THERE WAS ONCE A VILLAGE
ROUND HILL(TALTINGAN)
On May 30 1885, Mr T. H. Goodwin completed a survey of the village of Taltingan in the county of Yancowinna, Parish of Bolaira, situated approximately three miles northeast of Broken Hill in the vicinity of the cone-shaped knoll known as Round Hill.
The township of Taltingan was officially proclaimed in July 1886, and 40 housing allotments were registered. On March 15, 1887 an area was reserved for common by the residents of Taltingan. The reservation of 34 acres of land for a cemetery on the eastern extremity of the township was also proclaimed in March 1887.
Thomas Taylor was granted a licence to operate the Round Hill Hotel in July 1886. In April 1888 a licence was approved for Walter J. Scott to operate the Sir Walter Scott Hotel, a 10-roomed wood and iron structure. The latter building was destroyed by fire in July 1889, but was later re-built.
At that time there appeared to be three hotels at Round Hill, The Round Hill (or Taltingan), The Sir Walter Scott, and West Exchange, (Barrier Miner of April 8, 1892 records the existence of only two licensed hotels at Round Hill).
The Round Hill Hotel was destroyed by fire on September 1, 1892. The Sir Walter Scott Hotel closed down in 1904 and the Exchange Hotel in 1924, the last licensee of the latter being Mr J. Clark.
A Progress Committee was established at Round Hill and at a meeting held on July 10, 1886, a vote of thanks was accorded to Walter Sully for his effort in endeavouring to persuade the NSW Government to take the telegraph line through Round Hill, a petition was to be presented for the provision of a public school, and a request was to be made for the construction of a government tank (dam), because the only water supply available was from soakage in the nearby creek, and from a well that was contaminated with minerals (water was later carried from the Imperial Dam, established in 1888).
In 1891 Constable Shiner stated that there were 75 dwellings in the main portion of the town, and a further 35 scattered elsewhere within the boundary. A quarter acre block could be purchased in the main street (Stuart Street) for 2 pounds 10 shillings.
In 1891 there were 345 people living at Round Hill and a further 67 at Eaglehawk, 120 were working on the construction of the Stephens Creek Reservoir, a further 35 were living elsewhere in the area.
The school at Round Hill was for some reason, known within the Education Department as the Gossan Hill School.
There were 96 pupils enrolled, with an average attendance of 65, a number of whom lived on the outskirts of Broken Hill. One of the school buildings was transported to Broken Hill in 1895 and served as a classroom in the ground of the North Broken Hill Primary School until it was demolished in 1966. The remaining wood and iron classroom was moved to McCulloch Park in 1921.
The principle thoroughfare in the township was Stuart Street which at one time accommodated the business premises of West's Hotel, Charles Salmond's chaff store and his wife's mixed grocery shop. The school was located on the western side of West's Hotel, separated by a large paddock.
By the early 1900s the settlement was practically deserted but a few families remained. There were several piggeries as well as McKinnon's, Langsford's and Bent's dairies. The Robins Walker, Hannigan, Bolen, Von Hansam, Lowe, Duffy, Bloomfield, Stead and Freeman families were Round Hill inhabitants of many years standing
The Round Hill Mine
Extract from the Barrier Miner Business Directory of 1891
The Round Hill Silver Mining Co. Limited Capital £320,000 pounds in 16, 000 shares of £20 each, 14,000 issued as paid up to £19, 2,000 reserved for future issue. General Manager, W. H. Mathews, Head Office, Queen Street Melbourne, Secretary Mr John Brandon.
This property consists of 10 blocks of 40 acres each, situated about four miles to the North of Broken Hill, and was originally floated as a company on a similar basis to the Proprietary Company.
The ground was very much neglected for several years and little work done.
Within the last two or three years, however a vigorous effort has been made to develop the property. With this intention a main shaft on the North end of the hill has been sunk to a depth of 600 feet, but no ore body of any importance has been met. It was, therefore, decided to test the ground by means of a diamond drill, bore from the bottom of the present shaft to a depth of 1, 000 feet, making the total 1, 600 feet.
This work is now proceeding, and the operations are being watched with much interest. A crosscut to the east at the 600 feet level is now in over 100 feet but nothing of importance has been met with, a western crosscut has also been started.
Those who hold the opinion that the great Broken Hill Lode divides into two branches on leaving the main lode look to the work being carried on at Round Hill to solve this vexed question. It is of interest to note that in May 1890, the Round Hill Mine, at 600 feet was the deepest mine at Broken Hill.
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