Two Up School - Broken Hill
Direct Phone Number : (08) 8088 1777
Return to Broken Hill
Two Up - The Great Australian Game. The game of two-up is as old as European settlement of Australia. Two Up's origins are rather obscure. Some claim it was invented by the Teutons as the alternative name of 'Zwei' is the German word for two. A game of 'chuck the farthing' was popular with convicts at Circular Quay, Sydney during the early 1790's. However Two Up's fame really spread during World War One when Australian soldiers in France would spend their spare time gambling on the toss of two pennies. Even today games of Two Up are played around Australia on Anzac Day (25 April), with police turning a blind eye to illegal gambling on this one day of the year.
Two Up has been part of Broken Hill life for many years. For more than 60 years the illegal Two Up school
was conducted behind a large green door in Crystal Lane at the rear of a 'Greasy Spoon' cafe. Two Up today
is held at the Musicians Club. Played in the traditional manner, with one exception, women are allowed to
play.
Facilities for Two Up School
- Cafe
- Car park
Experiences around Broken Hill
- Cultural
