Broken Hill 2nd day

We decided on a later start and our first port of call was Bells Milk Bar to sample their delicious “spiders” – (soft drink with a large dob of ice-cream on the top for those too young to remember.) We were transported back to the fifties with the old rounded counters, chequered lino floor and genuine milkshakes and spiders made with their own home made syrups and soda water. What a treat!!

We then headed out to Silverton about 23ks out of BH where a handful of buildings dot the landscape. They are the remnants of a mining town that migrated to Broken Hill once the mines there started to boom. They even dismantled their houses and took them to BH. There are some amazing heritage buildings including the famous Silverton Hotel which has appeared in over 140 films and commercials, including Bryan Brown's Dirty Deeds, Mad Max II, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and A Town like Alice. The movie makers love it here because of the clear air, the open spaces and the dramatic colours.

There is an old church, a school house all set up, an old miners hut, a couple of galleries and a café and an original goal which were all part of the early

settlement where the miners flocked to dig out the silver. The goal was set up as a really interesting museum with each cell housed different category of memorabilia. A fascinating character we came across runs a Coin Carvery in an old tin shed. He cuts the inside of a penny with a very fine hack saw and then coats then with gold to make a charming necklace. He also does the same with sixpences.

After a quick picnic lunch at Penrose Park which is a caravan park and recreational area we headed out to Mundi Mundi lookout where you can view the vast plains dotted with grey hues of the salt bush plus green brown and yellow. It is a real outback scene.

A few miles further on we saw the reservoir which is a large expanse of water which helps with Broken Hill’s water supply.

We headed back to camp rather tired as it was a hot day and the flies where bothersome. Thank goodness for fly nets!!

We all dined together as the others were continuing in their journey in the morning.