Mining Heritage
Broken Hill, the city in the desert, is significant for its unique mix of architecture and mining infrastructure, set in a vast arid landscape. The City of Broken Hill is of outstanding heritage value to the nation for its significant role in the development of Australia as a modern and prosperous country. Over 130 years of continuous mining operations has been of great significance to the nation, reflected in its contribution to technical developments in the field of mining, its pioneering role in the development of occupational health and safety standards, and its early practice of regenerating the environment in and around mining operations.The ancient geology of the Barrier Ranges and adjacent areas has yielded rich mineralisation. Broken Hill is famous for its silver, lead and zinc deposits, but, across the ranges and north into the Grey Range, were other significant deposits. Tin, limestone, copper, and gold have all been mined at one time or another. In the south, several small communities sprang up across the Barrier Ranges: towns such as Euriowie, Purnamoota, and Tarrawingee provided employment for hundred of men. A railway line was built from Broken Hill to Tarrawingee and used to transport limestone to the smelter in Broken Hill, as well as for passenger service. Such services connected with coach services to and from the north.
In the north, the goldfields of the Albert District lie within two areas of rocky ranges of slate surrounded by undulating country of the Cretaceous formation. For around forty years, from 1880 to the early 1920s, gold was mined across the Albert Fields. The alluvial fields were the most significant, and were located near the Mt Browne Range and The Granites. Reef gold was mined in the quartz veins around the Warratta Creek.
Aboriginal Heritage
Harry Nanya Tours
Aboriginal culture can be traced back at least 45,000 years. In western NSW, many Aboriginal groups can be clearly identified. Within this region, most of these groups lived along the waterways that make up the Darling catchment. For these people, the river was the centre of their existence and they have lived with its constant changes over 30,000 years. The Warrego, Paroo and Darling Rivers and their floodplains provided not only a cultural base, but also, sustained life by providing food, water, medicines, shelter, transport, fire and spirituality.
Distinct tribal groups lived along specific sections of the Darling and its tributaries. The Paaruntye lived on the Paroo, while the Naualko and the Kurnu people lived in the upper catchment. The largest group was, and still is, the Barkindji, whose region stretches from Wentworth almost to Bourke, although their concentration was traditionally greater in the southern regions of the river. The Aboriginal name for the Darling River is Barka, Barkindji literally means the people of the Barka (the river).
Tri State Safaris Mutawintji Eco Tours
Located in Broken Hill Tri State Safaris Mutawintji Eco Tours offer small group tours to Mutawintji National Park and surrounds. Located in the rugged Bynguano Ranges 130 kilometres north-east of the famous mining town of Broken Hill, the Mutawintji National Park is an area of great historical significance with beautiful gorges and majestic River Red Gums. Take an interpretive bush walk to see the rock engravings and hand stencil galleries, which serve as reminders of the many centuries of Aboriginal occupation of the area. The remnants of ancient fire places and stone tool making implements provide insights into the traditional Aboriginal way of life.Harry Nanya Tours
Journey through the World Heritage listed Mungo National Park with traditional Paakantyi man, Graham Clarke, owner of Harry Nanya Tours. Witness remarkable archaeological finds that point to occupation of Aboriginal people dating back over 40,000 years. Discover stone tools, grinders for making flour, a stone axe head, middens with shells, fish bones and evidence of hearths. Commencing in Mildura, Victoria or Wentworth in New South Wales you will depart for a scenic tour through the Willandra Lakes region out to the red sand plains. Full day tours run during the day in the cooler months of the year, and in the warmer months the tours take place in the afternoon and early evening.Explore The Outback
Driving through the outback is not the daunting task it once was, thanks to the sealing of major highway across Australia through remote areas, the increased safety and reliability of modern motor vehicles and other factor. That said, some of the issues that demand care be taken when driving through the outback have not changed – drivers affected by alcohol or fatigue; rock works and washaways; and the danger posed by wandering stock and local wildlife.
