Forty eight views of Broken Hill • Photograph • State Library of South Australia

Broken Hill : Looking North

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/1

Broken Hill looking north. Shows houses in the township.

Broken Hill : Looking South

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/2

Broken Hill looking south. Shows houses in the township.

Broken Hill : Looking East

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/3

Broken Hill looking east. Shows houses in the township.

Broken Hill : Looking South

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/4

Broken Hill looking south. Shows houses in the township.

Broken Hill : Municipal buildings

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/5

Municipal buildings, Broken Hill. Buildings from left - Courthouse (only part can be seen), Technical College, Police Station, Town Hall and Post Office. The red-brick Post Office, at the corner of Argent and Chloride Street, is one of the oldest buildings in Broken Hill being built in 1892. It was designed by James Barnet, with its massive turret capped by a decorative mansard roof and enveloped by a footpath verandah and corner balcony. It was opened in April 1892 but did not have a clock until 1909. Next door is the town's architectural highlight, the extraordinarily ornate Town Hall which was opened by Sir Henry Parks in 1891 for local government and other special events. By 1973 the City Council were going to knock the building down but due to local pressure it was decided to restore it. The restored Town Hall was opened on 13 March 1976; its front facade section only has been retained. Next to it is the modest Police station built in 1890. Next door is the Federation-style Technical College built in 1901 with its large, arched windows and ornamented entrance. Built to meet the needs of the mining industry it now also houses a museum. Part of the Courthouse built in 1889 can be seen on the left of the photograph. It was designed by James Barnet. In the grounds is a sculptured bronze war memorial made by noted artist Charles Webb. A steam tram with passengers milling around can be seen in the front of the photograph.

Broken Hill: Sacred Heart Cathedral

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/6

Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Cnr. Lane & Sulphide Streets. The Cathedral was build at a cost of 8,000 pounds. It was dedicated in July 1905.

Broken Hill: Sacred Heart Cathedral

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/7

Interior of Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Cnr. Lane & Sulphide Streets. The Cathedral was build at a cost of 8,000 pounds.

Broken Hill: Hospital

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/8

The first stone Broken Hill hospital on the hill between Thomas and Morgan Streets. The original building was constructed in 1887 with additions in 1889 followed by a new wing in 1890. The foundation stone was laid by Sir Henry Parkes. Due to its deteriorating condition this building has now been replaced with a new hospital.

Broken Hill: Court House

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/9

The Court House was erected in 1889. It was opened in January 1890 by Sir Henry Parkes. The building is typical N.S.W. late Victorian design and features a two-storey section with single-storey side wings and wide verandah. An elaborate pre-Federation coat-of-arms decorates the central section. Additions have since been made to the building but the interior is original and intact.

Broken Hill: Trades Hall

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/10

The foundation stone of the Trades Hall was laid by Ben Tillett, British Trade Union leader, on 5 June 1898. Thomas Jackson was the architect for this building. Construction was completed in 1905. The original foundation stone had been laid by Sir Henry Parkes in April 1891 but strike action swallowed all available funds and building did not commence again until 1898, by which time the original foundation stone was gone.The Trades Hall was the first building in Australia owned by a trades union.

Broken Hill: Methodist Church

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/11

Wesley Methodist Church in Sulphide Street. Now the Wesley Uniting Church.

Broken Hill: Fire Brigade

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/12

Broken Hill Fire Brigade. Firemen sitting outside with two men climbing a ladder in front of the building. Horses and fire wagons also in front of the building.

Broken Hill: North School

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/13

North school, Broken Hill.

Broken Hill : Zinc Corporation

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/14

Zinc Corporation. Shows chimneys and work buildings. Herbert Hoover, later president of the United States, first succeeded in his endeavour to extract zinc from ore in a cost-effective manner when he formed the Zinc Corporation in 1905.

Broken Hill: Stephens Creek

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/15

Stephens Creek Pumping Station, Broken Hill. Nolan's Stephens Creek Water Supply Company, a private enterprise begun in 1889. It was taken over by the Broken Hill Water Supply Company Limited in February 1890, and the first sod of the Stephens Creek reservoir was turned by Sir Henry Parkes in April 1890. The reservoir was completed in 1892 but, within a few years, could not meet the demands of the mines and the township. It was supplemented by the Umberumberka Reservoir which was completed in 1914.

Broken Hill: Railway Station

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/16

Silverton Railway Station in Sulphide Street. A steam train at the station with passengers waiting to board. The Sulphide Street Railway Station was erected in 1905 by Silverton Tramway Co. using stone from the Black 10 Mine. Most of the original internal detailing survives, including pressed metal ceilings, marble mantle pieces and tile floor. In 1981 the Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum was officially opened on June 13.

Broken Hill: Central Park

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/17

Central Park. a Rotunda can be seen in the middle of the photograph and two people sitting on a park bench. This is believed to be Sturt Park located in the heart of Broken Hill at the junction of Beryl and Chloride Streets. It now features The Titanic Memorial, in memory of the bandsmen of the Titanic who kept playing in the hope of maintaining calm while the ship went down in 1912. The broken column is not an unrepaired accident but an ancient Greek symbol of being cut down in youth.

Broken Hill: Dust storm

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/18

A dust storm in the centre of Broken Hill.

Broken Hill: The Big Fire

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/19

The night of the Big Fire in Argent Street, 5 November 1888. The whole of the western side of Argent Street, stretching from Chloride to Oxide Streets, was completely burnt out within the short space of six hours. Smoke was seen rising from the hairdressing and tobacconists shop of I. Morris, forming part of the Royal Chambers. The alarm was given but, fanned by a firm southeasterly breeze, the flames leaped unchecked from one building to the next. Most of the premises were of flimsy construction, consisting chiefly of timber and iron, lined with tinder-dry matchboard and papered hession. Water carts arrived to replenish the fire brigade's tank, but the single pumping unit proved totally inadequate. Above the township rose an awe-inspiring pall o smoke, as the fire defied the efforts of the Broken Hill Volunteer Fire Brigade to quench it. Total damage was estimated at 70,000 pounds.

Broken Hill: Central Park

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/20

Central Park. a Rotunda can be seen in the middle of the photograph. A crowd of people can be seen around the Rotunda. This is believed to be Sturt Park located in the heart of Broken Hill at the junction of Beryl and Chloride Streets. It now features The Titanic Memorial, in memory of the bandsmen of the Titanic who kept playing in the hope of maintaining calm while the ship went down in 1912. The broken column is not an unrepaired accident but an ancient Greek symbol of being cut down in youth.

Broken Hill: City baths

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/21

The City Baths showing young males about to dive into the pool and other males watching from the side. On 8 October 1900 the Mayor, Jabez Wright laid the foundation stone of the municipal baths at the Central Reserve. The baths were opened on 10 December - 'one afternoon per week reserved for ladies'.

Broken Hill : Picnic train

1888-1910, Photograph, B 54756/22

Picnic train with open trucks conveying men, women and children to an annual picnic believed to be one being held by the Manchester Unity Lodges at Penrose Park Silverton. According to a researcher, seven years later this same train was attacked by two Turkish patriots. The researcher recalls: 'My Great Aunty was on the train when the "Turks" opened fire, she remembered the event well. She was a primary school child at the time. She remembers seeing "Joe the Ice" and all the kids waving to him in excitement because they thought they were about to get ice-cream. Then she remembers being fired at and everyone getting as low as possible in the train to avoid the bullets. After returning home she remembers her neighbour taking off her hat and finding a bullet hole in it, at which point she fell down in a faint'.