Central Mine Manager's Residence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Mine Manager's Residence |
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| Location | Piper Street, South Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1903–1903 |
| Owner | Southern Cross Care Broken Hill Incorporated |
| Official name: Central Mine Manager's Residence, former; St Anne's Home of Compassion; Former Central Mine Managers House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 15 December 2006 |
| Reference no. | 1770 |
| Type | Mansion |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
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The Central Mine Manager's Residence is a very old and important building in South Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It was built in 1903 as a home for the manager of the Central Mine. Later, it became an orphanage for Aboriginal girls. Today, it is used as an administration building for a nursing home. This building is also known as St Anne's Home of Compassion. It is owned by Southern Cross Care Broken Hill Incorporated. Because of its special history and design, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 December 2006.
Contents
History of the Central Mine Manager's Residence
Wiljakali People and Broken Hill
Long ago, many groups of Aboriginal people lived in the western plains of New South Wales. The main group around Broken Hill was the Wiljakali people. They moved around a lot because water was scarce. This also made the area less appealing to early European settlers.
Traditional Aboriginal ways of life continued here longer than in many other parts of NSW. But as their lands changed, Aboriginal people often had to go to stations or missions. By the 1880s, many worked on stations or in the mines. Later, some Aboriginal children were sent to homes like St Anne's. Many Aboriginal girls from across NSW lived at the Central Mine Manager's Residence. This was between the 1940s and the 1980s. It was known as the St Anne's Home of Compassion.
Mining in Broken Hill
The name "Broken Hill" was first used by explorer Charles Sturt in 1844. Towns far from major rivers, like Broken Hill, grew because of mineral discoveries. Gold, silver, copper, and opal were found after 1875.
In the early 1880s, Charles Rasp found silver chloride in Broken Hill. He was a boundary rider from Mount Gipps Station. A group of miners started a company called the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, now known as BHP. Soon, a town was surveyed. The main street was full of hotels and offices. Photographs of Broken Hill and its mines were shown in London in 1908.
Broken Hill started as a temporary town. One area was even called "Canvas Town" because of its tents. Streets in the town centre were named after minerals. Streets that cross them were named after mining companies. South of the big "Line of Lode," streets were named after early mine managers. The Central Mine was one of these. It operated until 1940. It produced a lot of ore and made a lot of money. Mining still happens in Broken Hill today.
James Hebbard: Mine Manager and Innovator
The Central Mine Manager's Residence was built for James and Olivia Hebbard in 1903. The Hebbard family came from Cornwall, England, a place famous for mining. James Hebbard's father moved to South Australia in 1849. He settled in Burra, where copper had been found.
James Hebbard was born in 1862. His family says he walked to Broken Hill in 1884. This was just before the main silver lode was discovered. James Hebbard became the inspector of mines in Broken Hill. In 1902, he became the manager of the Central Mine. The building of this large house on Piper Street seems to have happened around that time.
Hebbard was very important for new mining techniques. He wrote about how minerals were separated from ore. This process was called "flotation." It used bubbles to lift the valuable ore. This was a big step forward in mining. Hebbard also helped develop a machine for this process.
James Hebbard was also a pioneer in mine safety. He brought in modern health and safety rules. He made sure miners didn't work too long in dusty areas. He also made them wear respirators. This was decades before other companies did the same. His changes likely saved many lives. Hebbard died in 1942. His family had been involved in mining for many generations.
The Central Mine Manager's Residence Building
The former Central Mine Manager's Residence was likely built in 1902. It was one of the grandest houses in Broken Hill. Many important visitors to the town were entertained there. Mine managers had large homes. These were usually near the mines but set apart from the noisy workings.
The house is a large single-story building. It has a veranda that wraps around three sides. The back might have had a veranda too. The house was probably designed in Adelaide. It uses red bricks around the windows, a common style in South Australia.
The house is a great example of the Federation Queen Anne style. This style was popular in the 1890s. It uses brick chimneys and half-timbering on the gables. These ideas came from English architecture. But the wrap-around veranda is a very Australian feature. The house has a complex roof shape. It also has a two-tone color scheme, with brown half-timbering. The original front door and windows are still there.
The design of the house was changed to suit the hot outback climate. It has very deep and high verandas. The roof is steeply pitched and made of corrugated iron. This helps with heavy rain. The rooms are large with high ceilings. This helps keep the house cool. There are also big storage areas, including a cellar.
The residence was also a social hub for the town. The Hebbards had three daughters. They hosted many social events and family weddings. James Hebbard was involved with the local church choir. During World War 1, the Hebbard women did volunteer work from the house.
