Round Australia Road Trip #26
While outback towns like Kalgoorlie and Norseman were built on the back of gold rushes in the 1880s, Broken Hill in western New South Wales was founded after the discovery in 1883 of the richest silver, lead and zinc deposits in the world. Broken Hill Proprietary Company, formed in 1885 by seven local men, went on to become the international mining company BHP Billiton. With Perliya Limited at the helm today, these precious resources are still being mined.
Over the last 130 years, as mining waste was deposited, a massive mullock heap grew to dominate the town. It seems fitting that the Line of Lode Miners’ Memorial sits atop the mountain of rock and soil overlooking the city.
The memorial commemorates more than 800 miners who have lost their lives while working, with a white rose placed next to each man’s name. Nearby are two dump trucks – a memorial to the only two dead miners still lost underground.
The main street of Broken Hill is lined with buildings that reflect the city’s mining history. The trade union movement was strong and it was here that the 35 hour working week came to fruition.
Broken Hill is the Silver City, built for mining and miners.
Another interesting post – I am getting to feel I know the country a bit.
What is ‘mullock’ ? I guess it might be the equivalent of muck or slag – a couple of words from the UK that would fit the context?
I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed it David. Yes, mullock is exactly that. We use the word ‘slag’ for the same purpose. It’s hard to believe that giant hill is the waste product.
Amazing memorial. I hope it brings some comfort to their families. 🙂
Ah, at last, a place I have been to! I really enjoyed Broken Hill, such a contrast to Sydney, but very, very hot! Mindst you Sydney is as hot these days. I don’t recall the memorial, is it newish? I did visit the Flying Doctor base there and out to Silverton and Menindee – fascinating places.
I don’t know how long the memorial has been there but I reckon you would remember it if you had seen it. Sydney can get some extreme temperatures but it’s not constant like the high temps in the west and north.
The mullock really gives a sense of the scale of the mining that was going on. I like the idea of the white rose beside each name, and it is interesting to see how each miner lost his life – sad, but interesting.
It has been a huge enterprise and is still going on. We were interested to see how the cause of death of the miners changed with developments in technology and medical knowledge. There are also far fewer in the last thirty or so years, which would be thanks to adequate workplace health and safety laws.
What a striking memorial! I can’t imagine a more horrible occupation than mining. This area was all pit villages once upon a time. I don’t think anyone could miss being down there.
Taking the opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas, Carol 🙂 Are you home with family, or visiting? However you spend it, I hope it’s a happy and peaceful time.
It would have been an unpleasant job in the past and still has its dangers today.
Thank you Jo. We are home with family gathered together, except for our daughter who is living in UK and will be in Amsterdam with a friend from home for Christmas Day.
I’ve been doing some work recently on the Broken Hill City Council website. Before that I knew very little about the place – it’s so interesting! I must visit one day 😀
It is an interesting place and we didn’t have long enough to explore. I’m sure we’ll go back again.
My goodness, that was really interesting Carol. I didn’t know much about Broken Hill at all before this. I really enjoy reading your blog because I love learning new things 🙂
Thank you Lorraine. I’m pleased to hear you enjoy the blog.
Wonderful post and beautiful photos. To see how our world is on the other side is interesting. Thank you.
It’s great to share our beautiful country with you. Thanks for coming by.
I loved Broken Hill. Was there last year, brought back great memories.
It’s quite different from other outback towns.
Yes it is. We actually camped at Silverton but visited Broken Hill for the day. It was great.
We didn’t go to Silverton this time because by this stage we had a deadline to be back home. We would like to return to the Flinders Ranges and the Eyre Peninsula for an extended time so a longer stop in Broken Hill could happen then.
Yes, there’s so much to see in the Flinders. I’d love to get back there and spend longer. Time is always an issue.
Perhaps another goal for retirement.