Updates / News

Broken Hill’s Living Desert and Sculptures Tell Stories From Around the Globe

Broken Hill has long been known as a centre of excellence for the art of painting. Lawrence Beck, a Gosford based sculptor, proposed holding a Symposium to add sculpture to Broken Hill’s art culture. 53 tonnes of sandstone were transported from the Wilcannia area to the Living Desert State Park.

Within the Living Desert Reserve are two must see major attractions – the sculptures and the flora and fauna sanctuary.

The Living Desert Sculptures

The Sculptures comprise 12 sandstone artworks which highlight the skyline, all with a story to tell.

Featuring artworks from across Australia, as well as Mexico, Georgia, Bathurst Island and Syria—to name a few—the collection of sculptures are located on a majestic hilltop within the centre of the reserve.

To reach the sculptures, follow the Sculpture Symposium Walking Track from the Living Desert Picnic Area for approximately 900m, estimated to take most people around 20 minutes to complete (one-way).

The Flora and Fauna Sanctuary

The Flora and Fauna Sanctuary comprises an area of 180 hectares bordered by an electric predator-proof fence. This sanctuary has been planned and designed carefully to provide visitors with a unique insight into flora, fauna and Aboriginal culture of western New South Wales. This is truly a sanctuary with a difference; the one and a half kilometre cultural trail within the sanctuary takes you on a journey through the Arboretum and Sturt Pea Wildflower display, Aboriginal attractions display past culture and recent contemporary story pole artwork.

The information in this article was originally published by Visit NSW and Broken Hill City Council.

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Acknowledgement of Country

Wherever and whenever we walk, we acknowledge and pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians and Owners of the land.