A Sense of Identity and a Sense of Place: Oral History and Preserving the Past in the Mining Community of Broken Hill
Author(s)
Landorf, Christine
Abstract
Broken Hill is a mining community of 23,000 people in the arid Far West of New South Wales, Australia. The city has been dominated by the mining industry since 1883 and has contributed greatly to the industrial growth and wealth of Australia. With closure of the last operational mine predicted by 2006, the mining company that remains has offered to lease the non-working surface infrastructure to the community for development as an educational and tourism center. The total site, including the residential areas of the city, is presented as a unique living museum of industrial heritage and cultural significance for Australia. This paper outlines the historical development of Broken Hill and discusses the use of oral history in the design of key elements of the Line of Lode Project.
