Silverton and Broken Hill

Two small communities we visited in the outback were Silverton and Broken Hill.  They both have quite a history.  Seven men from Mount Gipps Station put Broken Hill on the map in 1883.  The group known later as the Syndicate of Seven, discovered ore on an isolated 'broken hill'.  Together, these seven men formed the first mining company in Broken Hill called the Broken Hill Propriety Company Limited now known as BHP Billiton.  Four of the seven men sold their share before it really got going.  Unfortuntely for them, the company mined ore in its first year worth more than 42 000 pounds(equivalent in value to about $6.5 million today).  Silverton, a small tourist town, was actually where this all first happened, but then the company moved half and hour up the road to Broken Hill.  But Silverton is now famous for its backdrop for a slew of movies.  Mad Max was shot on the highway that runs through it, and up the road a bit in the red dirt of the desert.  Mission Impossible 2 was also shot there, or parts of it.  The 130 year old Silverton Saloon is a busy establishment, slinging drinks and serving food for a variety of  people who walk through its doors.

Mad Max enthusiasts dress in costume come in droves every second year to celebrate the cult movie.  Australian tourists traveling in motorhomes will stop in Silverton on their way north for the winter.  Tourists like us discover this place and head on over.  Many people from Broken Hill come for supper and drinks.  In this area the people celebrate something called recovery day( the day after St. Patrick's Day) and head to the saloon for food and drinks...4 000 of them!!!

 The town was a thriving community of 3 000 people in its heyday.  Census reading now claims it has around 50 residents.  These residents are working hard to keep the town's memory alive by restoring buildings, and creating a heritage trail for all who are interested, and we were some of those people!

 Australia is prone to flooding, so you see these flood markers all over.  This is a dry river bed we crossed on a shortcut to the saloon from our campground.  When it rains there is flash flooding.

                                    
   The inside of the saloon.  It is actually bigger than this because they have added two patios on either side.

          This is a camel farm that is just outside of Silverton.  No one was around so I don't know what the camels are used for.  This is just one of many pens.