Broken Hill and Wentworth Trip Travelling Group. 28 May – 1 June 2007.
Twenty four members plus eighteen passengers from Burwood Combined Probus, Melbourne Travel Club and Coach Tours of Australia set off on a 5 day tour to Broken Hill and Wentworth.Leaving Melbourne we followed the Calder Hwy north through Bridgewater, Charlton and Sea Lake where we stopped for lunch. Thank goodness two cafes were open, as the two hotels in town were not serving meals that day! We arrived at the Wentworth Grande Resort and settled into very comfortable rooms (some with spas). After our evening meal some members tried their luck on the pokies, but they don’t pay out any better than in Melbourne. We awoke to heavy rain next day, but this didn't detract from our sightseeing of Wentworth (where the Murray and Darling Rivers meet) and Mildura.
We visited Woodsies Gem Shop (Aust. largest gemstone collection) and Rio Vista, the 1891 home of the city's founder, W. B. Chaffey. The home is currently being restored to the splendour of its earlier years and houses significant works of art. After lunch we drove 300km along the Silver City Hwy to Broken Hill and settled into our motel for the next two nights.
We awoke to clear blue skies next day and enjoyed breakfast served to our rooms (a blast from the past). A local guide Roger, who was a wealth of knowledge, having lived there all his life, took us on a tour of Broken Hill and Silverton. We visited Pro Hart and Jack Absalom’s art galleries – both very different and interesting. From the top of the “Line of Lode” (7 kilometre strip of what was the biggest deposit of silver, lead and zinc in the world) we enjoyed a great view of the town and saw the Miners Memorial which was built in remembrance of more than 800 miners who had died.
Before leaving Broken Hill on Day 4 we visited the Silver City Mint and Art Centre which features the “Big Picture” by Peter Anderson. We viewed the world’s largest painting on canvas which took over 2 years to paint. The centre also houses an impressive array of silver and opal jewellery.
From there we made our way to Silverton where a BBQ lunch awaited us at the pub. In 1885 Silverton’s population peaked at 3000, but today less than 60 people live there. It is a popular location for movies and TV commercials. A few historical buildings remain. The day ended with a visit to the Living Desert and Sculpture Symposium – magic views at sunset. Twelve of the finest sculptors from around the world were invited to create Sandstone artworks set on a hilltop.Then it was back on the bus for the return trip to Wentworth with a stop for a bush picnic lunch along the way.
On our last night we enjoyed a 3 hour cruise and spit roast dinner on the Paddle Steamer Mundoo. The music enticed some
of our members to kick up their heels on the dance floor.
All too quickly it was time to return to Melbourne via the Murray Valley Hwy through Robinvale and Swan Hill. The trip
was well organised and led by Helen Rayner from the Melbourne Travel Club. Coach Tours of Aust. provided a very
comfortable coach and friendly driver named Rod, who travelled all the way from Sunbury to collect us. Unfortunately
one of the Burwood ladies tripped while walking near our motel in Broken Hill and broke her wrist, but was well looked
after at the hospital. A very enjoyable 5 days spent with a great group of people.