Fun & Unusual Things - Broken Hill & Silverton,NSW

["https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2FExample%201.png?alt=media&token=79887cd6-6e04-4e72-b6ca-9f3aea192b8f","https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F2.png?alt=media&token=ac0c9f66-ae05-4eeb-991c-d153afcf5431","https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F3.png?alt=media&token=8b649ca7-fab1-49c2-b29f-edc13ba0cf4a","https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F4.png?alt=media&token=e54a7a30-22d8-41c5-a6fd-2161cbc9a9fd"]

[{"address":"Mundi Mundi Lookout","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.847681109864496,"longitude":141.2028624},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# And the Donkeys\nDoggo almost made up for the fact that the famous wild donkeys who also wander the town – and quite often like to hang around the pub weren’t in residence – but we did find them later as we drove to the nearby Mundi Mundi Lookout.\nApparently four donkeys live in the town and roam about at will. You shouldn’t feed them, no matter how much they beg! But they do pose for cute photographs."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F4.webp?alt=media&token=595e845f-607f-4d21-b8b8-dbb13471c8dd"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/RmC1P34xaxt9qEBv5"}]},{"address":"Silverton Hotel","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.885135259878897,"longitude":141.22272965000002},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Meet the Silverton Pub Doggo\nThe Silverton Hotel is a cool old pub in Silverton – it’s been in a few films, including Mad Max 2, and the less well-known Razorback, about a mutant killer pig – which I had to watch in aid of research and still don’t quite know what to think about it!\n\nAfter that introduction, I also wasn’t quite sure what to expect when we pulled up at the pub, but I wasn’t expecting a very waggy shepherd-type dog heading rapidly towards us…for pats. All of the pats. About 30 minutes of pats.\n\nAt one point we thought we were going to be taking him home as he seemed to have adopted Mr Differentville as dad for the day!\nHis real dad did appear though and it turns out he has the run of the town and absolutely loves people – so much so, he regularly wakes him up at 4am to be played with.\n\nIf you see him, give him a pat from us – and grab a beer in the hotel.\n\nThey seemed pretty friendly, no mutant killer pigs or worryingly-attired kangaroo hunters with mullets, were spotted on our trip."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F3.webp?alt=media&token=962ace3c-11b0-48f0-b5b8-f0dd794a34dc"},{"type":"link","content":"http://www.silvertonhotel.com.au/"}]},{"address":"John Dynon Gallery","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.886290809879334,"longitude":141.2231856},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Buy a John Dynon Emu\nI’ve wanted a painting by this artist who works out of Silverton for ages and on this trip, not only did I get a print, but he signed it for me too.\nDefinitely pop into the gallery when you’re there.\n\nDynon specialises in painting images of the Outback – be that emus, wildflowers, landscapes – or long drop bathrooms! There’s another one of those cool painted Volkswagens outside too."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F17.webp?alt=media&token=47b0a757-1716-4657-88b2-ea5b5ecb03f6"},{"type":"link","content":"http://johndynon.com.au/gallery/"}]},{"address":"John Dynon Gallery","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.886290809879334,"longitude":141.2231856},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# See the Vegemite Volkswagen\nFor some reason it seems to be the done thing in Silverton to paint on Volkswagen bug cars; there’s a few of them dotted around including some at the top of the town that I though were painted in a kind of rusty paint – but, apparently not.\nThey are the work of artist Peter Brown who used to live in town and he has a thing for painting in Vegemite – and, apparently the Volkswagens are one example of this!!\nI didn’t find this out until after I left so I didn’t get it confirmed, that they still owe their designs to Australia’s favourite breakfast spread, but it certainly does look like it might!\n\nWhatever they’re painted with they’re pretty cool though.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F1.webp?alt=media&token=d464732c-b45a-41c1-a3a4-71ce300335f3"},{"type":"link","content":"http://johndynon.com.au/gallery/"}]},{"address":"Whites Mineral Art & Mining Museum","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.956736359906458,"longitude":141.43305279999998},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Meet Kevin and Betty\nOwners of the Whites Mineral Art and Mining Museum these were two of my favourite people I encountered on this trip.