2023 Photography Competition

Category: Semi Professional

Description: Mining has claimed more than 800 lives over the years at Broken Hill, and the dramatic Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial, which overlooks the city, is a poignant monument to them all. It is also important to remember the mine workers who were not killed but suffered life-long issues caused by lead exposure or debilitating injuries. The Line of Lode is one of the world’s largest bodies of ore, containing the silver, lead and zinc that made fortunes in this remote outback city. The striking memorial, which was opened in 2001, has the name of each miner who died etched into freestanding glass panels within the high, rust-red steel walls. Fortunately, the most recent death was in 2007. Visitors to Broken Hill should spend a while reflecting on the human tragedy that encompasses a key part of the city’s mining history.