| EVENTS OF THE SECOND TEN YEARS--1894 TO 1914. 1894-Two of Broken Hill's well known hotels were destroyed by fire early in the year. The theatre Royal (Pat McMahon, proprietor) was gutted on 11 January and the township's first hotel, the Bonanza, for which the original licence was granted to William Delamore in October 1885,was destroyed on February 6th. February 22, a fire occurred at Madame Wallenstein's Private Hospital in Lane Street, North. June 6,a number of men interested in forming a male choral society met at the Temperance Hall. J.H. Letheby was appointed secretary pro tem. This marked the beginning of the Broken Hill Quartette Club. 1895-Cabs,buggies, sulkies, carts, drags, phaetons, wagons and drays were the general means of public transport, with the exception of the rail link between Broken Hill and Adelaide, via the Silverton Tramway Company's privately owned line to Cockburn on the South Australia border. Most cab - drivers were proud of their vehicles, and decorated cabs were often featured in the street processions and special cab-driver's picnic. July 18,eight men were killed and several injured. The underground manager, Mr Sam Mayne, had ordered the men of the stope (above No 4 level) because of bad ground. They reached the level which was considered safe when the ground gave away. The concussion of air blew the miners against the timbers and eight were killed and two injured {one of whom died later}. September 20,At a meeting last night at the German Club Rooms it was decided to form a Club to practice Quartette music, to be known as the "Broken Hill Quartette Club. The first concert by the Quartette Club was performed on 27 December at the Central Reserve, in aid of the hospital funds. 1896-The 'dismal streets' of Broken Hill were as yet unlit, with the exception of an experimental gas lamp which had been placed in front of the Town Hall. By the end of 1896, the Barrier Miner was the only newspaper being published in Broken Hill. At a sale by auction yesterday the Royal Mail Hotel and Cosmopolitan Hall failed to reach the reserve but was sold privately later to the South Australian Brewing Company. Wendt’s Jewelers in Broken Hill was sold to Jackson and Garret, former employees of Wendt. December 14,North Broken Hill Turf Club has been formed. December 16, Levi Worsley was killed by a fall of ground at the British Mine. He was thirty-five years old and leaves a wife and thirteen children. 1897-The smelters at Broken Hill were gradually being phased out of the local industry in favour of the seaboard site at Port Pirie. Tree men died when overcome by fumes from a fire which broke out in the Proprietary Company's block 12 lease. A Starr Bowkett Society was formed to assist in the purchase of homes. A new Post Office was opened at North Broken Hill, adjoining the Police Station. On 18 November, the corner stone for a Masonic Hall was laid on the site of the former York Hotel. 1898-April 1, the last smelter furnaces operated by the mines at Broken Hill was closed, and all smelting of lead concentrate was carried out at Port Pirie. A new post office was erected at South Broken Hill. At Thackaringa, the local post office was closed in June. 1899-January 1, the Broken Hill Trades Hall was officially opened, although construction work had not been completed. In August the Broken Hill Bowling Club was formed, following a meeting held at the Crown hotel a few weeks earlier, and it was decided to construct a green on land at the rear of the South Australian Brewery (now the Jubilee Oval). The 'pretty little green at North Broken Hill' was opened on 2 December but proceedings were marred by a severe duststorm. Large wooden bowls were then in use. The population of Broken Hill was 26,711 and for Silverton 629,Tarrawingee 321 and Thackaringa 290. John Penrose's house (Hilderthorpe) situated at Silverton in Sturt Street opposite the Methodist Church, was loaded onto a jinker by Arthur Pincombe and relocated at 472 Chapple Street,Broken Hill. It was later used by the Salvation Army as a maternity home for 'fallen girls', whose not inconsiderable number warranted such assistance. 1900-- a decision was made to construct a new post office building at Railwaytown and the foundation stone was laid in May by Hon.W.E. O' Sullivan, Minister for Works. New Salvation Army barracks were constructed at South Broken Hill beside the Fire Brigade and Mechanics Institute. On 6 May the new Sisters of Mercy Convent was opened by Archbishop O'Reilly of Adelaide. Other structures planned or in course of erection during the year were the police residential quarters in Wolfram Street (now portion of the Broken Hill High School complex), a new Technical College building ,a school at East Broken Hill, premises both at Railway and in the vicinity of the Sulphide Street railway station for the Barrier Crystal Ice & Cold Storage Co L.t.d. and Protestant Hall for the 'Orange Lodges of the Barrier'. CONTINUE |
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