Broken Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broken HillNew South Wales |
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Argent Street, Broken Hill's main street
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 Broken Hill
Location in New South Wales
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| Established | 1883 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2880 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 315 m (1,033 ft) | ||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACDT (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||
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| County | Yancowinna | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Barwon | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Parkes | ||||||||
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Broken Hill is a city in the far west of New South Wales, Australia. It is in the outback, which is a very dry and remote area. Broken Hill is known as a mining city. It is close to the border of South Australia. The city is about 315 meters (1,033 feet) above sea level. It has a cold semi-arid climate, meaning it's often dry and can get quite cold.
Broken Hill is famous in Australia's history for its mining. People found silver-lead-zinc ore here in 1883. This led to many mines opening, making Broken Hill a rich mining town for a long time. It was even added to the National Heritage List in 2015. Broken Hill is Australia's longest-running mining town.
People sometimes call Broken Hill "The Silver City" or the "Oasis of the West". Even though it's far from Sydney (over 1,100 km or 680 miles) and surrounded by desert, it has nice parks and gardens. You can also visit attractions like the Living Desert Sculptures. The city gets a lot of sunshine, which is great for solar power. The main Aboriginal language groups in the area are the Paakantji, Mayyankapa, and Nyiimpaa.
Contents
- Why Broken Hill Has a Different Time Zone
- How Broken Hill Got Its Name
- What Is the Geology of Broken Hill?
- A Brief History of Broken Hill
- Heritage Listings in Broken Hill
- City Infrastructure
- Getting Around Broken Hill
- Broken Hill's Climate
- Who Lives in Broken Hill?
- Broken Hill's Economy
- Culture and Attractions
- TV and Film Productions in Broken Hill
- Media Outlets
- Sports in Broken Hill
- Notable People from Broken Hill
- Images for kids
- See also
Why Broken Hill Has a Different Time Zone
Broken Hill uses Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30). This is the same time zone as nearby South Australia. The rest of New South Wales uses a different time zone. This happened because, a long time ago, Broken Hill's only direct train line was to Adelaide, not Sydney. So, it made sense for them to follow Adelaide's time. For similar reasons, Broken Hill is treated like part of South Australia for mail and phone calls.
How Broken Hill Got Its Name
Broken Hill is Australia's oldest mining city that is still active. In 1844, an explorer named Charles Sturt saw a "Broken Hill" and wrote about it in his diary. Later, in 1883, a boundary rider named Charles Rasp found silver ore on this "broken hill."
The "broken hill" that gave the city its name was actually a group of hills that looked like they had a break in them. Today, this original "broken hill" is gone because it was mined away. The area was first known as Willyama.
What Is the Geology of Broken Hill?
Broken Hill has one of the world's largest silver–lead–zinc mineral deposits. This huge ore body formed about 1,800 million years ago. It is shaped like a boomerang that goes deep into the earth. The part that stuck out of the ground looked like a jagged rocky ridge. Early settlers called this the Broken Hill. Miners called the ore body the "Line of Lode."
A Brief History of Broken Hill
The first people to live in the Broken Hill area were the Wiljakali Indigenous Australians. They lived there even though there wasn't much permanent water.
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The first British explorer to visit the area was Charles Sturt in 1844. He was looking for an inland sea. He named the Barrier Range because it blocked his path.
Farmers started settling in the area in the 1850s. The main way to trade goods was along the Darling River.
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Broken Hill was officially started in 1883 by Charles Rasp. He was a boundary rider, which means he looked after fences on a large farm. He found what he thought was tin, but it turned out to be silver and lead. This discovery led to the biggest and richest ore body of its kind in the world. Rasp and six friends started the Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) in 1885. BHP later became a huge mining company. Mining at BHP's Broken Hill mines stopped in 1939, but other mines kept going.
Broken Hill is also known for its important role in Australia's labor movement. It has a strong trade union history. Some of the toughest worker disputes happened here in 1892, 1909, and 1919. These events led to the creation of the Barrier Industrial Council in 1923. This group of 18 trade unions became very powerful in the city's politics.
Even though the mines are not as rich as they once were, mining still produces about two million tonnes of ore each year. You can even take some mine tours. Sheep farming is also a big industry in the area. There are almost 2 million Merino sheep, which is many more sheep than people!
