Emaroo Cottage: Ron travels the Outback region of South Australia

Small cottages known as 'tinnies' are a feature of Broken Hill. They're everywhere in this outback town, which strictly speaking is in New South Wales but has always had much closer links to it's South Australian cousins. After all, the border's a stone's throw away and the town hall clock is set on South Aussie time. In fact the ubiquitous miners' cottages were built for Cornish diggers who left their South Australian homes when word got out about the massive line of load at Broken Hill.

"A lot of the miners came from Burra, Kadina, Moonta in South Australia," explained Cathy Edmonds. "They walked all the way to Broken Hill pushing their possessions in wheelbarrows."

The miners built their 'tinnies' from whatever materials they could find - from pressed tin to sheets of galvo. In the beginning they were fairly rudimentary dwellings because no one really expected the mines to last. A century on and 'tinnies' like Cathy's Emaroo Cottage are proof that Broken Hill is here to stay and it's little surprise that so many like this one were built in Argent Street.

"There was sixty pubs in Broken Hill during it's heyday," said Cathy. "And more than half of the pubs were in Argent Street."

Argent Street was also popular because it sat in the lee of the giant slag heap that dominates the centre of town. It became a handy windbreak when the desert southerlies set in.

Today many of the miners' cottage are highly sought after and with all mod cons, they provide the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating outback town.

"The people that come here just love it," said Cathy. "They come for two or three days and find they need a week. There's so much to see."

Emaroo is located at 511 Argent Street and has plenty of room for mum dad, the kids and the family dog. If you're looking for something a little more modern then head to Cathy's other Broken Hill hideaway - The Tramway Cottage on Tramway Terrace. It's named after the old Tramway that once carted ore from nearby Silverton to Broken Hill and onto the smelters at Port Pirie.

For details regarding both accommodation options contact Cathy Edmonds on 0418 862 260.

Emaroo Cottage
511 Argent Street
Broken Hill

Tramway Cottage
Tramway Terrace
Broken Hill
Contact Cathy Edmonds on 0418 862 260

Published 4th Nov 2007