\n\nI had no idea what to expect when we arrived for our tour – but without spoiling anything, half of the museum is devoted to Kevin and his work.\n\nHe uses minerals from the Broken Hill to tell the story of the mines and the workers within them and his talk is fascinating. You can then wander around the small mining exhibition.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F12.webp?alt=media&token=86bc6f3b-da7c-4484-a0cc-7f223f45794f"},{"type":"text","content":"On the other side of the premises you’ll find the Doll and Teddy Bear Museum. At first I thought that curator Betty had bought all the dolls, bears and other toys in it, but she told me no, she actually made a lot of them.\n\nIt all started because when couples arrived at the ‘museum’ the men would be fascinated by all the trinkets Kevin had collected, but the women would go and sit in the car – and so Betty decided she needed to so something to appeal to the rest of the family.\n\nIt’s a little bit out of town, but if you have time and transport, then definitely go and visit and support this unique thing to do in Broken Hill"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/iU7AraPsPYZZc4x19"}]},{"address":"TYDVIL HOTEL & BISTRO","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.94597105990228,"longitude":141.45865655000003},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Drink Broken Hill Gin\nNext to the Tydvil is Broken Hill Gin Distillery and yes, they do make it on the premises. Ginmaker Paul told me it can get up to 95 degrees in the room when the still is cooking!\n\nThe Distillery do tours at 11am each morning – or, at any time of day you can buy a tasting flight for $20.\nThis contains three half measures of gin – and full size mixers for each, which I think makes it pretty good value.\nI like neat gin and so I drank the gins, then the mixers! The Gunpowder scored highest for me.\n\nIf you have non-gin makers in your party, they can head into the pub for a beer or wine, the two premises share the same owners and the same garden.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F6.webp?alt=media&token=4a983c3a-c7a6-4931-b491-2c1057d436df"},{"type":"link","content":"https://m.facebook.com/tydvilhotelbistro/"}]},{"address":"TYDVIL HOTEL & BISTRO","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.94597105990228,"longitude":141.45865655000003},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Attempt Parmageddon\nThe Tydvil Hotel is a little bit outside the centre of Broken Hill, but I’d heard that their Chicken Parma had been voted the best in NSW and so we had to spend an evening there.\nI can attest that it is pretty good – I had the Mexican one with extra sour cream, guac, chili beef and a fresh chilli pepper on the top.\n\nBut, the thing that peaked my interest most, was the Parmagedden – a $49 stack of 3 Parmas (chicken or beef) on one meal.\n\nI’m not sure how hungry you need to be to manage to eat that (along with the chips and salad it’s served with) but, if you manage it, please let me know on the comments!"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F5.webp?alt=media&token=0339a52c-7f2d-4671-845e-0ede45752d85"},{"type":"link","content":"https://m.facebook.com/tydvilhotelbistro/"}]},{"address":"Iodide Street","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.94759180990293,"longitude":141.46285240000003},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Find The Shelley’s Shop\nI have never had as many likes on an Instagram photo as I did with a picture of this old shop on the corner of Iodide Street and Lane Street.\nShelley’s was a soft drinks firm that started in Broken Hill in 1893 and this old building used to be a milk bar that sold them.\n\nNow it’s home to Deebee’s Deli and a fantastic old building to check out."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F7.webp?alt=media&token=e6a73fb1-64d7-4fcf-941e-c63fb168025d"},{"type":"link","content":"https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/shelleys-soft-drinks/"}]},{"address":"Junction Mine","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.95525651207872,"longitude":141.4783926},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Check out the Abandoned Mine\nBroken Hill is a mining town rich in lead, silver and zinc. Two active mines still exist in the town, but a number of older shafts have been shut down – and some of them can still safely explored on tours, or solo – most notably Junction Mine which towers over town as you approach from the airport.\n\nIt’s all fenced off, but it’s still a great place for photographs."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F2.webp?alt=media&token=c2c24177-d3a2-44e0-aee1-0ffeaf2b2e75"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/qwd8fsvVDzhdgQWa7"}]},{"address":"Beryl Street","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.953543109905223,"longitude":141.46923299999997},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Visit VB Man\nFor a town full of artists, there’s not a lot of street art in Broken Hill, but one wall close to the Council Chambers on Beryl Street is full of murals of people who sum up local life – my favourite of whom is VB Man here.