Palace Hotel Of ‘Priscilla’ Fame Labelled Gay Icon In NSW Heritage List
Image: The Palace Hotel during the Broken Heel festival. Image: Supplied
The Palace Hotel in Broken Hill, one of many iconic locations in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has officially been recognised on the NSW State Heritage Register as an LGBTQIA+ landmark.
The hotel, which Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette stop by on their journey to Alice Springs, has long been a jewel of LGBTQIA+ rural Australian history since the film鈥檚 release. With thousands of people globally flocking to the hotel as part of their Priscilla pilgrimages, this listing officially sets the Palace鈥檚 place in Aussie queer history as Priscilla’s spiritual home.听
Penny Sharpe MLC, the Heritage Minister for NSW, announced the expansion of the Palace Hotel鈥檚 Heritage Register listing to include its status as an LGBTQIA+ icon on January 3rd, 2025.听
Taking to Instagram, Sharpe said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to announce the expanded listing of the Palace Hotel in Broken Hill, to officially recognise its vibrant LGBTQIA+ history.听
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鈥淚t鈥檚 a beloved landmark and has been immortalised in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but now we鈥檙e ensuring its significant role in the history of Australia鈥檚 LGBTQIA+ community is officially recognised and celebrated.鈥�
The history of the Palace Hotel
Starting out as a 鈥渃offee palace鈥�, the Palace Hotel was already on the Heritage Register for the way it 鈥渞epresents both the wealth and challenges of a rapidly increasing population in a remote mining community鈥�, and for being the only hotel of its kind run by the Returned Sailors and Soldiers鈥� Imperial League from 1919-1946.听
The Heritage Listing also marks its significance to the LGBTQIA+ community as a prominent filming location in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The listing reads: 鈥淭he Palace Hotel has been closely associated with the LGBTQIA+ community and Australian drag artistry since the film’s release, providing a powerful symbol of diversity and tolerance in far west NSW and serving as a gathering place for LGBTQIA+ people.鈥�
Known for its stunning interior art, such as Mario Celotto鈥檚 ceiling paintings and huge murals by Aboriginal artist Gordon Waye, the Palace Hotel has long been a popular destination for Broken Hill residents and interlopers alike. It鈥檚 also been a substantial stop for Broken Heel for years, although the iconic festival won’t continue after the recent 2024 instalment.听
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It鈥檚 an appropriate time to celebrate the Palace鈥檚 legacy, given Priscilla just turned 30 in 2024. A true landmark film of Aussie queer culture and cinema, it highlighted local drag scenes and venues for an international audience in a very meaningful way.听
The story of Priscilla is soon to gain another chapter, too, as director Stephan Elliott has confirmed that a sequel is in the works with the original cast and bus. There鈥檚 no word yet on a release date, but we鈥檙e eagerly awaiting the return of Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette!
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