If you’ve ever wondered what Broken Hill was all about, then you need to come to the Geocentre. Inside, visitors can experience the stories of how the rich ore body was formed and the wealth of beautiful minerals found in the region. The formation of the ore body is told in an 8-minute audio-visual program that takes the visitor from the Big Bang that produced the Universe through to the discovery and mining of Broken Hill’s vast, rich resources.
The mineral gallery with its wonderful lighting shows off the beauty and complexity of the extensive range of mineral specimens found in the region.
Visitors can also enjoy the temporary exhibition gallery with changing displays, an original miners’ cottage built in 1905 and a range of jewellery, minerals, books and souvenirs for sale.
The Building:
Even before you enter the Geocentre, you are looking at a piece of Broken Hill’s unique architectural heritage. The building is considered the only surviving, unaltered warehouse in Broken Hill. It was built in 1892 as the offices and bond store for the South Australian Brewing Company. From 1923 to 1973 it was a warehouse for Seppelt and Son.
By 1984 the building was in disrepair and the Broken Hill City Council purchased it. The building was renovated in the 1980s and opened as the Geocentre, an interpretive centre for the minerals and geology of Broken Hill, in 1993.