Broken Hill and Priscilla icon has LGBTQIA+ heritage recognised
The iconic Palace Hotel in Broken Hill has officially had its LGBTQIA+ history recognised, by an amendment to its listing on the NSW State Heritage Register.
The amendment acknowledges the Palace Hotel’s role as a cultural landmark for the LGBTQIA+ community following its appearance in the popular Australian film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Originally constructed in 1889 as a coffee palace, the building was commissioned by the temperance movement to provide the mining community of Broken Hill with an alcohol-free alternative to licensed hotels.
The Palace Hotel became a licensed hotel in 1892. From 1919 to 1946, it was managed by the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League as a hostel for returned soldiers – the only known example of a hotel being used in this way in NSW.
The Palace gained international recognition in 1994 with the release of Priscilla which prominently featured its extraordinary interior murals as backdrops for pivotal scenes.
Italian immigrant Mario Celotto, who purchased the hotel in 1973, painted the first mural, inspired by Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, on the foyer ceiling in 1980. Renowned Aboriginal artist Gordon Waye followed, covering the interiors with murals depicting scenes of Country and transforming the hotel into a desert oasis.
Since its appearance in Priscilla, the Palace has become synonymous with the LGBTQIA+ community and Australian drag artistry, serving as a symbolic gathering place for LGBTQIA+ people in regional Australia. This includes the annual Broken Heel Festival, which the Palace Hotel started in 2015 to celebrate the film’s 21st birthday.
The Palace Hotel was added to the State Heritage Register in 1999, but this amendment to the listing includes and celebrates its vital role in fostering LGBTQIA+ culture and community in regional Australia. By formally recognising the Palace’s contributions to this vibrant history, the amendment reflects the diverse narratives that shape our shared heritage.
Quote attributable to Minister for Heritage, Penny Sharpe:
“The Palace Hotel has long been a cherished part of Broken Hill’s story, and now we are ensuring its significant role in the history of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community is properly acknowledged and celebrated.
“The Palace Hotel’s amendment on the NSW State Heritage Register recognises the vibrant LGBTQIA+ history that has flourished within its walls.
“The Palace Hotel has not only served as a symbolic gathering place for the LGBTQIA+ community but has also become an essential part of Broken Hill’s story.”
