DAY 107 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip
MANNA HILL to BROKEN HILL
We woke to a freezing cold morning. We sure have gone from one extreme to another weather wise. The heritage listed railway station looked deserted in the morning light. Even though the Indian Pacific passes through it doesn’t not stop here any more.
It was not that far to Broken Hill so we got there in the morning and our first point of call as per usual was to the information centre. I liked the way you are met with a big sign ‘What time is it” as they are on South Australian time and not NSW time even tough they are in NSW. Armed with information we stopped at the café next door to plan our day.
Broken Hill seeps in history. The town has retained its wide streets, high gutters and old buildings. We walked down Argent Street that is rich in Victorian buildings from the 1890s. We went to several galleries and I really enjoyed the work of Roxanne Minchin. Jack Absolum’s Gallery was a delight.
The Silver City Art Centre and Silver City Mint was an amazing place. It is an art gallery, a mineral showcase, has a jewellery display and a chocolate shop. A varied combination that has been put together very effectively. It also has what is referred to as the ‘Big Picture’. It is supposedly the largest acrylic paniting on canvas - 100 metres wide and 12 metres tall. It is by Peter Andrew Anderson and a special interior was designed for it by his brother who is the owner of Silver City Art Centre and Silver City Mint. The have set it up so that you feel that you are waking into the picture as they have simulated a walk through a cave with aboriginal art before you enter a circular room with the painting surrounding you from all sides. It includes major landmarks around Broken Hill.
Finally we visited the Railway, Mineral and Train Museum that also has an Immigration Museum incorporated into it now. It was an interesting museum. I had never heard about the “War in Broken Hill” as the ‘Barrier Mine’ newspaper called it. Apparently on 1 January 1915 a train packed with picknickers from Broken Hill were going to Silverton for the day when the train was attacked by two men under a Turkish Flag. They were referred to as Turks but in actual fact one was of Afghan descent the other a north west Indian. They killed 4 locals and injured 7. The two so called Turks were also killed. This was seen as a war time act. According to the information at the museum this event was also reported in Germany. I quote from the translation of the German report as presented in the display. “We are pleased to report the success of our arms at Broken Hill, a seaport town on the west coat of Australia. A party of troopers fired on Australian troops being transported to the front by rail. . . The capture of Broken Hill leads the way to Canberra, the strongly fortified capital of Australia.” The translation also referred to killing 40 and injuring 70 Australians. They seem to have added a nought to the actual numbers killed and injured.
It was interesting seeing the first ambulance at Broken Hill amongst the exhibits
as well as the bikes that were used on the rail tracks.
The Immigration Museum was a good presentation of the experiences of the migrants who came to Broken Hill from the perspective of the migrants themselves. One of the more interesting Immigration Museums that we have been to. We could relate to many of the comments made.
We had a break from sight seeing and went to the Plaza for lunch. It seems to be the main shopping centre with Woolworths, Target Country and some speciality stores. From the signs around the centre it appears that it has only recently started Sunday trading.
Eventually we made or way to the Broken Hill Caravan Park. We met our neighbours and spent some time chatting and exchanging information as they are heading north. The evening was cool and then got colder. No more evenings sitting cooking, or eating outside.
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