Albert Kersten Mining & Minerals Museum

Albert Kersten Mining & Minerals Museum Our family-friendly museum represents the rich mining, mineral and social history of Broken Hill.
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Our Social Media Guidelines can be found at - https://bit.ly/bhccsmg Our Social Media Guidelines can be found at - http://bit.ly/bhccsmg

A brilliant burst of high-frequency clarity and incredible geological power!Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral famous f...
02/10/2026

A brilliant burst of high-frequency clarity and incredible geological power!

Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral famous for its diamond-like brilliance, high density, and transparent to pale yellow crystals. First discovered on Anglesey, Wales, in 1783, this mineral forms naturally in the oxidized zones of lead deposits, frequently developing directly from the weathering of galena!

Because of its heavy lead content, it serves as an important secondary ore of lead, which is essential for manufacturing lead-acid batteries, medical and nuclear radiation shielding, and specialized protective glass!

If you would like to see more beautiful mineral specimens come into the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum!

We are open Labour Day Public Holiday Monday 5th October 10am till 4pmCome visit the Museum and explore our extensive mi...
02/10/2026

We are open Labour Day Public Holiday Monday 5th October 10am till 4pm

Come visit the Museum and explore our extensive mineral collection and mining memorabilia.

Enjoy a fun LEGO minifigure hunt while you're here.

Gaming break!The iconic crib tin has a history deeply rooted in hard-rock and coal mining. Long before modern plastic co...
30/09/2026

Gaming break!

The iconic crib tin has a history deeply rooted in hard-rock and coal mining. Long before modern plastic containers, underground workers relied on heavy-duty metal tins to pack their meals, sealing their food away from the mice, rats, and other vermin that infested early mine workings.

The word "crib" itself became the traditional mining term for a meal break, linked to miners playing card games like cribbage during their downtime, carried down into the depths alongside a flask of cold tea or water.

If you would like to see more fascinating pieces of mining history and artifacts from days gone by, come into the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum!

A Rose by any other name!Rhodonite is a striking manganese silicate mineral famous for its unique deep pink or rose-red ...
26/09/2026

A Rose by any other name!

Rhodonite is a striking manganese silicate mineral famous for its unique deep pink or rose-red colour, beautifully webbed with dark black or brown manganese oxide veins. Its name comes from the Greek word rhodon, meaning rose, celebrating its gorgeous floral hue!

Russian royalty, including Catherine the Great, were so enamored with its intense color that they commissioned grand vases and ceremonial doors made of rhodonite for the Winter Palace, earning it the title "Stone of the Tsars." In rural Russia, peasants went a step further, grinding it into powder and mixing it with honey or w**e to mend a broken heart or ease the pain of a lost love.

In Polynesian mythology, rhodonite is linked to the legendary giant octopus Te Wheke-a-Muturangi. According to Māori tradition, when the demigod Maui wrestled the octopus, its blood and ink mixed to form rhodonite deposits on the shores of Aotearoa New Zealand. Known as roimata aroha ("tears of love"), the stone was carved into hei tiki pendants under the full moon to invoke love and protection for sailors.

Come in to the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum to see more beautiful mineral specimens!

We are open Labour Day Public Holiday Monday 5th October 10am till 4pmCome visit the Museum and explore our extensive mi...
25/09/2026

We are open Labour Day Public Holiday Monday 5th October 10am till 4pm

Come visit the Museum and explore our extensive mineral collection and mining memorabilia.

Enjoy a fun LEGO minifigure while you're here.

24/09/2026

School's out, and there's plenty happening around town to keep the whole family busy these spring holidays!

Here comes the Boom! Did you know black powder started as an ancient Chinese invention before making its way into Europe...
23/09/2026

Here comes the Boom!

Did you know black powder started as an ancient Chinese invention before making its way into European mines by the late thirteenth century? For centuries, miners relied on handmade fuses and gunpowder until Alfred Nobel inventing dynamite in 1866.

The 1950s then ushered in a safer era with ammonium nitrate and the invention of ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), an economical bulk explosive mixing diesel oil with ammonium nitrate! Today, emulsion and water gel explosives have taken over, keeping modern operations safer than ever.

Come explore the rich history of the underground at the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum!

Not all that glitters is gold! Often known as “fool's gold,” pyrite is a stunning, glittering mineral made of iron and s...
12/09/2026

Not all that glitters is gold!

Often known as “fool's gold,” pyrite is a stunning, glittering mineral made of iron and sulfur. Its name comes from the Greek word pyr, meaning fire, because it produces sparks when struck with metal!
Fun fact: Before the invention of flintlock muskets, early wheel-lock guns used a piece of pyrite to create the exact spark needed to ignite the gunpowder!

Come in to the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum to see more beautiful mineral specimens!
Check out the diagram to see how a wheel-lock mechanism works!

Announcing the 2026 Broken Hill Waste to Art People's Choice AwardWe are excited to announce that White Cliff's artist, ...
02/09/2026

Announcing the 2026 Broken Hill Waste to Art People's Choice Award

We are excited to announce that White Cliff's artist, Cree Marshall was voted the 2026 People's Choice Award with her work, the A-to-Z of Waste. The A-to-Z of Waste is made from photo frames saved from the Tip Shop, old wallpaper samples, recycled handmade book-paper, and pieces of waste from around the house and local tip.

Cree's work can be viewed alongside the Waste to Art Regional Showcase at the Albert Kersten Mining & Minerals Museum until 4:00pm this Saturday, 5th September.

Extended Opening Hours | Mundi Mundi BashDon't forget that we have extended our opening hours to welcome visitors to Bro...
23/08/2026

Extended Opening Hours | Mundi Mundi Bash

Don't forget that we have extended our opening hours to welcome visitors to Broken Hill during the Mundi Mundi Bash!

For the next two weeks, the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum will be open 6 days a week, including two special Monday openings:

Monday 17 August | 10am–4pm
Monday 24 August | 10am–4pm

While you’re in Broken Hill, take some time to visit the Museum and explore our extensive mineral collection and mining memorabilia.

Address

Cnr Crystal And Bromide Sts
Broken Hill, NSW
2880

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61880803501

Website

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