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Trail Partially open

Broken Hill to Silverton

NSW - Country and ACT

2 based on 1 reviews
Location: 1,150km West of Sydney
Length: 10 km
Surface: Coarse gravel, Loose sand
Start / End: Broken Hill to Silverton
Public Transport: Coach, Train
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
Trail Partially open
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  • A short trail of 25 km, making it suitable for day trippers as well as locals
  • Both Broken Hill and Silverton would benefit economically from this trail
  • Ecotourists would be attracted to this unique trail

Nearby Attractions

  • Visit the real Outback of NSW
  • Line of Lode Miners Memorial
  • Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum
  • Broken Hill Sculptures and Living Desert Sanctuary
  • Pro Hart Gallery
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service
  • White’s Minerals and Mining Museum
  • Mad Max Museum at Silverton
  • Silverton Hotel

Last updated: 19 November 2022

A short section of this trail is open at the Silverton end.

A couple of small bridges have been restored for walkers and bikes.

Mountain bikes are recommended, as it is rough and sandy in sections.

Section Guides

Broken Hill to Silverton (25 km)

This trail would run through outback countryside, mainly paralleling the road between the two sites.

Broken Hill is a large regional city with plenty of food and accommodation.

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One review of “Broken Hill to Silverton”

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Wiljali people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail will be built.

Development and future of the rail trail

As of June 2021 there is no active committee trying to lobby for the construction of a rail trail on this disused corridor.  Rail Trails Australia views this as a viable potential rail trail, and would be keen to support any person or group to lobby for its construction.

If you are interested, contact us at

ns*@ra********.au











Rail line history 

This was part of an old private narrow-gauge tramway between Cockburn and Broken Hill, owned by the Silverton Tramway Company. It was built in 1888 to transport ore from the Silverton mines to Port Pirie, SA and extended to Broken Hill when minerals were discovered there.

The NSW Government completed a standard-gauge line direct from Broken Hill to Cockburn in 1970. This led to the demise of the privately owned Silverton line and it closed to rail traffic shortly thereafter. The ownership of the rail corridor was returned to the Crown, with some sections sold off to adjacent landholders.

Trail descriptions are maintained by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help improve this website. Rail Trails Australia gets no government funding.
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