An impromptu trip to Broken Hill

[Matt_01]

This is a very notice trip with the decision made yesterday, a couple of weeks back when I was applying for MrsM latest passport the post office staff pointed out that the replacement birth certificate I was using as the parent has the incorrect spelling of my first name. I subsequently filled out the corrections form provided by NSW BD&M but I also noticed on the application it stated do not provide originals, however as I am applying for a correction I need to surrender the incorrect birth certificate and a truck load of other personal information. I called Services NSW to enquire what would happen if I sent the original copy of the incorrect birth certificate and the letter was not received as if this was the case there maybe a risk identity theft could occur. The advice I received was in these situations it is best to do this in person and they did not recommend sending the application via mail. So what are the options:

1. Fly ADL-SYD (QF or VA) go to the office, return on the same day.
2. Fly ADL-BHQ (ZL) go to the office, return on the same day.
3. Do a road trip ADL-BHQ and stay a couple of extra days as I have not been to Broken Hill.

Due to fight availability and costs option 3 won out. This will not be a long or comprehensive TR just a short one with a few photos.

 

[Matt_01]

At some dark hundred hour this morning I set off with my travelling companion, Siri, initially she was quite chatty but after getting to the northern freeway seemed to go to sleep only waking up to give advice that I was to stay on the course for the next 40km or 60km or so. After a couple of hours it was time for more coffee so I stopped at Burra, this seems to be an interesting place however at 7am not much was open. It is a pretty little town.

Paxton Square Cottages - once miners accomodation now holiday accommodation

On of the Hotels

The Town Center




A few snaps of the old mines

 

[Matt_01]

On leaving I saw a sign to the old railway station and being a bit of a train buff could not help myself.

 

[Matt_01]

My stop at Burra seemed to have up set Siri and I was getting nagged to get back on plan, once I did she informed me to travel for 351km without needing to make a turn, she then shut up and during the silence I was contemplating was easier to travel with Siri or Mrs&MissM . As I drove along the Barrier Highway I noticed a train line next to the road and then to my surprise and train was using it, I always thought those single line tracks were no longer used.

Then going through one of the towns that seem to have a pub, no fuel stations or houses and a population of around 50-100 came across this, apparently it is on its way to the Adelaide aviation museum.
Another country train station.
A little further up the road the Indian Pacific was on the same line, I was too slow to get a decent photo but I guess that what happens when travelling in one direction at 110km and a train going in the other at greater than 100km, so this is the Indian Pacific heading to Adelaide.

Now as luck would have it the highway is being upgraded and I managed to get the only red light in around 500km of road trip .

And then another train on that line, maybe I should not be taking photos while driving.

I finally reached NSW, I only took these photos as the last time I can recall driving from ADL to NSW was in 1994, however on that occasion I continued through to SYD and that trip was via the Hay plain.

 

[Matt_01]

I arrived in Broken Hill around 11-11:30, first order of business sorting out the birth certificate, that took around 10 minutes and the agent at the desk seemed to be more excited and checking with her colleagues on what was the correct process to cancel the birth certificate and issue a new one. At one stage there seemed to be around 3-4 staff all providing input amount what stamp to use, make sure the date is correct, make sure the copies are in colour etc. The only thing I took away from this is at some point in the future I will receive a replacement certificate at no cost at some point in the future.

Second order of business time for lunch as the breakfast options on route were not that great. It was just a pub lunch, chicken schnitzel with lemon, chips and salad, washed down with a glass of wine. Pretty simple, hard to get wrong.

 

[Matt_01]

After lunch walked up the road to ask about check in time, informed I could check in at any time. To my surprise getting accomodation with one day notice was problematic and I had also called one of my mates to borrow a pop up tent and sleeping bag if required, I maybe ex ARA but have not done a camp out in 20+ years. Anyhow after a few direct calls to hotels I managed to get get a 2 night booking at this hotel and after checking a few reviews online all seemed good. I do not normally do road trips and had forgotten to ask if there is parking, this is not available but the staff do let let you know where to park so as not to get a parking fine. The restraunt is also closed, as is the lounge area and I say lounge area as it is not a hotel lounge as I would have thought, just a place to sit by the bar. That been said the place is in an excellent location and does what it says on the box, comfortable, convenient and clean. In fact the staff are more welcoming and the room is cleaner than some of the 5 star chains I have stayed at recently.

