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Upcoming Events for Broken Hill

Broken Hill is hosting a large number of conferences and events this year - Check them out to see if your favourite musician is coming to town or if you'll need to get in early for accommodation!!!!

MAJOR EVENTS:
For more information please visit http://www.visitbrokenhill.com.au/events.asp

Keith Potger
19th July 2008

The Drifters
26th July 2008

The Australian Ballet presents The Dancers Company
2nd August 2008

125th Anniversary of Broken Hill Celebrations
5th - 7th September 2008

Motorcycle Show
11th - 14th September 2008

Ghost Town Rally
13th - 14th September 2008

Ladies Probus Club - Friendship Day
15th September 2008

Willyama Art Society Exhibition
4th - 18th September 2008

Lions Club Conference
10th - 12th October 2008

Red Desert - LIVE! 2008
11th October 2008

Local Government & Shires Association Conference
24th-29th October 2008
Broken Hill is expecting over 700 delegates from all parts of NSW to attend this conference. If you are planning a trip to our fine city at this time, please arrange your accommodation prior to leaving.

Country Women's Association of NSW Conference
4th - 7th May 2009
If you are planning a trip to our fine city at this time, please arrange your accommodation prior to leaving.

Australia vs New Zealand Indoor Bias Bowls Test
11th - 16th May 2009

To view the full list of events, please go to the What's On section of our website or click on http://www.visitbrokenhill.com.au/events.asp

BUSIEST YEAR EVER FOR THE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

Broken Hill  - At 5.00pm on the 30^th June, the Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre had provided tourism services to over 189,000 people this financial year.

The centre was opened in 1981 and the visitor numbers in 1981/1982 showed  83,623 people through the doors. Up until 2008, the busiest year had been 2003/2004 with 150,540 visitors. “The staff at the Visitor Centre have done a remarkable job this year” says Manager Community Development, Fiona Ellis. “These visitor figures mean that each staff member has served over 100 people per day. A remarkable achievement”

Tourism New South Wales advises that approximately 50% of visitors to an Outback region will seek advice from the Visitor Information Centre at some time during their holiday. “This means that that there may have been up to 370,000 visitors to Outback NSW in the last financial year. This is wonderful for the tourism operators and a real boost for all businesses in the region”.

With rising fuel prices and interest rates, tourism in NSW is not expected to grow strongly in the next 10 years according to Tourism New South Wales. “ Broken Hill has really gone against the trend with a significant increase in domestic and international visitors. We hope that this will continue and with the Broken Hill Tourism Advisory Group and Broken Hill City Council working together,  we will continue to market the city as effectively as possible to keep the visitor numbers strong in the future.”

Reel Deal 2008 Short Film Festival

Registrations and creative brief for the thrid annual Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Short Film Festival commence on Friday, 4th April 2008.

The Reel Deal has been especially designed to identify, nurture and support Australia's film makers of the future. There's over $20 000 in cash and prizes to be won again this year, including the Bryan Brown Film Scholarship, value at over $5000.

Anyone can enter - the Commonwealth Bank Reel Deal Film Festival is a grassroots event where filmmakers, students and the general public can complete on level playing field.

 WHAT'S NEW IN 2008?

There are a few new developments for this year's festival. Basically, film makers will only have two requirements for their 2008 entries. Films will have to use either Bankstown or Broken Hill in at least one location shot, and they will have to incorporate one specific item or theme, which will be divulged on April 4. Animation entries, whilst not bound by the rule, will have to use the same theme or item.

This year film makers will also be given 3 months to develop and produce their films instead of the usual 4 weeks. It is hoped that this new criteria will allow even greater freedom for film makers in both content and location.

For further information, contact: Linda Joannides P: 02 8707 6904 E: linda@revesbyworkersclub.com.au

Launch of 'Broken Hill - The Accessible Outback' Edition 16

On Thursday 28th February 2008, The Broken Hill - Accessible Outback Ed 16 was launched at Kevin "Bushy" Whites Mining Museum.

Manager Community Development, Fiona Ellis, says "The 16th edition of the Accessible Outback has been produced by local company Miner Design and 150,000 copies will be available for distribution in Australia and overseas. Since the book was first published in 1992, over 1.6 million copies have been distributed."
"This year, Broken Hill celebrates 125 years of continuous mining and it is very appropriate that we have been able to use Kevin "Bushy" White's mineral artwork on the cover of the book."
The artwork depicts the Council crest above ground and miners working below ground. The work is surrounded by Barrier Industrial Council badges with the different colours showing day, afternoon and night shifts.
The original artwork will be on display at the Broken Hill Visitor Centre for the next 12 months.

Visitor Information Centre celebrates millionth visitor!

Yesterday the Visitor Information Centre saw its millionth visitor coming through the door since January 2000.
Mrs Tostevin who is travelling with her husband to Brisbane got showered with party poppers and surprised with gift vouchers about $300 worth.
Fiona Ellis, city council's tourism manager, congratulated the couple.
About 150,000 tourists are visiting the Information Centre each year.

- Photo by Gavin Schmidt/Barrier Daily Truth -

Happy Birthday Broken Hill

On the 16th of July 1907 Broken Hill was proclaimed a city under the Local Government Act after fulfilling all the requirements, like 20,000 pounds in the bank and a population exceeding 30,000. Blue and gold were the colours awarded to Broken Hill despite an argument with Parramatta, who also wanted them.
Broken Hill was the first city in Far West NSW and one of the first in the state to be proclaimed.

Website sponsored as an Aust. Govt. Initative

The www.visitbrokenhill.com.au website was an Australian Government Initative in 2004. The Broken Hill City Council and the Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre acknowledges the support of Mr John Cobb, MP, Federal Member for Parkes.

The WIDE Canvas coffee table book is an Australian Government Initative. This booklet may be obtained by contacting the BROKEN HILL VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE, PO Box 448, BROKEN HILL NSW 2880 or email: tourist@brokenhill.nsw.gov.au for your copy.

" The WIDE Canvas gives a glimpse of the colours, the people, the history and the geography of Broken Hill and the Far West region of NSW." ...says Mr Cobb.