BROKEN HILL TO COBAR NSW

  This is a long and I expect boring stretch of around 450 kms that I must complete in order to reach my next destination goal, Lightning Ridge. I have planned to make two overnight stops if possible at Free Camps along the way. Advice given to me is not to stop at Wilcannia due to safety or theft concerns. My aim is therefore to stay at least 50 kms before or after each of the Town and on reaching Cobar find a Caravan Park to freshen up.
  And so the trip transpired and it was uninspiring to some degree, interspersed with points of interest. My first stop from Broken Hill was at Little Topar Roadhouse where I here the steak sandwiches were good. As I pulled in to the driveway I noticed Police and Ambulance activity on the crest on the next rise just under a kilometre further on, obviously an accident. Inside, a young Rural Fire Brigade Volunteer told me that a Ute and caravan had run off the Hwy and that although injured the occupants were OK. The Steak sandwich was quite good after all and it was fun looking around, watching some locals and travellers come in for a feed and a beer before continuing on. I did drive past the accident on resuming my journey. What looked like a Hilux type Ute towing a large Caravan had flipped down a steep an embankment beside the road. The Ute looked repairable but the Van was a total wreck. It is around midday so I doubt if the driver fell asleep. More likely an oncoming Road train came a bit to close as they sometimes do and he moved too far left. Only police and Tow trucks were there now. No help need so I continued.

Little Topar Roadhouse

  The first overnight stop was well before Wilcannia, Spring Hills Rest Area. identified in "Camps Australia Wide". Four other Campers had the same idea to stay at this basic Rest Stop with a (clean) Drop toilet and a few trees providing protection from the sun. a bit of a chat here and there before setting up to retire.
  Next morning all had left except me, which is usual, I don't get up all that early most days. In under an hour I passed through the "No Stop" Wilcannia, a bit of a fortress Town with bars on all windows. It wasn't too bad, only some comments shouted from one of the Pubs as I slowly drove by. Although I had been warned about safety I have not heard any reports of any Travellers being harmed or of any thefts, only the verbal harassment from the Aboriginal locals. 

  Emmdale Roadhouse was reach by early afternoon, a possible Overnight. The all day breakfast was good but the camp wasn't as inviting, a patch of dirt next to a locked Toilet and Shower Block and it was not free. A quick look at my "Bible" and to Meadow Glen Rest Area I will go hoping that it will be Ok.

Emmdale Roadhouse

   And pleasant enough it was in the late afternoon sun shady, with plenty of spots on a red dirt base, the usual Drop Toilet and three or four rigs already set up far enough back from the Hwy so that passing traffic would not be an issue.

 

  The final leg to Cobar only a short distance and the same scrubby country. Worth a mention, there are thousands of Feral Goats living adjacent to the Hwy all the way from Broken Hill and they have eaten anything that they can reach. It must be a real problem for farmers as there are far to many to keep under control I suspect. Thankfully they don't seem to stray onto the roadway and tend to run off into the bush as I pass instead. If that wasn't the case the road would be impassable.

 

  Cobar had only one Caravan Park and capitalised, $35 per night for a single, the dearest by far for the trip so far and an expensive shower!
  Returning to the Hiace I noted a front Tyre was half flat. It is Saturday afternoon and no way to fix it until Monday. It looks like a weekend in Cobar for me.

SILVERTON NSW

Silverton is about as far west as I can travel on bitumen in NSW being only a few kilometres from the SA border. All that I had spoken to that had visited said that it is a must see place and I agree, I loved it. I would say it is about as "Outback" as a town can be. From the desolate road in to the red dust and absolutely no water anywhere. In fact one local Lady that I spoke to said that the last rain was about 15mm last May, almost exactly a year ago.
  Silverton I felt had a lot to offer even if there are only about 12 or so buildings in total. It calls itself a "Ghost Town" with only 60 residents but is in realty a popular Tourist destination. The village is now managed by the Silverton Village Committee, which includes members of the local community and two Government departments. There are a couple of Art Galleries, a Cafe, an old Gaol and School Museums and the famous Hotel. You may already know that Silverton's iconic outback nature has been attractive for tha makers of many movies and countless TV commercials. Did you know that Mad Max 2 ( which I believe was the first), A Town Like Alice, Wake in Fright, Race The Sun, Last Days of Chez Nous, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mission Impossible 11, Razor Back, Dirty Deeds and Reckless Kelly where all made or partially shot around Silverton. And the Town takes advantage of that fact, the Hotel proudly boasting that it featured in most if not all of them. I can see why it is what we all expect an outback Pub to look like. It is open for business and I had a meal of Bangers and Mash there.

The Hotel c1884

                        Council Chambers c1889



 

     An Art Gallery built by a Miner by hand c1880s.

        Some nice artwork but no Photos allowed.

 

 

A trip to the Gaol Museum was well worth the $3 admission. Inside was a wonderful collection of items from all aspects of 1880s to early 1900s. Each cell had been filled with artefacts with an explanation for everything. If you ever get to Silverton you must visit the Gaol.

 

 

Now for a bit of History. When persistent searching by Prospectors around the Barrier Ranges resulted in the discovery of Silver and  Lead there was a need for a Town and Silverton was born. The Township, surveyed in 1883 (and proclaimed on 20th April 1885) provided all the commercial requirements for the district. In September 1883 the population was 250 and peaked in 1885 at 3000.

  The Silverton Municipal Council was formed in October 1886 and held it's inaugural meeting in 1887, at the Council Chambers that still exist. In 1888, the Silverton Tramway Company opened a line linking with the SA rail line to the newly found Broken Hill field. Repeated requests to the NSW Government to lay the line were denied, so Australia's first privately owned Rail Company was formed.

  As Broken Hill's larger mines were established, Silverton fell into decline.The Municipal Council ceased operation in 1899 and Silverton came under the control of the NSW Government. With building materials in short supply, many of Silverton's buildings were dismantled and transported to Broken Hill on jinkers pulled by teams of Camels, Bullocks or Donkeys.

 

Next was the Mad Max 2 Museum. Actually there are many cars scattered around the Town that where either following the Mad Max theme or where decorated by the local Artists. At $7.50 entry fee, I didn't think it was worth looking at unconvincing replicas.

The Cars of Silverton

 

 



And finally to Penrose Park, established in 1937 as a recreation area for the local Miners and their families. A large Caravan Park with basic facilities and almost nobody else there. I really enjoyed the outback atmosphere, very little grass and heaps of red dust. Less than a kilometre from Silverton's Main Street it had a feeling that complemented the Town and it was cheap at $14 per night with Power. I eventually spent three days here. Although Toilets etc are basic there is a lot of potential here, a well equipped playground for kids, some shady areas and even a Tennis Court. The your Caretaker was friendly and only wanted all to have a pleasant stay.

An Evening at Penrose Park Silverton