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What a huge day of sightseeing we had today here in Broken Hill!
We started off by checking out the nearby disused Junction Mine and Lookout, with its head frame still intact and interpretive panels to read about its history, and of the surrounding North Broken Hills works.
Next we headed to the Line of Lodes Miners Memorial, situated at Broken Hill's highest point, and a fitting tribute to the 800 men who lost their lives in mining accidents in this town.
From here we visited the tourist information Centre, checked out the main streets of town and headed towards the airport to do a tour of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. This tour gave an excellent insight into the history and operations of the RFDS and how much it relies on its supporters around the world for additional funding for direct services and capitol funding.
After a quick picnic lunch we went to visit White's Mine and Mineral Display in town. The owner is an ex-miner and artist who has used his many years of personal experience and expert knowledge to create a lifetime of paintings made from crushed rock found in the mines. The museum is a labour of love and gives visitors the chance to appreciate how difficult conditions were for miners in those days. We also saw the owner's wife's collection of dolls and teddies, most of which she has made, sewn and handmade herself.
We continued our day's exploring with a quick stop at White's Reserve, a small hill on the outskirts of town that is famous for a battle that took place there on New Year's Day 1915, when a train carrying picnickers to Silverton was ambushed by two Turks peddling their ice-cream cart. We had seen a dramatized version of this event back on film in Peterborough, so it was nice to see where it actually took place and read about it further.
Next we went to see one of Broken Hill's most famous artist collections in the gallery of Pro Hart. I enjoyed checking out his collection of expensive vintage cars still parked in the driveway. Pro (real name Kevin) was one of five artists in Broken Hill nicknamed 'brushmen of the bush' and together they exhibited their paintings around the world, often for charity - a big recipient being the RFDS as well as children's charities.
By the time I'd explored the gallery it was getting close to sunset and time to drive out to the living desert to see the sculptures from this amazing vantage point. Gadi walked the last 1.2km up the steep rocks and I met him at the top in the car. We spent a while taking photos, looking at the sculptures and enjoying the peaceful surroundings as the sun sank lower and lower on the distant horizon over the surrounding plains. Eventually it got very cold so we headed back to our little home on wheels to eat dinner and chill out, exhausted from our big day out.
Night night xx
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