After a cold early morning, it turned out to be a fine cloudy day. My face is still swollen but we decided to drive 25 kms to Silverton for the day.
The road to Silverton is renowned for its dips. One Gallery in Silverton is called Beyond the 39 Dips but we are sure that there are a lot more than 39! We bounced along past the Day Dream Silver Mine, until we came to the old Tramway Station on the outskirts of Silverton.
The first of many dips in the road
Arriving at Silverton
Old Tramway Station
Our second stop was Penrose Park where we had planned to stay. With all of the rain we changed our mind and stayed in Broken Hill. Just as well. Penrose Park would be a great stop but not earlier this week. Parts were still under water and it looked like the road to the park had been closed or at least under water. We would like to go back another time.
We headed into town and stopped to look at the Municipal Offices building when a donkey came trotting towards us and braying. We greeted him and he just stopped and watched us and waited until we got back into the ute. Then he came over to the window to say goodbye. Very friendly!
This guy came to greet us
Got up close and personal
The old Municipal Offices
We then drove around past the Silverton Hotel and up the hill to the Mad Max Museum. I spent some time in there while Ann went for a browse through the Art Galleries around the corner. It is a very quiet eerie town now but it would have been all hustle and bustle in its Hey Day. Click Here to see other photos from my visit to the Mad Max Museum.
Interceptor Love Child outside Silverton Hotel
Outdoor bar area at Silverton Hotel
Stage in the outdoor bar area
Inside the hotel
Mad Max Museum
Charming old cottage still standing
Local artwork
Same artist different canvas
Different artist same style canvas
By the time that I had finished at the museum and Ann had returned from the galleries, it was lunch time so we decided to try the Café on the hill. Excellent choice! We both had a hearty bowl of Drovers Beef Stew with damper and a plunger of very good coffee. It was VERY good!
Silverton Cafe
After lunch we drove to Mundi Mundi Look out, which has also featured in a number of movies, then on to Umberumberka Reservoir. This was built in 1915 and still supplies water to Broken Hill. It is huge.
We did a lot of walking today and I was pretty tired so Ann drove us home.
Horses roam free at Silverton
View from Reservoir over Mundi Mundi
Camels roaming beside the road
Look who’s driving
Other Interesting facts about the Broken Hill / Silverton Region:
Broken Hill has among the worlds largest Silver–Lead–Zinc mineral deposits.
In 1880 the nearby town of Silverton was established and was, in its heyday, a booming mining town with a population of 3000. Today Silverton is a ghost town with a population of about 60.
The Trade Union Movement originated in Silverton in 1884 with the formation of the Barrier Ranges Miners’ Association of Australasia. Under the banner “United we stand. Divided we fall” unionism was born in the region.
The Broken Hill Proprietary Company LTD (BHP) was formed in the Silverton Hotel in 1885 and became Australia’s largest mining company.
The Hotel and the Silverton area has featured in a number of movies including Mad Max and A Town Like Alice.
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