Field Trips

Newcastle Heritage Association visits Broken Hill

Members and partners travel to Broken Hill. by A.Murphy

In April 2003 a group of 11 travelled by train (Outback Explorer) from Sydney to Broken Hill. 6 days later we returned to Sydney on the Indian Pacific

Broken Hill is in the central west of NSW, it is an arid, dry area in the Barrier ranges. The city of approx 21,000 is a living history of the past 120 years. Broken Hill’s birth and growth revolves around the discovery and mining of the “Line of Lode”. A 7 kilometre strip of ore described as the largest, richest Silver, Lead and Zinc deposit in the world.

Why did we go

• To see how other people have interpreted cultural and industrial heritage
• Broken Hill has a history much like Newcastle
• BHP was born at Broken Hill
• To see the western NSW outback
• To talk to the “Line of Lode” organisation (a tourist project about the industrial history of Broken Hill) , and the Broken Hill city council
• To travel as a common interest group on a short holiday. (6Days)

What did we see

• City Tour
• Art studio’s artwork, sculptures.
• Historical Photography displays
• School of the Air
• Heritage Hill
• Delprat’s mine underground tour
• Broken Hill sculpture symposium.
• Royal flying Doctor base
• Silverton.(ghost Town)

Observations

• A very close knit community living and working in an isolated part of NSW.
• Large Scale of mining operations.
• Memorial to the lives lost due to mining the richest ore load in the world.
• There is still a significant legacy of the past (Buildings, structures, items, artefacts)

Impressions

This is a well set up town that is obviously proud of its heritage and future directions. We recommend it to visitors as it has something of interest for everyone.

The common links between Newcastle and Broken Hill (in the early days)

• Hard physical work in a harsh environment to earn a wage.
• A hard life for families.
• A strong industrial base.
• BHP the major employer in the early days.
• The growth of unionism into a powerful organisation in Australia

What did we achieve?

• Newcastle Industrial Heritage association formed a bond between the “Line of Lode” association and Broken Hill City Council, this is demonstrated by the desire to promote and preserve cultural heritage.
• It is hoped to develop this bond to achieve mutual expectations.
• We wish to extend this link between Newcastle City Council and Broken Hill City Council.
• Further information can be obtained from
• www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au
• www.murrayoutback.org.au
• www.lineoflodebrokenhill.org.au

Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association
http://www.niha.org.au/staticpages/index.php/2005080412064425

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