\nAlso look out for the 3D train murals on the side of the train station and a mural of The Ghan on the wall of Sufis Bookshop."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F18.webp?alt=media&token=a596809f-cbcc-414e-b8f4-b23ad60755f1"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/f8BSMxtZ2Ysii3fRA"}]},{"address":"Silver City Mint & Art Centre","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.956724509906444,"longitude":141.46464475},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Visit the Big Picture\nOkay, as reportedly the most popular attraction in Broken Hill, this isn’t exactly a secret – but, it’s The World’s Largest Painting people, do you think I wasn’t going to mention it!\n\nThe painting by artist Peter Anderson aka Ando measures 100 metres long and 12 metres high. It’s held in place with a series of weights and pulleys.\nI also like the little fake countryside that surrounds it – if I ran the Big Picture, I’d stick the odd real life lizard or friendly snake in there just to freak people out a bit when it moved. This is why I have to write about tourist attractions rather than running one!\n\nIt’s in the Silver City Mint and Art Centre.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F16.webp?alt=media&token=470e3875-3e2f-47d4-8445-d0bd4c16d14e"},{"type":"link","content":"https://www.silvercitymint.com.au/"}]},{"address":"Charlotte's at the Grand","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.95831250990706,"longitude":141.46587509999998},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Have Cheeseslaw\nThe local delicacy.\n\nThis is a mix of cheese and coleslaw, that’s going to see you waving goodbye to your diet in seconds. What I didn’t know until I ordered it though is that it’s toasted – and so, it’s actually coleslaw and melted cheese!\n\nThis made me exceptionally happy!\nI tried it as one of the famous ‘Chicken and Cheeseslaw’ sandwiches at Charlottes at the Grand on Argent Street – and it kept it me full from 10am in the morning until 7pm at night – and it’s rare to find something that does that!\n\nMr Differentville was also very pleased with his full ‘English’ breakfast – and he’s very fussy about those so, that’s high praise indeed."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F8.webp?alt=media&token=548035bd-78fc-4d61-a7bc-f0635902c304"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/5zwTVzGwngDkaACV6"}]},{"address":"Palace Hotel","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.95978150990763,"longitude":141.46395510000002},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Play 2Up\nIf you’re not from Australia you’re probably wondering what on earth that is – it’s basically a game that was played by the ANZAC soldiers. It involves flipping two coins in the air and betting on the outcome with other people in the crowd.\n\nIn much of Australia the only day of the year you can officially play 2Up is ANZAC Day (April 25th) but the Palace Hotel is allowed to play it all year – and they have a game every Friday night at 9pm.\n\nIt’s a fun game to play – just don’t get too carried away with the betting and make sure you take lots of small notes if you want to play.\n"},{"type":"link","content":"http://www.thepalacehotelbrokenhill.com.au/twoup"}]},{"address":"Palace Hotel","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.95978150990763,"longitude":141.46395510000002},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Visit the Priscilla Shoe\nIf Silverton is famous for it’s role in Mad Max 2, Broken Hill – and specifically, The Palace Hotel – is famous as being in Priscilla Queen of the Desert.\n\nAnd the famous silver shoe on the top of the bus can be found in the lobby of the Palace. Along with a fascinating set of murals.\nStory has it that the Palace owner Mario wanted a beautiful frescoed ceiling. He started painting nymphs, cherubs other suitably Italianate images on one panel, but decided he needed help to get the rest finished.\n\nIndigenous artist Gordon Waye took on the job painting the Australian scenery he was more familiar with – but, adding water features!\n\nIf you really want to get into Priscilla mode book a night in the suite the movie was filmed in. Staying in the hotel also gives you a change to get up close with murals that the ‘general public’ don’t get to see as they can’t go upstairs."