Heritage Listings in Broken Hill
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Broken Hill has many places listed for their historical importance. Some of these include:
- The Palace Hotel on Argent Street.
- The Broken Hill Post Office.
- The Broken Hill Mosque on Buck Street.
- The Wesley Uniting Church on Cobalt Street.
- The Broken Hill Trades Hall on Sulphide Street.
- The Broken Hill Synagogue on Wolfram Street.
In 2015, Broken Hill became the first city in Australia to be included on the Australian National Heritage List. This shows how important the city is to Australia's history.
City Infrastructure
How Broken Hill Gets Power
In the past, mines in Broken Hill used steam to make electricity. This was expensive because the desert has little water and fuel. In 1931, a central power plant was built using diesel engines. This was one of the first times diesel power was used in Australia.
Today, Broken Hill gets its power from the main electricity grid. The city also has a lot of sunshine, which is perfect for solar power. A large Broken Hill Solar Plant was finished in 2016. It was one of the biggest in Australia at the time. This plant helps the city use more renewable energy instead of coal.
How Broken Hill Gets Water
Broken Hill has always needed to find ways to get enough water. The city is in a very dry area. In the past, water was brought in by train from the Darling River. In 1891, the Stephens Creek Reservoir was built. But there still wasn't always enough water.
In 1952, a long pipeline was built from Menindee to Broken Hill. This pipeline brought water from the Menindee Lakes on the Darling River. This made Broken Hill an "oasis" in the desert.
However, due to droughts, the Menindee pipeline became less reliable. So, in 2019, a new pipeline was built. This new pipeline runs 270 km (168 miles) from Wentworth on the Murray River. It can supply a lot of raw water to the city every day.
Getting Around Broken Hill
It used to be hard to get to Broken Hill because it was so far away. In 1888, a narrow gauge railway line was built to Adelaide. This railway was very important for moving ore from the mines to ports. It also brought supplies like coal and timber to Broken Hill.
In 1902, a street tramway was opened in Broken Hill. It used steam trams from Sydney to help people get around town and to the mines. This tram system closed in 1926.
A direct train link to Sydney was finished in 1927. In 1937, the Silver City Comet train started running. It was the first air-conditioned train in Australia!
Today, the Broken Hill railway station is a stop for the Indian Pacific passenger train. This train travels across Australia from Sydney to Perth. There is also the Outback Xplorer train service to Sydney. Buses also connect Broken Hill to other cities like Adelaide and Mildura.
Regional Express offers flights from Broken Hill Airport to places like Adelaide, Dubbo, and Sydney. There are also local scenic flights to see the area from above.
Within the city, CDC Broken Hill runs bus routes. There are also taxi companies.
Broken Hill's Climate
Broken Hill has a cold semi-arid climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and cool winters. The average high temperature in summer is about 33°C (91°F). Even though it's a desert, sometimes cold air from the ocean can cause the temperature to drop quickly.
Dust storms used to be a big problem. But in the late 1930s, people in Broken Hill planted green areas around the town. This helped protect it from the worst of the dust storms.
Who Lives in Broken Hill?
In the early 1960s, Broken Hill's population was around 30,000 people. Since then, the population has gotten smaller. This is mainly because mining operations have changed and become more efficient, meaning fewer people are needed for mining jobs. Many young people leave to find work elsewhere.
In 2021, about 17,588 people lived in Broken Hill. The average age was 44. About 10% of residents identify as Aboriginal.
Most people (86%) in Broken Hill were born in Australia. The most common other birthplaces are the Philippines and England. The main family backgrounds reported are Australian, English, and Australian Aboriginal.
Broken Hill has always had a small Indigenous community. In the past, there was also a community of Afghans. These Afghan people worked as camel drivers, helping to transport goods across the outback. They built the first mosque in New South Wales in Broken Hill in 1880.
The main religious groups in Broken Hill are Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting Church. Many people also say they have no religion.
Broken Hill's Economy
Broken Hill's economy has always been centered around mining. The mines here were once the richest in the world for lead-zinc ore. This brought a lot of wealth to the town.
In the past, mining was done mostly by hand. But with new machines and technology, fewer workers are needed to mine the same amount of ore. This has caused the number of mining jobs to go down.
