Broken Hill railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Broken Hill
Location	Silver City Highway, Broken Hill
Coordinates	31°57′37″S 141°28′00″E / 31.9603°S 141.4667°E / -31.9603; 141.4667
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	Broken Hill Crystal Brook-Broken Hill
Distance	1124.80 kilometres from Central
Platforms	1
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	BHQ
History
Opened	15 July 1919
Rebuilt	4 June 1957
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Terminus NSW TrainLink Western Line Broken Hill Outback Xplorer Menindee toward Sydney Preceding station Journey Beyond Following station Adelaide towards East Perth Indian Pacific Towards Sydney Mount Victoria towards Sydney Indian Pacific Towards Adelaide Sydney Terminus
Former services Preceding station Former Services Following station Terminus Broken Hill Line Mount Gipps towards Orange

Broken Hill railway station is a special train station in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It's located on the Broken Hill railway line. This station is important because of its history and unique design. It's also listed as a heritage site, meaning it's a significant historical building.

History of Broken Hill Station

When the Station Opened

Broken Hill station first opened on 15 July 1919. At that time, the railway line only went as far as Menindee. The station wasn't connected to the main New South Wales Government Railways network until 1927.

Early Railways in Broken Hill

Broken Hill was already an important place for trains before this station. This was because of its rich mines. In 1888, the Silverton Tramway connected Broken Hill to Cockburn and Adelaide. This railway started from Sulphide Street station in Broken Hill.

A Border Station

Broken Hill station became a border stop between New South Wales and South Australia. Trains traveling between the states would often change their engines here. This practice continued until the 1990s.

Train Services at Broken Hill

Past Train Services

In the past, Broken Hill was the final stop for some famous trains. The Silver City Comet from Orange ended its journey here until November 1989. The Silver City Limited from Adelaide also stopped here from 1986 to 1990.

Current Train Services

Today, you can still catch trains from Broken Hill. NSW TrainLink operates the weekly Outback Xplorer. This train travels to and from Sydney. NSW TrainLink also runs a daily bus service to Dubbo.

The famous Indian Pacific train also stops at Broken Hill once a week. This train is run by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions. It travels between Perth and Sydney.

What the Station Looks Like

The Main Station Building

The main station building you see today is a heritage-listed building. It was built in 1957. It has a modern design, made from brick, steel, and glass. It also features a clock tower.

The Old Station Building

The very first station building from 1919 is still around. It's a short distance away from the current station. This older building is no longer used. It is not part of the modern station's heritage listing.

Why Broken Hill Station is Special

Its Unique Design

The new Broken Hill station is a great example of "modern style" railway architecture. Not many stations of this size were built in this style at that time. This makes it a rare and important example. It was also one of the most expensive station buildings ever built, showing how important it was at the time.

Comparing Old and New

The old station building, made of pre-cast concrete, shows a big difference. It highlights the contrast between the old and new building styles. The size of the newer building is quite grand. It was designed with the same grand ideas as major Victorian-era stations.

Heritage Listing Status

Broken Hill railway station was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

The station is considered rare because of its history, scientific value, architectural style, and social importance.

Images for kids

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  Broken Hill Railway Station