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F9.webp?alt=media&token=861ec941-65ca-426e-8668-c9862643da16"},{"type":"link","content":"http://www.thepalacehotelbrokenhill.com.au/"}]},{"address":"Marios Palace Hotel","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.95970380990757,"longitude":141.4636924},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Book for Broken Heel\nEvery September, around September 8th which was the date the original Priscilla film was released, Broken Hill gets a dose of glitter when the The Broken Heel Festival comes to town.\nThis is a full on fabulous-filled 5-day Festival to celebrate all things drag.\n\nThere’s concerts, cabarets, a full of sequinned-up display of day-drag down the High Street in the annual parade (when even the Priscilla shoe gets an outing), handbag throwing competitions and more campness than you can shake a shiny stick at.\n"},{"type":"link","content":"https://www.bhfestival.com/"}]},{"address":"Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.95913900990738,"longitude":141.46148200000002},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# ‘Drive’ a Train\nThe Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum is way more than it’s name suggests.\n\nYes it has trains you can walk through, sit in and pretend to drive, plus exhibits of rail paraphernalia, but it also has a small medical museum that will send chills through you (not least as there’s a speculum on display) and a cute room showing entertainments of Broken Hill days gone by.\nThere’s a lot of mini museums in Broken Hill, but this one is definitely worth the (very small) entry fee."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F19.webp?alt=media&token=88ff0438-c51d-419d-b73d-2b958b00cbcd"},{"type":"link","content":"https://mgnsw.org.au/organisations/sulphide-street-railway-historical-museum/"}]},{"address":"Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.96008835990774,"longitude":141.4606159},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# See the ‘Sht Happens’ Sculpture\nNext to the Big Ant is a white sculpture of the microscopic view of a crystal made by local art students.\n\nThe problem is, that naturally this crystal only has five spikes and this sculpture has six. When questioned why, the art teacher in charge of the project reportedly just said ‘sht happens.’\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F13.webp?alt=media&token=248b1418-b276-4e46-9702-be4308af0f68"},{"type":"text","content":"This was just one of the fantastic facts we learned from Gigi, who takes the free walking tours from the Broken Hill Tourist Information Centre at the weekend.\n\nIt’s a great tour full of amazing things you would never learn otherwise. Book in at the Information Office – the tour is free, but Gigi does take donations (and it’s worth every penny of one).\n\nThey also offer tours in the week with another volunteer if you’re not around at Saturday or Sunday."},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/cMNEpqxL8q4AqTRo6"}]},{"address":"The Big Ant","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.959245809907426,"longitude":141.46010585},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# The Big Ant & The Big Bench\nThe Big Ant is actually a sculpture by Pro Hart, one of the most famous artists to come from Broken Hill.\n\nIt’s designed to represent the miners that made Broken Hill the town it is today.\nPro Hart and his art loom large in Broken Hill. You can visit his gallery (which includes some painted Rolls Royce), a small sculpture park outside the gallery and even his grave.\n\nThe Big Ant also isn’t the only big thing in Broken Hill, there’s also The Big Bench which is on the hill where you’ll also find the Line of Lode Miners Memorial – unfortunately you can’t sit on it for photos any more so in pictures it just looks like a strange red bench!"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F11.webp?alt=media&token=c40e90be-02c5-4b5f-91c2-607362008642"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/Ehv3R2LCpHWc3LWT9"}]},{"address":"Bell's Milk Bar","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.14321712068773834,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-31.979431159915194,"longitude":141.4616255},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Have a 1950s Milkshake\nBells Milk Bar is famous for it’s ice cream filled milkshake and it’s 1950s decor.\n\nIt’s a bit of a walk from town (I know because we did it) so you might want to jump in the car or a cab.\nWarning – if you’re looking for something savoury, the only lunch option is cheese toasties (which admittedly were pretty good), the rest of the food is firmly in the waffles and ice cream camp – yummy, but maybe not what needed at 12.30 when I haven’t had any breakfast.\n\nWhile you’re there take a look at the small museum at the back and the cool vintage shop a couple of doors down."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FAfKocClmtJbklBiPGZv5%2F15.webp?alt=media&token=3077dfe8-d3c6-4079-bd7f-c1f60250382d"},{"type":"link","content":"https://www.bellsmilkbar.com.au/"}]}]