Broken Hill Mining Museum & Whites Mineral Art Gallery

Whites Mineral Art Gallery & Mining Museum is one of Broken Hill’s most distinctive heritage attractions, created by former miner and artist Kevin “Bushy” White. It blends art, history, and personal storytelling, offering visitors an intimate look at Broken Hill’s mining culture.

At the centre of the gallery is mineral art; a style that Kevin White pioneered. While working underground as a miner, White began experimenting with crushed rocks and minerals from the Line of Lode. Initially, it was a way to pass the time and use materials close at hand. Over time, he refined his technique, arranging finely ground minerals of different natural shades to depict local landscapes, mine headframes, and scenes of daily life. His works captured the colours and textures of the land itself, turning Broken Hill’s ore into a medium for storytelling. What started as a miner’s pastime grew into a unique art form now recognised as one of the city’s creative treasures.

The gallery also houses an extensive mining museum. Here visitors can explore mining lamps, helmets, drills, and tools once used underground, alongside models of machinery and recreated mine settings. These displays highlight the difficult conditions and ingenuity of miners, offering an insider’s view that is both practical and personal.

Adding a touch of variety, is Betty White’s a doll collection containing over 1,000 items.

What to Expect

A visit to the museum and gallery takes the form of a 60-minute guided tour (in September 2025). The guide takes visitors through the gallery of mineral art, explaining how they were created. The section of the museum covering mining includes a history of Broken Hill and dioramas of underground mining.

Located at 1 Allendale St in Broken Hill, parking is available on the street outside the museum.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.