Broken Hill Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broken Hill Synagogue |
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Former Broken Hill Synagogue, 2009
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Closed |
| Ownership | Broken Hill Historical Society Inc.; Synagogue of The Outback Museum (SOTOM) |
| Year consecrated | 1911 |
| Status |
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| Location | |
| Location | 165 Wolfram Street, Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
 Location in New South Wales
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| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 30 November 1910 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Official name: Broken Hill Synagogue; Historical Society | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 675 |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Category | Religion |
The Broken Hill Synagogue is a special building in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a place of worship for Jewish people. Now, it's a museum called the Synagogue of the Outback Museum. It also houses the Broken Hill Historical Society. This building is important because of its history. It is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Contents
A Look Back: The Synagogue's Story
The Broken Hill Synagogue is one of only three synagogues built specifically for Jewish worship in country New South Wales.
Early Days of the Jewish Community
A Jewish community started to grow in Broken Hill in the 1880s. They set up a Jewish cemetery in 1891. The people who started the Broken Hill Hebrew Congregation arrived after this time. Most of the Jewish people in Broken Hill came from Lithuania and Ukraine. Their Jewish traditions followed the old ways from Russia.
Building a Place to Worship
In 1900, the community decided to form a proper group and build a synagogue. At first, they couldn't raise enough money. But later, they succeeded. They bought the land in 1907. Before the synagogue was built, Jewish services were held in the Masonic Hall.
The first stone for the synagogue was laid on November 30, 1910. The building was officially opened on February 26, 1911. The special holy books, called Torah scrolls, were gifts from the Jewish community in Adelaide. The money owed for building the synagogue was fully paid off by October 1914.
From Synagogue to Museum
By 1961, the number of Jewish people in Broken Hill had become very small, only fifteen. The synagogue closed in 1962. The original Torah scrolls were moved to a Jewish school in Melbourne. After it closed, the building was used as a private home. It had become quite run down.
In 1990, the Broken Hill Historical Society bought the building. They worked hard to fix it up and make it new again. Today, it serves as the Synagogue of the Outback Museum. It also houses the Broken Hill Historical Society. A copy of a Sefer Torah (Torah scroll) was placed in the museum in 2017.
In 2017, the building was damaged by a hailstorm. The repairs cost a lot of money, about $140,000.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The Broken Hill Synagogue was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's a very important building. It is protected because of its history and special meaning.
See also
- Judaism in Australia
- History of Broken Hill
