Sunday 7 July 2013 Sights and Mining at Broken Hill

Sunday 7 July 2013 Sights and Mining at Broken Hill

Broken Hill is a great place with really wide streets, lovely old buildings, and really nice people.  Headed out to Silverton an early silver mining town and one of the places where Mad Max movies were made- checked out the Mad Max museum.

Great time going down an old silver mine at the Daydream Mine - learnt and experienced what the miners did back in the 1880’s – even children as young as 8 worked in the mine.  Small winged bats also frequented the mine.

Beaut afternoon tea with gluten free lamingtons for Mel – heated up in an old oven – yum!  Then had a good chat and coffee with the owners after the other tourists had left.

Walked around the site and saw the little shelter (cottage) that one of the men built for himself and his mate – one would be working the shift and the other sleeping and then they swapped - the man getting up would then cook for the miner finishing his shift.

Back in Broken Hill we visited the Miners Memorial on top of the slag heap above the town.  It has the names and places of all the men that have died in the mines since mining began in Broken Hill.  A sorry reminder of one of the downsides of mining.

While visiting the top of the town I can across this giant’s chair – thought my grandchildren would like this.

Lovely camp ground but coming back on the second night someone had pinched our designated site so after a bit of sorting out we were given another.  This had a good side effect as in the morning we were chatting with our neighbours who gave us lots of info on where to go in the Kimberleys.  They were so kind as to lend us their desert atlas and books on the Kimberley – so thanks very much Dick and Rosemary – we will drop in and return these to you in Melbourne as we pass through.