Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Saturday, 12 September 2015

Sacred kingfisher

Enjoying the campfire

Bush sunset

Still setting

Campfire circle

Sunrise over the billabong

Priscilla A and Priscilla B

Miss Silicone 2014

Thank goodness for Bonds!

Scary

A good PR opportunity

Inside the "plane"

Broken Hill Courthouse

Palace Hotel

World War 1 Memorial - with a different statue

After spending an hour birdwatching over the billabong, we joined some of the other campers around the campfire for a bit a socialising and learnt a bit more about Warrawong on the Darling.  We felt quite secure during the night and would definitely stay again in the future.  With it being necessary to top up the fuel tank, we did a blocky around Wilcannia in order to enter the service station easily and we amazed at the large number of very impressive colonial stone buildings in the town.  No doubt, these were built when Wilcannia was an important port on the Darling River.

We continued our drive westward, with plenty of saltbush, feral goats, emus and sheep to look at.  Today’s drive was uneventful and we arrived at Broken Hill about 10.45 am (the change in time zone did help!).  We checked into the Broken Hill Tourist Park and discovered that the Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Broken Heel Festival was happening this weekend, with a parade at noon.  It is 21 years since the film was produced, with events planned for both Broken Hill and Silverton.  Always enjoying a parade, we set up and headed into the CBD, along with many other tourists who also didn’t have a clue what was happening or where.  We discovered a stage set up with a couple of “Priscillas” conducting a handbag throwing contest for Priscilla hopefuls.  I don’t know how many were locals, but there were certainly some interesting costumes.  After the contest, the “parade” turned out to be all the people in drag simply walked along the footpath, around the block and finished at the Palace Hotel, which featured prominently in the film.

We had lunch at a lovely coffee shop in the old Stock Exchange Building – where the BHP Company was officially formed – and quickly realised why the business was for sale.  None of the ladies working there appeared to be under the age of 60 and one of the waitresses was even using a walking stick.  After a quick stop at the Information Centre for a map and a visit to Woolworths and Bakers Delight (back in the big smoke now), it will be time to watch the football.