"Hollywood of the Outback" Silverton by M0B1US

Silverton Travel Guide: 11 reviews and 39 photos

Highlights (i.e. best things to do)

This Silver mining boom-town of the late 19th century is now a virtual 'ghost town', with inhabitants numbering approximately 80 from a high of 3000 in 1885. It is a pleasant 23km drive from Broken Hill to view the few buildings now remaining.

Silverton has captured the imagination of filmmakers worldwide. The rustic, dilapidated and virtually-abandoned feel of Silverton is a perfect backdrop. Some of the old buildings have been restored, and others were left untouched for their visual impact. There was a general town clean-up and make-over if you can call it that, actors were brought in and the cameras started to roll.

Films like Mad Max 2, Golden Soak, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, A Town Like Alice, Blue Lightning, Hostage, Razorback, Journey into Darkness, Wake in Fright, the Slim Dusty movie - 45 movies all up - all have sequences filmed right in Silverton. The place almost overnight had taken on the image of an 'Outback Hollywood'.

Once the film crews died down, a continuing stream of others have been heading into town to shoot commercials, promotions, travelogues and documentaries, all featuring the now famous Silverton backdrop.

Midnight Oil, Mick Jagger, INXS, Coca-Cola and an estimated 80 other teams have been here, all looking to capture the Outback Silverton flavor.

Quick tips/suggestions:

Downtown Silverton

You really need about a day to explore Silverton properly. The main sights are listed below in no particular order:-

Peter Browne Gallery

Coin Carvery

John Dynon Gallery

Horizon Gallery

Shane Gehlert Gallery

Opal Collection

Penrose Park

Pioneering Museum

Silverton Hotel

Mundi Mundi Lookout

Umberumberka Reservoir

Old Gaol Museum

Self Guided Heritage Trail - 2 hours. Begins at Penrose Park

Silverton Camel Farm - Camel Treks

For more detailed information on Silverton History, various publications are on sale at the Visitors Information Centre in Broken Hill. Ph 080 87 6077

Best Way to Get Around

Silverton Town Hall, built just before the end...

Basically there's the car. There are tours that run from Broken Hill as well, many of which link up with the Indian-Pacific train that stops there so that the adventurous can go for a gander.

It is also feasible to cycle to Silverton as it is only about 23km from Broken Hill, however it does get bloody hot at all times of the year - so you would have to be pretty certifiable to do that!

Silverton is #3 out of my four 'NSW Outback' pages. If you are thinking of visiting Silverton, you should read my Broken Hill page as the only way to get there is through nearby Broken Hill.

To gain a greater understanding of the region, you should read my other Outback pages...

#1: Wilcannia - An disturbing insight into the plight of Australia's Aborigines.

#2: White Cliffs - The nearest thing Australia has to a Martian Colony.

#3: Broken Hill - Art, Mining, Flying Doctors - it has it all!

Pros and Cons

Pros:The real Australian Outback!
Cons:Damned Hot and Damned difficult to get to!
In a nutshell:The Real Australia, where men are men and the Sheep are scared!

Last visit to Silverton: Dec 2002
Intro Updated Dec 15, 2003
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Reviews (7)

All aboard the Camel Express! - Silverton

Silverton Camel Farm Things to Do (3)

Ever wanted to ride a camel? Well here you can take one for a spin for as little as AU$15 for half an hour (our... more travel advice

Before and After renovation... - Silverton

Home of Good Food, Drink & Old Bottles Restaurants (1)

After traipsing round this little dust bowl of a town and nursing slightly sore butts from the camel ride, we felt that... more travel advice

Those cute horses... Warnings Or Dangers (1)

On the road in to Silverton, chances are that you will see a small group of horses foraging by the roadside - you might... more travel advice

Horizon Gallery Things to Do (3)

Just off the main road in Silverton is Albert Woodroffe's Horizon Gallery, which occupies one of Silverton's old stores.... more travel advice

Off The Beaten Path (1)
Mundi Mundi Plains

Nightlife (1)
Cinematic Chameleon

Travelogues (1)

Written Feb 5, 2003

8 photos

In and around Silverton

1 - 1 of 1

Comments (9)

aussiedoug May 4, 2005 at 6:59 AM Report Abuse

No sheep at Silverton. Camels yep, donekeys yep, but no sheep. We Aussies usually use that saying in reference to New Zealand. lol!
iandsmith Feb 21, 2004 at 4:13 AM Report Abuse

Great page, you've made me feel inadequate!
FOotFetish Nov 8, 2003 at 8:34 PM Report Abuse

now where are my ratings??? :D Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
sabsi Apr 8, 2003 at 1:52 PM Report Abuse

wahey, i found henry the camel. he is even better in the big pic than in the passport :) lovely!
Kate-Me Mar 16, 2003 at 3:37 PM Report Abuse

Loved the Camel close up shot!
Silverton looks just as I remember it (if not better!) Gee, years ago when I saw the horses I thought they were semi wild Brumbies, LOL
craic Mar 15, 2003 at 10:47 AM Report Abuse

What a corker page! Just loved it!
Kristina1701 Feb 17, 2003 at 12:16 PM Report Abuse

art galleries in the outback!?! *lol* sounds interesting
CandS Feb 16, 2003 at 12:51 PM Report Abuse

Great page! I didn't think to make a seperate page on Silverton...might do that... :)
orlikins Feb 6, 2003 at 8:29 AM Report Abuse

Plenty of places in Ireland with scared sheep too ;-))