BY BRONWYN VERWEY
A small town in Singleton has been awarded as the best 'tiny town' in the state.
Broke in the Upper Hunter landed the top spot in the Tiny Town Tourism category at the NSW Tourism Industry Council awards this week.
The category is reserved for communities with a population of less than 1,500, with Broke currently only hosting 557 residents.
"It's a village brimming with reasons to visit - history and heritage, arts and culture, incredible food and wine experiences, and plenty of country charm," Says Singleton Mayor Sue Moore.
Broke has consistently performed well in the competition, walking away with silver for the past two years in the Tiny Town Tourism category.
It comes off the back of the town seeing an eight per cent increase in visitation in the past 12 months, boosting the local economy by 10 per cent.
Popular activities in the region include art galleries, wineries and alpaca interactions.
"As regional nature-based tourism continues to grow, Broke has everything people are looking for," Mayor Moore said.
After two years of being awarded silver in the category, the recent gold prize comes following strong public support for the region.
Mayor Moore accepted the award on Wednesday.
"We're incredibly proud of Broke's silver results over recent years, but now it's time for the village to have its moment in the spotlight and take out gold," she said.
"To be acknowledged in these awards is a testament to the passion, authenticity and love that our local businesses, makers and community share with visitors to Broke."
