Silverton, New South Wales

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Abandoned church in Silverton

Silverton (31°52′S 141°14′E) is a small village at the far west of New South Wales, Australia, 25 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill. The town sprung up after the discovery of rich silver deposits, although it was soon eclipsed by an even richer silver-lead-zinc ore body at nearby Broken Hill.

One of many galleries in Silverton

Prospectors began working in the area in 1867 when a local claimed to have found gold there. It was later discovered that his plan was merely a pretext for stealing a horse. Some years later, two men drilling a well in the area hit a lode of silver. The town's population exploded, reaching a peak around 3,000 in the 1890's. The discovery of an even richer silver-lead-zinc ore body in nearby Broken Hill led to a sudden decline in Silverton's population, and by 1901 it was home to less than 300. Today, it is inhabited by only a handful of people, including many artists.

Replica Mad Max car outside Silverton Hotel

Most of the buildings have now vanished, but there are some interesting buildings that remain, including the Silverton Hotel and the Silverton Gaol. The hotel has appeared in many films thanks to its desert surrounds, and the inside walls are covered with memorabilia. A replica car from Mad Max is parked outside. There are still remains of the Silverton Tramway for railway enthusiasts.

There is a certain eeriness about the deserted town's scattered buildings, treeless hills, and views towards endless plains of emptiness.

If you drive a little way out of the main town you will come upon a lookout with probably the best view in Australia. It looks over the Mundi Mundi plains and is commonly referred to as looking out into the Never Never. A fantastic place to view the sunset