Even though mining is still important, Broken Hill is now focusing on other things. The city is promoting itself as a place for tourism. It also has many talented artists. This helps the city rely less on just mining for jobs.
Culture and Attractions
Broken Hill and the area around it have many fun things to see and do. You can visit some of the old mining sites, or go to a visitor's center with great views. There are historic buildings and walking trails to explore the town's history.
Broken Hill is home to many artists and art galleries. You can see the Sculpture Symposium, which is a collection of large sculptures in the desert. You can also take COBB & Co coach rides or visit the Silverton Camel Farm. The Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum teaches you about the town's mining past.
Broken Hill is an important base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. This service provides medical help to people in remote areas. It's also home to the School of the Air, which teaches children who live far from regular schools using radio and online lessons.
The Willyama Art Society was started in 1961. It helped make Broken Hill famous for its art. Famous artists like Pro Hart were part of this group. The Brushmen of the Bush was another group of artists who formed in Broken Hill in 1973. You can visit the Pro Hart Gallery and Sculpture Park to see his work and other art he collected.
Broken Hill has many clubs that are open late. These include the Musician's Club and the Barrier Social Democratic Club.
Many books and movies have been set in or inspired by Broken Hill. The novel Wake in Fright is a famous example. It was made into a movie filmed in Broken Hill.
Visitors often notice the houses with corrugated iron walls. This is a unique feature of Broken Hill's architecture. Also, a local dish called Cheese slaw is very popular here!
TV and Film Productions in Broken Hill
Broken Hill and the nearby town of Silverton are popular places for filming movies and TV shows.
One of the most famous movies filmed here is The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Many scenes were shot in the town and the surrounding outback. The Palace Hotel in Broken Hill has a famous mural from the movie.
Another well-known film made near Broken Hill is Mad Max 2. Scenes were filmed at the Pinnacles and the Mundi Mundi Plains. More recently, parts of the new Mad Max film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga were filmed in Silverton.
Other films and TV shows that have used Broken Hill include:
- Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds
- Razorback
- Dirty Deeds
- The Flying Doctors (TV series)
- RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service (TV series)
Some shows like Mission: Impossible II and Godzilla: Final Wars have also filmed a few scenes in Broken Hill.
Media Outlets
Broken Hill has its own local newspaper, the Barrier Daily Truth. You can also buy major newspapers from Adelaide and Sydney.
There are many local radio stations in Broken Hill:
- 2DRY FM – 107.7FM
- Radio 1656 AM
- ABC Local Radio as ABC Broken Hill – 999 AM
- Triple J (ABC) – 102.1 FM
- ABC Radio National – 102.9 FM
- ABC Classic FM – 103.7 FM
- ABC NewsRadio – 104.5 FM
- 2BH Commercial Radio – 567 AM
- 2HIL Hill FM Commercial Radio – 96.5 FM
- Silver City FM 88 – 88 FM
- Hype FM – 87.6 FM
- Vision Christian Radio – 94.9 FM
You can also watch many free TV channels in Broken Hill. These include channels from ABC, SBS, and other commercial networks. Because Broken Hill is on Central Time, many TV shows follow the schedule of Adelaide channels.
Sports in Broken Hill
Unlike most towns in New South Wales, Australian rules football is very popular in Broken Hill. It's a big part of the city's culture. The Broken Hill Football League started in 1900. It has four clubs: North, South, West, and Central. The league is connected to the South Australian National Football League because of Broken Hill's location and ties to South Australia.
Broken Hill Speedway is a track where people race. It's located west of the city.
Notable People from Broken Hill
Many famous people have come from Broken Hill, including:
- Jack Absalom – a well-known artist
- June Bronhill – a famous opera singer, who even used part of her hometown's name for her stage name
- Pro Hart – a very famous artist
- Chips Rafferty – a well-known actor
- The Kid Laroi – a popular rapper and singer-songwriter
- Taylor Walker – an Australian rules footballer
Images for kids
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The Broken Hill Post Office; rail lines played a significant role in Broken Hill's postal system
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Corrugated-iron balconies and awnings are a characteristic feature of Broken Hill's architecture and streetscape
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See also
In Spanish: Broken Hill para niños
