Broken Hill

Broken Hill a large town in the state of New South Wales

Pre-Settlement
Before Europeans arrived on the land of Broken Hill, it was inhabited by the Wiljakali people. It was once thought that no one would survive out here since there were very few water sources, but the Indigenous people built wells and underground holes.

Charting and Settlement
The first White Europeans to visit this area was Major Thomas Mitchell who was Surveying the area in 1841. The second expedition was in 1844 by Charles Sturt searching for an inland sea, he came upon this area and named it Barrier Range as it blocked his journey onwards. Burke and Wills passed through on their expedition lasting from 1860 to 1861. In the 1850s, Pastoralists started to settle around the area. But it wasn't until 1883 that Broken Hill would be founded by Charles Rasp. He stumbled upon this area and discovered what he though was tin but what he really found was Silver and Lead. Rasp and six others would go on the later found the Broken Hill Proprietary Company as the Syndicate of Seven in 1885. Mining continued thereafter at the Line of Lode in Broken Hill

The Battle of Broken Hill
The Battle of Broken Hill took place on January 1st 1915. Two Afghan men opened fire upon a train traveling to a New Year's Day Picnic. At the time WWI was going on and so the men were thought to be part of the Ottoman Empire but were later discovered as being part of Pakistan. Police opened fire on them and killed them immediately.

Places To Visit

 * Sulphide Street Railway Station
 * PRO Hart Gallery
 * Daydream Mine
 * Stephens Creek Dam
 * Steamtown Rail Centre
 * Original BHP Offices

Trivia

 * Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Spirits of the Air Gremlins of the Clouds were all shot in or near Broken Hill
 * In 1895, Many miners were poisoned with Lead Poisoning, coming from the mines.