Crown land hosts Broken Hill's Mundi Mundi Bash festival
The iconic Mundi Mundi Bash festival returns to the outback plains near Broken Hill from 21-23 August with Crown land sites playing a vital role welcoming thousands of visitors to the Far West.
With around 14,000 attendees expected, accommodation is in high demand and Crown land sites have stepped up to provide unique stays that reflect the heart of outback hospitality.
The Bash is being hosted on Belmont Station, a Western Lands leasehold property on Crown land near Silverton, while other Crown land sites including Penrose Park Recreation Reserve and Broken Hill Regional Events Centre are helping accommodate festival-goers.
Just 20 minutes from Broken Hill and a short walk from Silverton, Penrose Park Recreation Reserve offers a bush camp experience with a strong community focus. Around 4,000 campers are staying at Penrose Park before, during and after the festival with local engagement front and centre.
The park has invited the Red Dirt Retailers, five small businesses from Broken Hill, to showcase local products onsite. Visitors enjoyed a camp oven cook-up hosted by Rolly and Mandy Heath from Memories not Money, and a charity auction was held to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service with prizes donated by businesses in Silverton and Broken Hill.
After months of preparation, the Broken Hill Racecourse and Regional Events Centre opened its infield early to accommodate over 1,600 people, including 647 caravans in the infield and 62 regular sites. The ladies at the Broken Hill Racecourse are in a portable ticket hut welcoming campers while charities Rotary and Lions are championing community spirit by warming campers with hearty home cooked meals during their stay.
At the Line of Lode reserve, Bradley and Lee-Anne Jackson will be providing Bash visitors with coffee, scones and pancakes ahead of their official cafe-restaurant opening in September.
Despite the chilly weather, campers were headed to Belmont Station from 3am Monday morning to join the queue for 3-day early entry into 'Mundiville' before the music starts Thursday.
Penrose Park Recreation Reserve caretaker Marie Lawson said:
"Penrose Park has always been a place where people come together and this year we’ve really focused on strengthening community connections and supporting our local businesses. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our community and welcome visitors from near and far."
Broken Hill Regional Events Centre caretaker Cheryl Krutli said:
"Since the first Bash in 2022, we've continued to invest in infrastructure to enhance the experience for campers. These improvements have been made possible with the revenue from Bash patrons staying at the racecourse each year.
"The Mundi Mundi Bash not only benefits the racecourse and our 20 staff but also local charities and community groups like Rotary and Lions who raise funds by providing homemade meals."
Line of Lode reserve cafe-restaurant operator Bradley Jackson said:
"The Mundi Mundi Bash is very important to the community all round so to be able to share the Line of Lode view over Broken Hill with visitors will be a great thing for tourism."
Minister for Lands and Property and Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:
"The Mundi Mundi Bash is more than a music event it's a celebration of community and connection that attracts thousands of visitors to the heart of the outback and injects millions of dollars into the local economy through spending on accommodation, food, fuel and services.
"The NSW Government is focused on building better communities so it's terrific to see Crown land underpinning this major cultural and economic event that brings communities together, celebrates the spirit of the outback and supports regional tourism in the Far West."