In the days of old when "outback" meant "behind the shed", a huge heap of mullock was discovered by a boundary rider known as Rasping Charles (he had one heck of a cough).

He and "Chainsaw" McCulloch pegged their claim on what became known as "Broken Downs", near the small township of Underumbrella.

They called in a few favours and soon established a mining company known as BDP. BDP stood for "Broken Down Property". While BDP’s sister company, BHP, moved into steel production and became Australia’s largest company, BDP moved into crime to steel production from large companies.

The BDP venture was in direct competition with another mine known as the Stink Corporation at the southern end of the field. The Stink Corp was mining sulphides to produce rotten egg gas (which is how it came by its name) and as a waste by-product, produced large amounts of silver, lead and zinc, which were later considered an environmental hazard.

The internationally famous Mad Max movies were shot in another nearby small township known as Sulphurton, with some scenes shot in the Mute Whinger National Park (named after a squealer silenced by the mob).

Other movies had scenes shot in this region including "Razorback" and "A Town Like Alice".

Through union rule, the mob had a hand in many ventures, including the Flying Doctor, originally called in as a kneecap specialist.

The Federal Government set up a secret outback listening post, known as Spying Gap, to keep tabs on the mob’s activities.

Bart Ralftrill once worked in the town of Broken Downs, although there are persisting rumours that he was sent up to Mt. Spiesa to check on illicit rotten egg gas activities up there.

Enough of the serious stuff, lets get down to the real business, Stefano Cirilo’s recent visit to the mecca for Australian mineral collectors. Read on…….

DEAR DIARY - A VISIT TO BROKEN HILL

I had wanted to return to Broken Hill for some time, my last trip having been about ten years ago, and wanted to ensure at least one trip out to the Pinnacles mine before it became impossible to do so. Who knows if the ore will all get processed, or the company may decide not to allow collectors, or there are so many flize that you can’t breathe.

My original intention was to travel up by car, but as the Spirit of Tasmania was still in "peak season", coupled with the fact that I would need about four days to travel, I decided instead to use up a few frequent flyer points.

I flew directly from Hobart up to Sydney and then west to Broken Hill. The trip was uneventful except for our steward ("Hi, I’m your steward, Dallas"……shades of the Steve Vizard show) and the problems with renting a hire car in Broken Hill on a Sunday. I ended up with a Budget rental as Avis don’t do Sundays (we try harder?).

Day one was a cloudy grey day and around 22º. I travelled out to the 9 Mile mine where there are lotzaflize, some nice blue-green gahnites, and a small dragon. Apart from the lotzaflize, this was the only wildlife around. By the way, Ian Plimer’s "Minerals and Rocks of the Broken Hill, White Cliffs and Tibooburra Districts" is a useful guide for mines such as this. Late afternoon was spent back in Broken Hill at the tourist centre (a nice display of minerals, courtesy of the Pinnacles operators), and the Geo Centre.

Day two and off to the Pinnacles. The last of the material stockpiled from the Kintore and Block 14 Open Cuts has been transported here and for a small fee, you can fossick all day. Today was much warmer, around the mid-thirties, and fossicking in these temperatures is a hot’n’sweaty occupation. And there are of course, moredamflize. There were plenty of minerals to be found including stolzite, pyromorphite, copper, smithsonite, cerussite, anglesite, chlorargyrite, and many more.

Day three and I’m a glutton for punishment. Today is even hotter and there are even more moredamflize than yesterday. Still plenty of minerals to be found though, but after two full days, I’ve had enough. Back at the motel, there is time for a swim in the pool while the sun is still up.

Day four and it’s off to see Milton Lavers. Milton has a terrific Broken Hill mineral display and it is a must see for anyone visiting the Hill (for details, see the "Broken Hill" issue of the Australian Journal of Mineralogy).

Day five and out to the airport at dawn. The return trip is in a flying cigar down to Adelaide, then via Melbourne back to Hobart.

Now I have to build up my frequent flyer points again ready for next year’s seminar at Broken Hill, and the chance to visit once again, the mecca for Australian mineral collectors (and who knows, in July, there might be lessdamflize, but I doubt it).