Broken Hill
Broken Hill scores well on core operations (54/100) but only 21/100 on community services — a gap worth watching.
"Australia's outback mining city — Silver City arts, desert landscape, and frontier character"
See where Broken Hill ranks: Best Councils in New South Wales 2026
New South Wales · regional council · Pop. 17,541
Data last updated: 2023-24 · Data confidence: high
Overall Score
41 out of 100
#68 of 79 regional councils in NSW
#108 in New South Wales
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 47/100 |
| Community Services | 21/100 |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | 40/100 |
| Core Operations | 54/100 |
What This Means For You
Among regional councils, Broken Hill performs strongest in Core Operations (scoring 54 out of 100 against peers), with room to improve in Community Services (currently 21 out of 100).
What Makes This Place Unique
Australia's outback mining city — Silver City arts, desert landscape, and frontier character
Broken Hill is a remarkable outback city with a mining heritage, thriving arts scene, and a frontier character unique in Australia.
Known For
- BHP mining heritage — the company was born here
- Thriving arts community — Pro Hart, Brushmen of the Bush
- Living Desert Sculptures
- Silver City character — closest major town to Adelaide
Living Here
Broken Hill is genuinely remote (5+ hours from Adelaide, 13 from Sydney) but has surprising cultural depth. Very affordable.
Hidden Gem
The Living Desert Sculptures — Brutalist sandstone sculptures on a hilltop overlooking the outback, spectacular at sunset.