Silver City 2015-2018

Photographic Exhibition installed at the Regional Australia Institute Headquarters, Barton, ACT.

Silver City is a photographic enquiry into the post-industrial condition of one of New South Wales’ most iconic and remote cities, Broken Hill.

As Australia’s first heritage city, Broken Hill is celebrated for its continuous one hundred thirty-five year history of mining operations, the struggle and victories won by steadfast trade unions, and the pioneering environmental groundwork carried out
by passionate community groups. The city was established around some of the earth’s richest mineral deposits and has generated more than three hundred billion dollars for various multinational corporations in this century-long endeavour.

Today Broken Hill is representative of many remote communities. It is facing a declining population, more frequent and extreme weather events, and increasing economic uncertainty. In the face of this future, the community of Broken Hill appears to be driving a period of rapid cultural transformation; moving away from the extractive economies of the past to embrace a more sustainable and post-industrial future, cultural economies, and the transformative power of renewable energy.

Drawing from images created on multiple trips to Broken Hill from 2015 - 2018, these images grapple with the complexities of place, unfolding as a series of observation of how these overlapping histories are woven into the surfaces and environments of
Broken Hill.