Bell’s Milk Bar
On Thursday mornings the Indian Pacific train stops at the outback town of Broken Hill and travellers are invited on a tour; starting with scones, tea and coffee, milkshakes and spiders at Bell’s Milk Bar.
Maria Island
We hadn’t planned to visit Maria Island but after my car broke down in a tiny coastal town with no real drawcard other than being the jetting-off point for the ferry to Maria Island, we decided this must be the best way to kill time while we wait for car repairs.
Wild Misty Mountain
In the midst of lockdown, Jemma, a classical singer from the Mornington Peninsula, found herself pining for a tree change.
Uncle Badger, Artist & Activist, Broken Hill Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
I met Uncle Badger one evening at his home in Broken Hill, where he was talking to US journalists about the Murray Darling water issues.
Petah, Camel Tour Guide, Silverton Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
Petah first came to Broken Hill in the 90s to work here in the police force.
Jack, Writer, Broken Hill Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
Jack is a writer, who moved to Broken Hill in 2011, after hearing about a story of a murder, and the wrong guy going to prison for it back in the 50s.
Alex, Analogue Recording Engineer, Campbells Creek, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Alex lives on a rambling property on Main Road of Campbells Creek. The building/s have been many things in its life but originally was a gold mining supply store, built in 1857.
Bridget, Actor, radio presenter, academic, Barkers Creek, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Bridget moved to Castlemaine many years ago so that her child could attend the Steiner school here. She lives in a house up on a hill, overlooking acres of bush and dams below.
Jess, Musician & Gardener, Campbells Creek, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Jess came to Castlemaine to escape a rough breakup four years ago; she originally just came for the night but while at the pub she met someone looking for a housemate, and someone else offered her a job at the local brewery.
Liz, Steiner School Teacher, Muckleford, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Liz has always lived in the country - her parents lived a nomadic life where they moved every six years when she was a child.
Keiran, Film-maker, Chewton Bushlands, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Keiran spent the first years of his life on the very same property he lives now. Back then there was no house, there was only a toilet up the hill with a crack in the seat that would pinch your butt when you sat on it.
Nikki, Kangaroo Carer, Castlemaine, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Nikki has lived in Elphinstone for seven years, on a sixty acre property that she and her partner Scott have converted into a kangaroo sanctuary.
Skip, Arborist & Collector, somewhere outside of Castlemaine, Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Skip grew up on King Island in the Bass Strait, before his family relocated to Maldon. At fifteen Skip ran away from home to hitchhike his way to music festivals in the late 70s.
Aimee, Musician & Film-maker, Broken Hill Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
Aimee has lived all over Australia, but she moved back here to her hometown of Broken Hill about seven years ago.
Alex & Ollie, Gallery Assistant & Carpenter, Broken Hill, Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
Alex and Ollie are from Victoria, they got stuck here in one of the lockdowns and weren’t at all disappointed about it. They started dating, and moved into a little corrugated iron house up on the hill.
Dan, Film-maker, PhD student, Broken Hill Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
Dan came to Broken Hill to work on a film about water rights in the Baaka. He stayed and is now studying a PhD on water policy.
Brett, Motel Care-taker, Broken Hill Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
I met Brett one morning when he unlocked the pool gate for me at the motel, he said I was crazy to swim in the morning when it’s only twenty four degrees out, unless I was hungover.
Peter & Patsy, Publicans, Silverton Hotel, Silverton, Wilyakali / Barkindji Country
Peter and Patsy live in Silverton with their kelpie, Teddy - who barks at ghosts, and they run the only pub left standing in Silverton.