Broken Hill

'The Silver City', as it is sometimes called, is and always been inextricably associated with the silver, lead and zinc mining. Many of the streets and named after metals, minerals and compounds, or after mine managers, leading citizens and civic leaders.

One of the most striking aspects of the town, apart from the number of pubs, is the remarkable aridity of the region.

The first Europeans to see the Barrier Range were Charles Sture and party in 1844.

Silverton

Once a thriving mining centre of 3000 Silverton is now a virtual ghost town of about 50 inhabitants with a number of historic buildings, several art galleries and museums and a pub and that is about it.

The first Eouropeans to see the Barrier Range were Charles Sturt and party during their trek from Adelaide in 1844 intended to prove or disprove the existence of an inland sea in the centre of Australia.

Pastoralists, who had followed in the wake of Srurt in the 1850s, moved futher west in the 1860s as river frontage disappearea along the Darling.

Wlicannia

The first Europen in the area was Maior Thoams Mitchell in1835. Mitchell had a majoy confrontation with the local Aborigines near present-day Wilcannia during which time he killed at least two people.

The setternent of the area by Victorian pastoralists began in the 1850s and by 27 January 1859 a steamer, the Albury had made its way up the river and reached the current site of Wilcannia which was know at the time as Mount Murchison station. Mount Murchison had been named by Mitchell.

Wilcannia, the name reputedly meant ' a gap in the bank where the flood waters escap' in the language of the local Aborigines.

Dubbo

In 1824 two squatters were given permission to set up large sheep and cattle propeties adjacent the Macquarie River. The first permanent settler was Robert Dulhunty. He choosing grazing land which he named 'Dubbo' just to the south of the present townsite. It is certain he took the word from the local Aborigines but its meaning is entirely unclear.

In 1839 Dulhunty may have established some kind of roadside inn and he certainly built a homestead at Dubbo in 1840 but he remained an absentee landlord until 1847 when his family finally moved from Emu plains to Dubbo. The first school in the district was a slab hut built on the Dubbo property in the 1840s.

In 1846 the government decided to establish law enforcement institutions at Dubbo. A crude slab police residence and lock-up became the first buildings on the furture townsite in1847. An equally rough courthouse was completed in early 1848 and a post office opened within the courthouse that same year.

A Happy Day In Holiday

The first of July was a busy and happy day! I got up at 7 am, then I woke my children up and gave them some bread and a cup of milk for their breakfast. After I had finished my breakfast I put all of the dirty clothes in the washing machine and did the washing. Then I cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen, it was a hard job for me to do and it took me two hours. After that I cooked dumpling for our lunch. At the afternoon, my family and I drove to a park. My children played football there and my husband and I lay on the grass for rest. We stayed there for a whole three hours and it was very cloudy. So we decided to leave. When we arrived home and took in all the clothes it started to rain. I thought that we arrived at a suitable time! At 5:30, I cooked dinner and had the dinner with my family. Then I gave my children a shower and put them to the bed and they fell asleep fast. Then I enjoyed the rest of that day. We are all tired but happy!