The image that many people would have of a small Australian outback town would look a lot like Silverton. This small New South Wales settlement is located just 25km from Broken Hill, near the border with South Australia. The population is only 35 people and a small group of donkeys! There are a few buildings and a local pub, and at first glance, it would be natural to assume that there isn’t anything to do. But, appearances can be deceptive, there are nine interesting things to do in Silverton and the surrounding area.
We will explore these activities in more detail to help you get the most out of your visit to this fascinating little outback town.
1/ Explore Penrose Park
Penrose Park is a quiet camping ground with historic cottages, modern bunkhouses, and en-suite cabins for visitors. There are BBQ areas, playgrounds, tennis courts, and winter visitors can enjoy a drink next to the fire pits. This special location is located next to the Umberumberka Creek near the edge of the Mundi Mundi plain. This is a great place to stay if you’re visiting Silverton and Broken Hill which is only a 20-minute drive away.
2/ The Mad Max 2 Museum
Due to its dramatic vistas, Silverton has been used as a location for a number of notable TV shows and movies including the post-apocalyptic classic, Mad Max 2 starring Mel Gibson. For the longest time, there was nothing to commemorate the movie in the town, but Adrian Bennett, an avid English fan of the movie, established a museum in 2010.
The Mad Max 2 museum has the cars, trucks, memorabilia, and props from the movie, and some fascinating behind-the-scenes photographs. Visiting this museum can transport you to an alternate Australian future that thankfully never happened.
3/ Visit Silverton Gaol Museum
The Silverton Gaol Museum is a historic building that’s used to store important curios and memorabilia found in the region. There are 18 former cells and rooms to explore that are filled with interesting local artifacts. During the boom times, many miners and workers lived and moved through Silverton and the museum has a lot of information on their lives.
If you’re interested in a specific topic, you will discover that the rooms are organized to help you find what you want. It would be difficult to take in everything in a single visit, but even a casual stroll through the exhibits can be extremely interesting.
4/ Discover Silverton’s Historic Buildings
Silverton appears to be smaller than it is because it’s spread out and many of the older buildings have disappeared over the years. Those large gaps between the structures were previously filled with a wide variety of buildings and the town was a bustling hub. As you walk around the area, it almost feels like a Greek or Roman ruin where only a few buildings are still standing.
But, there are still culturally significant buildings to visit, including the public school (1888), the municipal chambers (1889), a small Masonic lodge, St Carthage Catholic Church (1886), and the Methodist Church (1885). Touring these buildings can give you a real sense of what Silverton used to be like and how much it’s changed over the years.
5/ Experience The Silverton Hotel
At some point, visitors arrive at the Silverton Hotel because it’s the heart of the community and aside from the bakery, it’s the only place to get a bite to eat. Luckily, the food is delicious, and this is a great place to enjoy a pint with the locals.
The walls of the hotel are covered with interesting bits of local heritage that are the source of many stories. The pub was founded in 1884, but the original building was badly damaged in a fire and the remains can be seen at the rear of the hotel.
On this very spot, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd (BHP) was founded. This huge company is also known by the nickname “the Big Australian” and it was incorporated on 13/8/1885 as a silver and lead mine up the road at Broken Hill.
The Silverton Hotel has outdoor drinking and eating areas and a stage for live music. Be warned, a quick visit to this pub for a meal can turn into a much longer and highly enjoyable part of your trip.
6/ Wander Through The Outback Pioneer Cemetery
This may seem like a grim topic, but visiting the Outback Pioneer Cemetery is one of the most interesting things to do in Silverton. Life in this area was extremely harsh with limited access to fresh food, poor sanitation conditions, mining accidents, typhoid outbreaks, and mining-related health conditions. In 1888 the local cemetery was founded and fenced off to give people a final resting place.
In the Outback Pioneer Cemetery, you can visit the burial places of Silverton pioneers including John Stokie who founded the Umberumberka Mine where Silverton was built to work.
Sadly many people and their children who succumbed to the harsh living and working conditions lacked the funds to afford even a simple headstone. Headstones transported to this remote area often arrived broken and some inferior marble examples are badly weathered.
The records were poorly kept, and many were lost over the years and we have no idea who or how many people are buried here. For this reason, new burials are not permitted in the area and a new section has been created for the current Silverton residents.
7/ Explore The Silverton Heritage Walk
The Silverton Heritage Walk will take around two hours to complete and you will need good walking shoes and some water to drink during the journey. This walk covers the town loop and Penrose Park passing a number of historic ruined buildings.
The path is signed and easy to follow, it passes the old rail cutting and the Umberumberka mine. This may be one of the best things to do in Silverton. This is a fantastic way to get the lay of the land and imagine how Silverton looked when it was a busy mining town.
8/ Take A Scenic Drive To Mundi Mundi Plains
The Mundi Mundi Lookout is located a few kilometres outside Silverton and it’s well worth the short drive to visit this spot. This is where the climactic chase at the end of Mad Max 2 was filmed. Even if you’re not an avid movie fan, this is still worth visiting because of the spectacular views of the Mundi Mundi Plains. The endless treeless plain extends right up to the horizon and you can even see the curvature of the Earth. At sunrise and sunset, this can be an excellent place to take stunning pictures.
9/ Enjoy Local Art Galleries
Broken Hill and the surrounding area, including Silverton, has a vibrant art scene. Much of the art created in this region is heavily influenced by the vibrant colours found in the outback. In Silverton, you can visit the John Dynon Art Gallery which was established 35 years ago.
This gallery is covered with distinctive brightly painted corrugated metal walls and inside you can find an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures, and installations. If the gallery is open, John Dynon will be around and he can often be found working on a piece of his art. As a gracious host, he is always happy to chat with his visitors and answer any questions you may have.
Another local art gallery is Beyond 39 Dips, operated by Jimmy and Lee Neilson where you can find leatherwork, photography, pottery, and paintings that are inspired by and produced in the area.
Art lovers can also visit Justin Cowz Authentic Art which is located in a romantic 1880s house that was restored by the artist and his wife. Here you can find original paintings, merchandise, prints, and other creative pieces for sale.
Wrapping Up Things To Do In Silverton
As you can see, there are at least nine interesting things to do in Silverton. Despite the initial stark appearance, you can explore the fascinating history, local art, Mad Max 2 trivia, good food, even better company, and unique vistas.
If you want to stay in the area and relax you can book one of the options at Penrose Park or camp there. This is an interesting town to visit and the close proximity to Broken Hill only expands the options for your next vacation.
Other Interesting Places To Visit In The Area
Things To See In Broken Hill
Broken Hill, known as the “Silver City,” is a captivating outback destination brimming with rich mining history, stunning art galleries, and iconic desert landscapes. Visitors can explore its vibrant culture, discover breathtaking views at the Living Desert Sculptures, and soak in the charm of its heritage-listed architecture.