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Living Desert Sculptures and Sanctuary

Sandstone art meets outback wilderness

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Best for Photographers Walkers Culture Wildlife Couples

schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026

Perched atop Sundown Hill nine kilometres from central Broken Hill, twelve monumental sandstone sculptures created by artists from seven countries during the 1993 International Sculpture Symposium crown a 180-hectare reserve. The surrounding flora and fauna sanctuary protects a mosaic of arid-zone plants and wildlife within a predator-proof fence, making it one of far western New South Wales's most rewarding outdoor destinations.

The sculptures were carved directly from local sandstone boulders and draw on themes ranging from ancient astronomy to Indigenous spirituality. Each piece takes on a different character as the light shifts from the gold of late afternoon to the deep ochre of sunset, and the hilltop position delivers sweeping views across the Barrier Ranges.

Inside the sanctuary, a Cultural Walk Trail and a Flora Trail wind through mulga scrub, mallee and native grasses. Wallaroos, echidnas and a variety of reptiles inhabit the reserve, and interpretive signage explains the ecology and the history of the Wilyakali people whose country this remains.

Summer opening hours begin early to catch the cool of the morning; at all other times the gates open mid-morning. The reserve stays open until approximately thirty minutes after sunset throughout the year, giving visitors time to watch the last light fade across the plains.

Scenic views

Lookouts near Living Desert Sculptures and Sanctuary.

All New South Wales lookouts east

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