St Anne's Home of Compassion
After the Central Mine closed in 1940, the residence was bought by Bishop Thomas Martin Fox. He bought it for the Sisters of Compassion. They used it as an orphanage and convent. It became known as the St Anne's Home of Compassion Convent. Three small cottages were also used for the children. The Sisters used the building until 1984. Then, it became an administration center for Southern Cross Homes. An archway at the entrance once read "St Anne's Home of Compassion Convent."
Many Aboriginal girls lived at St Anne's. Some were sent there by their parents to get an education. Others came from different areas of NSW. A local Aboriginal community member shared that many community leaders grew up there. People have mixed feelings about the home. But there are many good memories. It was important because it was close to Wilcannia. This allowed families to visit the girls. This helped them keep their family ties and identity.
In 2006, the site became a nursing home. The residence was then used as an administration office.
Description of the Building
The former Central Mine Manager's Residence is a large, single-story house. It has a wide veranda that goes around three sides. The back of the house might have had a veranda too. The house was likely designed in Adelaide. This is because it uses red bricks around the windows. This style is common in South Australia.
Unlike many other buildings of its time, its gables (the triangular parts of the roof) don't seem to have vents. The walls are made of stone. The front door has a brick arch. The veranda posts are made of timber. The house is a great example of the Federation Queen Anne style in Broken Hill. An architectural critic once called it "London Queen Anne in the Salt Bush plains."
The brick chimneys and half-timbering on the gables are English design ideas. But the wrap-around veranda is a unique Australian feature. The house has a complex roof shape. It also has a two-tone color scheme, with brown half-timbering. The original front door, side lights, and fanlights are still there. Air conditioning units have been added. It's not clear if these openings were originally French doors to the veranda or just windows. A round window next to the main entrance also remains.
The southern side of the Line of Lode, especially Eyre Street, is a well-preserved area. It shows what the mining scene looked like in the early 1900s. The Mine Manager's Residence was built in the residential area. It was kept separate from the mine workings. It is one of several large mine manager's homes built around the Line of Lode. Many of these still exist today.
Why the Residence is Special
The former Central Mine Manager's Residence is very important for several reasons. It is a great example of the "Federation Queen Anne" style. Its design was changed to suit the hot climate of Broken Hill. It is also part of the important mining history of Broken Hill.
The house is significant because of its connection to James Hebbard. He was the mine manager who lived there. His new ideas in mineral processing and mine safety were very important. They helped the mining industry and saved many lives.
The residence also has important social value. When the Hebbard family lived there, it was a social center for the town. Important visitors were entertained, and family events like weddings took place there. Later, from about 1940 to 1984, it was the St Anne's Home of Compassion. This orphanage was run by the Sisters of Compassion. Many Aboriginal girls from all over NSW lived there during that time.
The Central Mine Manager's Residence was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 December 2006.
Historical Importance
This residence shows the history of mining in New South Wales. It is a well-preserved example of a mine manager's home. It shows the growth and wealth of Broken Hill in the early 1900s. It also highlights the big differences between the mine managers' grand homes and the simple cottages of the miners. Its use as St Anne's Home of Compassion also makes it historically important.
Connection to Important People
The residence is important because of its link to James Hebbard. He was a key figure in Broken Hill's mining history. His work on mineral processing and safety was very advanced. He probably saved hundreds of lives. The size and style of the house show his wealth and status. The Hebbard family's journey from copper mines to goldfields and then to Broken Hill's silver mines shows how mining changed in Australia. The house is also linked to the Aboriginal girls and Catholic nuns who lived there as part of the "St Anne's Home of Compassion Convent."
Architectural Beauty and Design
The former Central Mine Manager's Residence is a beautiful example of the "Federation Queen Anne" style. Its design was adapted for the hot Broken Hill climate. For example, it has a veranda wrapping around three sides. This was a smart way to deal with the heat. The house might have been designed in Adelaide, as it uses building styles common there.
Social and Cultural Importance
The residence is important for its social history. From about 1940 to 1984, it was the St Anne's Home of Compassion. This orphanage was home to many Aboriginal children from NSW. It holds both good and sad memories for those who lived there. Locally, it was a social hub for the town when the Hebbard family lived there.
Research Potential
This building can help us learn more about building techniques from the late 1800s. It also shows the differences in social classes in Broken Hill. It can help researchers understand how architectural styles from South Australia influenced buildings in Broken Hill.
Rarity
The former Central Mine Manager's Residence is a rare example of a well-preserved 19th-century town house. It stands out from the many small miners' cottages in Broken Hill.
Example of a Type of Place
This residence is a great example of a large, high-quality home from the early 1900s in a regional area. It is also one of several mine managers' residences that surrounded the mining leases in Broken Hill.
