Wednesday 6 June 2012 - Silverton (home of Mad Max - exploring)

Km’s Travelled Today – 108 kms
Trip meter reset to 0

Car from Mad Max Film

Fuel Costs & Consumption
Fill up Broken Hill
Petrol @ $1.63; 34.86 litres $53.19
LPG @ $84.7; 63.82 litres $54.06

Comments -  Luke Baker

Today I went to an underground silver mine.  We went down 130 feet.  Afterwards we at jam and cream scones.  We also went to the Silverton pub for lunch.  This is where Mad Max was filmed.  At this afternoon we watched the sun go down past all of the sculptures.  This was held in the living desert.  Plus I saw Jack the Corella, he was a very good dancer.  Also I saw Sarah Jane the horse she had heaps of plats in her hair.  Last of all I met a very friendly sheep.

Most importantly an astronomer from Coonabarabran let us look through his telescope to see Venus go past the sun.  How lucky were we as this event will not occur until another 105 years from now.

Comments -  Nicole and Mark (Mum and Dad)
Today we saw just how beautiful the outback can be.  It is truly amazing how a whole lot of space with red dirt, dry creeks full of bright pink galahs and blue skies can be. Kevin was our guide today at the Day Dream Underground mine.  He was a true character and described Dick Smith as Australia’s only possible saviour.  The Cornish he described were small people who discovered iron ore seams in Silverton;  here as young as 8 (yes children I say) did not live long as the air they breathed and lead they inhaled would eventually kill them.  Miners were paid an extra pound per week than Stockman, however lived 20 years less than them.

Chardy at sunset at Living Desert Sanctuary

After our tea and home-made scones, we made our way into the township of Silverton.  Absolutely beautiful, including the weather.  The first time the sun has been out all day.  The pub was delightful and we found ourselves talking with complete strangers including the guy we met at the tourist office.   We met Andy Jenkins (a 1949 model) at his Coin Carvery; he cuts Australian pennies and coats them in 24ct gold making them into stunning jewellery; unfortunately for Andy we are not baby boomers or grey nomads so there were no 1969 or 1970 pennies for him to cut - $180 a pop mind you, but his work is amazing and worth every penny...lol.

Didn’t go into the Mad Max museum, however we did head back into Broken Hill (25 km drive) to visit the Sculptures and living Desert Sanctuary an hour before sunset. There are 12 rock sculptures at the top of a lookout with 360 degree views.  The hillside is an artwork of international standing and the views were incredible, even better with a glass of Chardy J