Silverton greeted us with open arms and a cheerful 'WELCOME' painted on a turquoise wall that practically begged for a photo. Lisa plonked herself down on the weathered wooden benches beneath it, and I couldn't resist capturing the moment. This historic mining town, just 25 kilometres northwest of Broken Hill, has more character in one street than most cities have in their entire CBD. The place is an absolute ripper for photography, with its vintage architecture and genuine outback charm.
Lisa made sure her shoes were on nice and tight before we set off to explore the town properly. Smart thinking, given the rocky terrain and the fact that we'd be doing a fair bit of walking around. What she didn't count on, however, was forgetting the number one rule all outback trekkers learn: where there are animals roaming, one must look down to check where your feet are landing.
We wandered out to the town's outskirts where local artists have created some wonderfully quirky installations. There's something brilliantly Australian about finding a bicycle wheel mounted on a post in the middle of nowhere, standing proud against the arid landscape like it's meant to be there. The sparse vegetation and rugged terrain stretched out behind it, showcasing that harsh beauty the outback does so well.
That's when Lisa's momentary lapse in concentration caught up with her. Let's just say that a stick lying around comes in very handy when you forget the rule about watching where you step. The donkeys that wander through Silverton leave their calling cards everywhere, and Lisa found one the hard way. After a bit of scraping and some good-natured ribbing from yours truly, we carried on with our exploration, though I noticed she kept her eyes firmly on the ground for the rest of the afternoon.
Silverton's creative spirit and weathered charm make it well worth the detour, even if you do need to navigate a few natural obstacles along the way. Just remember: look down, especially when you're in a town where the livestock have right of way!