Chris JOHNSTON
'Some people say that there is nowhere else in Australia like Broken Hill. Do you agree?' This was one of a series of questions that explored how Broken Hill people see themselves and their city.
What is it that shapes a town like Broken Hill, and how can we understand the nuances of meaning that make it special in the eyes of those who know it most intimately? And in understanding these values, how can they be managed?
A recent project sought to investigate the aesthetic and social values of the City of Broken Hill in response to its nomination for the National Heritage List. Trialling a combination of approaches, a rich and multi-layered understanding developed.
Can a stark mining landscape be beautiful? Essential to the assessment was understanding the city's aesthetic qualities, and who valued them. Using the inspirational landscapes approach, combined with an online survey, careful analysis of art and literary sources and other social research, a picture emerged of a community with a strongly articulated sense of identity and a passionate connection to this place.
This paper will present the methods used to gain an understanding of the social and aesthetic values of the City of Broken Hill as a case study in the use of new and emerging methods available to heritage professionals involved in values-based assessments. The paper will also discuss the challenges in trying to 'see through others eyes' and the potential for applying these methods to other complex, populated places.