The Southern Cross Hotel opened on the 28th of July, 1888 on the southern corner of Oxide and Cobalt Streets. The Hotel still operates at 93 Oxide Street from its original building that has been restored to its former spendour.

In its early days the Southern Cross Hotel, like many others in Broken Hill was a stagecoach terminal and some claim that the first motor coach between Broken Hill and Wilcannia left from there.

In 1918 the Southern Cross Hotel kept ahead of the times by providing its patrons with both a motor garage and horse stables.

In the 1960’s a vast collection of minerals and aboriginal artifacts such as weapons and cooking utensils were on display in the main bar. These proved to be a hugely popular attraction to the pub, but are unfortunately now not on display.

George White, a licensee from 1956 to 1973 enjoyed popularity as the man to see for the ‘best yabbies in town’. George would organize river trips with some of his regular patrons and bring back plenty to sell from behind the bar.