Australia's first heritage-listed city, the town of 17,000 people has been known as the birthplace of mining giant BHP, the home of outback art and legendary painter Pro Hart, and a backdrop for wild-at-heart Australian films Mad Max and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
But since 2022, the industrial hub known as The Silver City has almost doubled in size each August as a convoy of Mundi Mundi Bash patrons make tracks through its red centre en route to a pop-up music and camping festival on Belmont Station.
Broken Hill City Council estimates the bash has provided a more than $60 million benefit to the local economy over four years, including almost $18 million in 2025.
That figure is expected to swell substantially this year thanks to extra business from thousands of displaced bashers and the addition of a prelude event - the Mundi Mundi Lightfest.
Part of the NSW government's Open Streets Program and supported by council, the free, three-night festival was designed to encourage festivalgoers to arrive early and spend more time in the region. Â
It transformed Argent St into a pedestrian-only night precinct with large-scale drone shows, lighting installations, live local music and street food.
Council spokesman Darrin Manuel said the bash delivered a welcome financial boost for the town and surrounding small communities, including Silverton.
"It has definitely given the city more prominence on the national stage," he told AAP.
Council supports the influx of travellers to the bash with additional dump points and water in town and waste services for overflow camping at the Broken Hill Racecourse, while the bashers spend up on food and fuel.
All accommodation in Broken Hill is booked during the event.
"Amazingly, despite the rise of cost of living and fuel in recent years, the bash has continued to grow," Mr Manuel said.
"We believe that's a testament to the quality of the festival and the hospitality of Broken Hill."
That good-old country hospitality was ratcheted up a notch this week when wet weather forced bash organisers to turn away thousands of ticket-holders before a note was played.
The disappointed travellers - many towing vans or trailers or driving RVs - flooded Broken Hill. And the town swung into action to absorb them.
"The city's businesses and council are now very experienced in preparing for the bash and ensuring the needs of all visitors can be met," Mr Manuel said.
"I'm sure the weather interruptions were a new experience for local businesses, however.
"There were suddenly thousands of patrons looking for food, drink, and entertainment, and I believe the business community went above and beyond to meet their needs."
The bash promoters, performers and local venues organised free pop-up shows by some of the rain-affected event's favourite acts for the large crowds about town.
Broken Hill will roll out the welcome mat again on Sunday, when the convoy of 10,000 punters who did make it through the gates of Mundiville motor back through town to restock and head home.
* AAP travelled to the Mundi Mundi Bash with the assistance of event organisers.
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