Silverton New South Wales
Silverton New South Wales was established in the 1880s after the discovery of silver deposits in the Barrier Ranges. By the mid-1880s it had boomed into a mining town with a population of several thousand, complete with banks, shops, hotels, a jail, churches, and even a stock exchange. However, the richer and more extensive ore bodies at nearby Broken Hill soon drew miners and investment away, leading to Silverton’s decline. Many of its buildings were dismantled and moved to Broken Hill, leaving behind a scattering of structures that remain today.
Despite its decline, Silverton never vanished entirely. Its historic buildings, desert surroundings, attracted artists, filmmakers, and tourists from the 20th century onwards. Only a 20-minute drive from Broken Hill, it’s a must-see destination if visiting the area.
Present Use
Today Silverton is primarily a tourism and arts village. Only a few dozen people live there permanently, but it receives large numbers of visitors for its history, film connections, art galleries, and outback character. The town preserves and interprets its heritage while also serving as a hub for creative industries.
Mad Max and Film Connections
Silverton is world-famous for its role as a filming location. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) was partly shot in and around Silverton, using its stark desert landscape as a backdrop. Since then, many other productions; commercials, TV series, and films have used Silverton’s outback scenery. The town embraces this connection with the Mad Max 2 Museum, a private museum filled with memorabilia, vehicles, and props celebrating the film and its cult following.
Silverton Hotel
The Silverton Hotel, first licensed in 1884, is one of the most iconic outback pubs in Australia. Rebuilt after fire in the 1910s, it remains the heart of the community. The hotel has featured in numerous films, advertisements, and photo shoots. Today it serves cold drinks, meals, and a friendly welcome for travellers, and its walls are decorated with historic and film memorabilia. The wide veranda and desert backdrop make it one of the most photographed pubs in the country.
Other Attractions
- Art Galleries: Silverton is home to several artist studios and galleries, reflecting the long tradition of Broken Hill and outback art. The desert light and stark landscapes continue to inspire painters and photographers.
- Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum: Located in the old gaol (built 1889), this museum holds a diverse collection of artefacts, photographs, mining relics, household items, and historical displays telling the story of Silverton and the region.
- St Carthage’s Catholic Church & Other Heritage Buildings: Several historic stone buildings remain, including the church, the courthouse, and schoolhouse ruins, which give visitors a sense of the once-bustling mining town.
- Daydream Mine (nearby): Located between Silverton and Broken Hill, this historic mine offers underground tours that interpret the early mining history of the region.
Our Visit to Silverton
We visited early morning in September 2025, to see the town while no one else was there. We were able to walk around the buildings and admire the wide desert surroundings. Most of the buildings have information boards to provide their history. Several derelict cars (some painted) are dotted around town; some were used in Mad Max 2.
Some of the more interesting ruins were fenced off, but others were able to be entered where we took photos.
One of the major attractions was the Silverton Hotel, which was open, so we had a coffee (it was early) while looking at the film memorabilia and photos that cover all the walls. It must be one of the few buildings in town still used for its original purpose, as many others are now art galleries, museums or accommodation.
This was a great visit and lived up to our expectations.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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