Mining the past opens future prospects for outback city

Broken Hill mine operations would be transformed into an underground museum under a project pitch. (Stuart Walmsley/AAP PHOTOS)

The death knell may be tolling for one of Australia's most famous mines but the city built on its back is choosing hope over mourning.

Broken Hill's Rasp - the original BHP mine that marked the start of the world's largest silver, lead and zinc operations - has slipped into a staged closure, with works aside from rehabilitation grinding to a halt.