 

[VPS]

I arrived in Broken Hill around 11-11:30, first order of business sorting out the birth certificate, that took around 10 minutes and the agent at the desk seemed to be more excited and checking with her colleagues on what was the correct process to cancel the birth certificate and issue a new one. At one stage there seemed to be around 3-4 staff all providing input amount what stamp to use, make sure the date is correct, make sure the copies are in colour etc. The only thing I took away from this is at some point in the future I will receive a replacement certificate at no cost at some point in the future.

Second order of business time for lunch as the breakfast options on route were not that great. It was just a pub lunch, chicken schnitzel with lemon, chips and salad, washed down with a glass of wine. Pretty simple, hard to get wrong. View attachment 281374View attachment 281375View attachment 281378View attachment 281376View attachment 281377

do you think they tried to get the snitty to look like Australia (minus Tassie of course)

 

[Matt_01]

Then went up to the Line of Lode Reserve and the Miners Memorial.


There are grand plans for this area that is being worked on at the moment.

The last surviving part of the original BHP offices.

 

[Matt_01]

Next was the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service. Quite an interesting tour you get to see a film visit the small museum.
The yellow pins represent operations bases while the red pins are the clinic’s they fly to on a regular basis.

 

[Matt_01]

As part of the tour you get to see the operations center, I did not take photos of this and then trough to the hanger to see older aircraft.

Current aircraft the clinic aircraft

Outside the emergency aircraft on standby and one that had landed during the tour and being refuelled so it is ready to go again.

 

[Matt_01]

And BHQ is next door.

 

[Matt_01]

This is the Palace Hotel built in 1889, it is also only of the locations that Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was filmed.

I decided to eat in the restaurant and it is recommend to make a booking so I did. When I arrived I was seated at my table for 1

I ordered the Pork Belly - Slow roasted crispy pork belly served with potato mash, vegetables and beer jus.
It was quite terrible, the pork was not crispy and tasted similar to the pre cooked one you buy in a supermarket the mash was instant and the veg was a combination of under and over cooked. It you are in town, sure have a drink at the bar which is quite good but I would give the restaurant a miss. The only acceptable part of the meal was a glass of the Yealands Sav Blanc and Pinot Noir which were both average at best.

 

[Matt_01]

To day I headed out to Silverton, fist place to visit was the Mad Max 2 museum, there are a couple of sections with heaps of photos, movie props, scripts but you are not allow to take photos in this part and the owner’s of place watch everyone like a hawk. Photos out in the back area are allowed.

I tried to go out to the Mundi Mundi look out where Max Max 2 was filmed however the road was closed, it may also explain why accomodation was had to come across. Apparently Chris Hemsworth and a bunch or other actors, film crew are in town filming anoth Mad Max. I suspect this is the filming location.

 

[Matt_01]

After Mad Max I took a look around the rest of the town these are just a few photos of the other buildings in the town, it is very small population around 30-40. You can go into a few of the the buildings as they are museums, galleries or a time capsule.
The lodge

The church

The school


Pub

Prison

 

[Matt_01]

Heading back to the big smoke I decided it maybe possible to make the tour of the historic Day Dream mine, I didn’t make it in time for the tour however did have a bit of fun getting there as it is a dirt road and it is not that often I can get to drift the diesel dual cab.

Almost back into town apparently Broken Hill was the only place that had a WW1 attack on home soil, a picnic train was attacked by a couple of sympathisers.

They were killed in a shoot out a few km’s away.

 

[Matt_01]

Now back in town it was time to head out again to the living desert and the sculptures.

Each one has its own explanation and these are just a few examples.

 

[Matt_01]

The views from the living desert cannot be captured via a phone or camera, it is simply stunning and these pictures do not do it justice.

Then from the bottom

I then went to the Pro Hart Gallery,

 

[Matt_01]

There is a small museum in town that has a bit of everything.

 

[Matt_01]

And a few trains

 

[Matt_01]

There is also a small boutique distillery. The Remembrance gin is very good and also for every bottle sold $50 is donated to Legacy.