Author: Ann Bradshaw

Quirky Broken Hill

This site lays claim to the only hostilities on Australian soil during WWI.  When on New Year’s Day 1915, a picnic train was fired upon by Turkish sympathisers.  Six people were killed including the attackers.

Broken Hill had no actual connection to the Titanic

 

A Rolls Royce owned by the painter and Broken Hill resident, Pro Hart
The Big Bench, ‘Line of Lode’ historical site

Broken Heel

Broken Hill is quite possibly the drag queen capital of the Outback thanks to the 1994 movie ‘Priscilla,  Queen of the Desert’.

If you haven’t seen it, three drag queens go on a road trip from Sydney to Alice Springs and Priscilla is the bus they travel in.  It’s a road trip full of bitching, sequins, prejudice, mechanical problems and Abba.   The trio stopped at the Palace Hotel in Broken Hill for the night despite a hostile reception from the locals.

The hotel was already famous for the murals that cover its walls and ceilings but now attracts visitors with quirky Priscilla events such as drag queen bingo on Tuesdays with Shelita Buffet and the annual Broken Heel Festival in September when drag queens from far and wide descend on the town.

Broken Hill Mining History

‘Line of Lode’ memorial to the miners who lost their lives

I’d never thought about what the initials in BHP stood for but now realise it’s the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd.   The company was formed in 1883 after a boundary rider discovered what he thought was tin but turned out to be silver.  Broken Hill became known as the Silver City and in 1907 was the second largest settlement in NSW after Sydney.  Many people became wealthy but it was the miners who paid the price.

Each has their name, date of death and cause of death engraved on a glass plate.  There must be almost 1,000 names.   Most were killed in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Mining is still big business in Broken Hill today.

 

Living Desert Reserve, Broken Hill

The 2 1/2 Bradshaws are now officially Outback.  Our first evening in Broken Hill was spent on top of a hill, watching a beautiful sunset amongst 12 huge sandstone sculptures.  They were created in 1993 by artists from around the world.

‘Horse’ by Jumber Jikiya from Georgia
Nhatji (Rainbow Serpent) by Badger Bates from Broken Hill
Bajo El Sol Jaguar (Under the Jaguar Sun) by Antonio Nava Tirado, Mexico

By the way, Broken Hill which is in New South Wales, has decided to be on South Australia time so we had to put our watches back half an hour.

Farewell to the Murray

As you can see the Murray River is a better colour here in Mildura and there’s a lot less mud.

“Little does Mum realise, dirt rolls plus river water equals lovely mud”

The tourist park across the river at Buronga (NSW side) was very busy as it’s the Easter holidays but it had some of the best facilities we’ve seen in a park – roomy grassy sites, a car washing facility, a dog washing facility, a free pet laundry, nightly movies to keep kids amused/quiet and plenty of room to sit and relax along the riverside.

“At last, somewhere to wash my smalls” – Winston

 

The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, a semi-arid garden over 167 hectares.  Luckily you could drive round it.
Their prize specimen – a 2,500 year old mallee tree.

Tomorrow we’re saying goodbye to the Murray and heading north to spend Easter at Broken Hill.  Tonight we’re watching ‘Mad Max’ in preparation for a visit to the Mad Max Museum at Silverton.

A bit more history

Our path often seems to cross with the route taken by explorers Burke and Wills.  They crossed the Murray River at Swan Hill and there are some commemorative markers around town.

Shame the council have cemented in a rubbish bin next to the main one

The Mighty Murray

Thank you to Kim and Peter for having us to stay for a couple of nights at your lovely house in Bunbartha.  Winston especially says thank you for letting him have some sofa time and also to Oscar for letting him play with his toys.

We headed North to Echuca/Moama on the Murray River.  There are a few of these twin towns either side of the Murray, as it forms the border between NSW and Victoria.  Echuca is a large modern town but it feels as though you’ve stepped back in time when you walk through the Port of Echuca Precinct.

Port of Echuca Precinct speciality shops.

The main attraction though are the paddle steamers which cruise up and down the Murray all day.

Winston has learned to be a bit more careful when running down to the river for a dip after he sunk into some thick oozing mud and had to have a bath!

Happy Birthday Jonathan

Jonathan’s birthday present was a day at the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne.

We spent his birthday evening watching ‘Stargazing Live’ at SDM HQ aka Peter and Kim Read’s house.  They laid on an excellent port and cheese spread.

Ariba! Ariba!

Cactus Country near Cobram in Northern Victoria looked a little bit cheesy on arrival with cartoon cacti on the walls and sombreros to wear but walk through the entrance and you’re in the largest cacti and succulent garden in the Southern Hemisphere.

The trails are thoughtfully laid out with plants from different regions.