculptures were created by 12 international artists in 1993. Sunset is the classic time to go.
Broken Hill at night
Broken Hill has more evening life than most outback towns. Sunset at the Living Desert sculptures is the obvious start. After dark, the pubs on and around Argent Street serve meals, and Visit NSW also mentions the Broken Hill Distillery. The City Art Gallery runs an occasional evening program, Art After Dark. Each August, Argent Street becomes a pedestrian-only night precinct for the free Mundi Mundi Lightfest, with drone shows, lighting installations and live music. It's a lead-in to the Mundi Mundi Bash on the plains outside town. Check the official events calendar for dates.
Where to stay
Visit NSW lists motels, historic cottages, campgrounds and farm stays. You'll also find caravan parks and heritage pub rooms, including the Palace Hotel's themed rooms. Book well ahead for the Mundi Mundi Bash and the cooler months.
Does it get cold in Broken Hill?
Yes. Broken Hill has a semi-arid climate, with hot summers and cool to cold winter nights, often near freezing in mid-winter. Pack warm layers from about May to September, even though winter days are usually mild and sunny. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for touring. See weather by month.
Getting there from Sydney
It's a long day or two days' drive west from Sydney, via the Great Western and Mitchell highways to Nyngan, then the Barrier Highway through Cobar and Wilcannia. The outback NSW road trip has a 7-day plan. You can also take NSW TrainLink's Outback Xplorer or the Indian Pacific, or fly. See outback by train.
Practical information
Broken Hill keeps Australian Central Time (the same as Adelaide), 30 minutes behind Sydney — useful to remember for bookings. The city has a base hospital, supermarkets, all fuel types and a wide range of accommodation. Summer days are very hot; April to October is the most comfortable time to visit.
Explore nearby
Nearby park guides: Kinchega National Park and Paroo-Darling National Park.
Frequently asked questions
Is Broken Hill worth visiting?
Yes. It combines mining heritage, a thriving art scene, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, desert landscapes, film history at nearby Silverton and access to national parks such as Mutawintji and Kinchega.
How many days do I need in Broken Hill?
Allow at least two to three full days to see the city, the Living Desert Sculptures and Silverton. Add more for Mutawintji, Kinchega or White Cliffs.
What are some free attractions in Broken Hill?
The Living Desert Sculptures (vehicle entry fee may apply to drive to the top; check locally), the Line of Lode lookout area, heritage walks along Argent Street and several smaller galleries can be enjoyed for free or for a small fee.
What was filmed in Broken Hill?
Broken Hill and Silverton have featured in many films and TV productions, including Mad Max 2 and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, whose famous scenes at the Palace Hotel were shot in Broken Hill.
Is Broken Hill a town or a city?
Broken Hill is a city, the largest in far western NSW, and it is known as the Silver City. In 2015 it became the first Australian city added to the National Heritage List.
Does it get cold in Broken Hill?
Yes. Winter nights can be close to freezing, although days are usually mild and sunny. Summers are hot. Bring warm layers from about May to September.
What is there to do in Broken Hill at night?
Watch sunset at the Living Desert sculptures, eat at a heritage pub such as the Palace Hotel, check for evening events at the City Art Gallery, and in August enjoy the free Mundi Mundi Lightfest on Argent Street.
Sources and further reading
Facts on this page were checked against these primary and official sources. Conditions change — confirm before you travel or buy.
- Destination Broken Hill — Broken Hill City Council
- City of Broken Hill — National Heritage List — Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Royal Flying Doctor Service Broken Hill — Royal Flying Doctor Service
- NSW TrainLink Outback Xplorer — Transport for NSW
- All attractions — Broken Hill City Council (Visit Broken Hill)
- Events — Broken Hill City Council (Visit Broken Hill)
- Broken Hill — Destination NSW
- Mundi Mundi Lightfest — Mundi Mundi Bash
