Silverton, more than Mad Max...
Silverton (pop: less than 100, plus a lot of visitors) is a small, historic town located about 25 km northwest of Broken Hill in far western NSW. Established in the 1880`s during the silver mining boom, Silverton was once thriving with thousands of residents. Later, when richer ore bodies were discovered in nearby Broken Hill, the town's population declined sharply. Today, Silverton is largely preserved as a heritage town and tourist destination. It features several historic buildings, including the iconic Silverton Hotel, and has served as a backdrop for numerous films and commercials, such as Mad Max 2. Art galleries, museums, and quirky attractions showcase its cultural legacy and mining history. Despite its small population, Silverton remains a vibrant hub for visitors seeking a unique blend of history, art, and cinematic scenery in the Australian outback.
Welcome to Silverton on the road from Broken Hill, evoking memories of the town`s distant and recent past. [3047]
Road sign in Silverton pointing the way to Broken Hill, Mundi Mundi and Umberumberka. [3037]
Aerial view of Silverton NSW. That`s the drone pilot, bottom right. [0963]
Daydream Mine, pumping out silver before Broken Hill...
The Daydream Mine, located near Silverton, is one of the oldest and most historically significant mining sites in the region. Established a few years before the discovery of silver in Broken Hill in 1883, the mine extracted silver, lead, and zinc from rich ore deposits in the area. It was known for its high-quality silver. The mine`s fortunes fluctuated, and by the early 1900`s, it was in decline, eventually ceasing large-scale operations in the 1920`s. Today, as a tourist attraction, the Daydream Mine represent a significant slice of Australia`s early mining history. The site maintains several historic buildings, including the old headframe, mining equipment, and features an underground tour. Ruins of a smelter are nearby.
Signage at the Day Dream Mines, shows the years of operation as 1882-1983. [2951]
Visitors waiting for their underground tour at Silverton`s Day Dream Mine. [2958]
Delicious fresh scones and tea is included in the tour at the Day Dream Mine. [1028]
The office of the Day Dream Mine features a lot of old mining memorabilia. It looks like the front room of the old homestead. [2953]
Kevin, the Day Dream Mine`s owner, with his arms wide apart. We don`t think he was describing a fish that he had caught. [2964]
The sign over a covered mine says `Danger - Deep Shaft - Keep Away'. [2956]
Steam engines on display at the Day Dream Mine. Signage said these were made in England, shipped to Adelaide, and walked to the site by bullock teamsters. They were used as mobile pumpjack motors. [2969]
A restored miner`s house on the Day Dream Mine site. The original would have been covered with hessian. [2972]
Mining memorabilia and photographs displayed underground at Day Dream, but this mine was not Zinc Corporation! [2983]
A wheelbarrow half buried in the underground rubble of the Day Dream Mine. Kevin explained how short-statured Cornish miners could manage to work in such confined conditions. [2984]
Kevin explains how the Day Dream Mine worked underground. [2985]
An illustration of the lighting conditions in a pitch-black underground mine. Candle-light only goes so far! [2989]
Detail of the shoring up of the Day Dream Mine ceiling. [2996]
Chimney and ruins are all that are left of the processing plant and smelter at Silverton`s Day Dream Mine. [2946]
The iconic Silverton Hotel and more...
Established in 1882 at the height of Silverton`s mining boom, the Silverton Hotel is the hub of the town, and the focus of its attraction to visitors. The hotel`s rustic, weathered facade and charming interior reflect its long history, having served as a social hub for miners, travelers, and locals for over a century. The hotel`s main claim to fame is its role in Australian film history, having appeared in numerous films, most famously Mad Max 2 (1981). Its quirky decor, with vintage photos and mining memorabilia, adds to the charm. The remains of the town are scattered over a wide area with only substantial buildings still standing. There is little trace of the jerry-built shanties and shacks which must have housed the thousands of miners and their families and supporters.
Silverton Hotel, the hub of this tiny town west of Broken Hill, is famous for its roles in many movies, and in particular its exploitation of Mad Max 2. [3001]
The front bar of the Silverton Motel is festooned with merchandise, memorabilia and off-colour jokes. [3002]
Pity we weren`t there when a gig was on. The outdoor stage at the Silverton Hotel looks pretty cool. [3003]
Looking like a painting, two churches are the only buildings still standing in this part of Silverton. [3009]
The very rustic John Dynon Gallery in Silverton specialises in artworks made from junk. [3010]
This painted beetle is featured at Silverton`s John Dynon Gallery. [3013]
A lonely, sandy intersection at the edge of Silverton. [3017]
The Mad Max 2 Museum in Silverton houses every movie artifact they could get their hands on. [3019]
Like the building next door, this Silverton cafe has not stood the test of time. [3020]
An occupied dunny in the front of the Art Glass Studio & Gallery in Silverton. [3026]
Wild lavender adorns a neglected churchyard in Silverton. [3034]
Something about this bush in Silverton appeals to galahs. [3035]
Old buildings in Silverton. We think that is a mounted propellor on the right. [3126]
High powered junk art scooter found in Silverton. [3128]
