Discover Broken Hill

In Broken Hill, different aspects of the town’s history meet art and outdoor experiences. An original railway station, a trades hall, a gallery and sandstone sculptures each offer a different focus. You can decide which best suits your trip: art, historic sites or walking trails.

Stories at historic sites

The Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum is housed in Broken Hill’s original railway station, dating from 1905. The site itself gives the museum visit a historical setting: the building was a railway station before it became a museum. If you are interested in the town’s history, you can complement this visit with two other, very different insights into Broken Hill’s past.

Broken Hill Trades Hall was also completed in 1905. It was the first building in Australia to be owned by trade unions and is considered a notable example of Victorian architecture. Inside, the Trades Hall displays union banners and strike placards from the 1909 lockout. Its architecture and exhibits reveal different layers of history: the period when it was built and its union history, brought to life by material from the lockout itself.

The Royal Flying Doctor Outback Heritage Experience – Broken Hill offers a different historical perspective. It is located at the RFDS base beside Broken Hill Airport. An interactive exhibition presents stories about the service’s past and present work providing medical care. Its focus is therefore on the development and work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, rather than on art or union history.

Art and outdoor trails

At the Pro Hart Gallery, you can see paintings, sculptures and personal memorabilia. Pro Hart is presented there as a former miner and internationally renowned artist. His depictions of life in the outback are known for their bold colours and originality. The exhibition brings together different forms of expression: alongside paintings, the collection includes sculptures and personal objects.

For an experience that combines art with the outdoors, The Living Desert and Sculptures on Sundown Hill takes you to twelve internationally crafted sandstone sculptures. The material, number of works and location give this visit a distinct focus alongside the galleries and historic buildings. There are also extensive walking trails. Nearby is a 180-hectare flora and fauna reserve. If you want to make time for trails as well as exhibitions, this offers a different travel experience from visiting the museums or Trades Hall.

Advice and planning your trip

The Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre offers travellers advice on local tours, attractions and experiences. This can help you choose between the different themes, for example if you are still deciding which places to focus on during your stay. Options range from historical insights at Trades Hall and the railway station to the artworks at the Pro Hart Gallery and trails at The Living Desert and Sculptures.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Broken Hill, your travel group’s interests can shape your choice of destination: the historical exhibitions, gallery works and walking trails each offer a different focus. Discover more destinations here: Narrabri, Matraville, Baulkham Hills, Stockinbingal, Isabella, Coonamble, Gerringong and Neutral Bay.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.