Mario's Palace Hotel

Broken Hill NSW 2880 (Pop 21 000)

Broken Hill is located in far NW NSW 1 100 km west of Sydney and over 500 km n-e of Adelaide, the closest major city. Unlike the rest of NSW, it observes Australian Central Standard Time together with SA and NT. Despite being surrounded by semi desert, this isolated mining city is often called 'Oasis of the West' for its various parks and gardens with the water being piped from Lake Menindee 100 km away. It was named after the broken hill where silver ore was first found in 1883. Broken Hill is the country's longest lived-in mining city and has proved to be the world's largest silver/lead/zinc mineral deposit. Outback & All The Jazz Festival (Mar), National 4X4 Challenge (May), Country Music Festival (Oct).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Rail, Mineral & Train Museum, cnr Blende & Bromide Sts. Muslim Mosque, Buck St: built by Afghans in 1891. Zinc Twin Lakes, off Wentworth Rd: popular picnic area.

Nearby:
Silverton (27 km n-w): National Trust (1883) town where silver choloride was found. The town and its stark arid landscape have been used in a number of films - photos of which are featured on the walls of the Silverton Hotel. Silverton Gaol Museum. Mundi Mundi Plains Lookout (further 10 km north): with many open-cut mines and lakes.

Accommodation:
Broken Hill has over a dozen motels, 26 hotels, 14 holiday cottages/apartments, 5 B&Bs and two caravan parks.

Visitor Information Centre: Cnr Blende & Bromide Sts. Tel (08) 8087 6077 or 1300 557 036.

Airport:
Broken Hill Airport (BHQ) Bonanza St - off Silver City Hwy. Tel (02) 8080 2222. (4.5km south of CBD). 
  
Hospital:
Broken Hill Hospital, Thomas St. Tel (02) 8080 1578 or (02) 8080 1333.