Walter Sully Emporium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walter Sully Emporium
Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery in the Walter Sully Emporium building
Location	404–408 Argent Street, Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1885–1900
Owner	Broken Hill City Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Walter Sully Emporium; Walter Sully & Co. Pty Ltd
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	690
Type	Commercial Office/Building
Category	Commercial
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The Walter Sully Emporium is a very old and important commercial building in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It is located at 404–408 Argent Street. This building was constructed between 1885 and 1900. It is also known as Walter Sully & Co. Pty Ltd. Today, this historic building is home to the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. The Broken Hill City Council owns the property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because of its historical importance.

A Look Back: The History of Walter Sully Emporium

Walter Sully started his first shop in Silverton in 1882. He then moved to Broken Hill in 1885. There, he built a two-storey stone building. This building had a special arched roof made of galvanised iron.

The First Post Office

This building became the very first post office in Broken Hill. It started operating on 1 November 1886. A few years later, around 1900, another building was built next to it. This new part had two sections: an office and a grocery store. People believe the office was in the middle section of the building.

Walter Sully & Co. Pty Ltd

On 29 November 1907, Walter Sully & Co. Pty Ltd became a formal company. Walter Sully was the chairman. H. B. Sweetapple was the Managing Director, along with five other directors. When Sully passed away in England in 1924, Sweetapple took over as Managing Director. He held this important job until 1971. After that, Mr. K. Hammond became the Managing Director.

What Sullys Sold

Sullys was a very important business for Broken Hill. They provided all the heavy machines and equipment needed for mining. This included things like explosives, candles, timber, metal machinery, and general tools. They also sold paints, tractors, and even liquor. The company even had its own stables and a blacksmith shop behind the main buildings.

The End of an Era

Sully's Emporium closed its doors in 1985. By then, it was the longest-running business in Broken Hill.

A New Life as an Art Gallery

In 1998, the Broken Hill City Council bought the building. They wanted it to be the new home for the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. The building then went through a big renovation to preserve its historic features. This work was done by architect Elizabeth Vines. The project won several awards for its excellent preservation work. After the renovations were finished, the art gallery moved into the building in October 2004.

What the Building Looks Like: Description

The Walter Sully Emporium is on the north-west side of Argent Street. It is right next to The Silver City Working Men's Club. The ground around the building is flat and partly covered with bitumen.

Building Structure

The building has two storeys and is made of stone. It also has a cellar (an underground room) under the back parts of the building.

• The first part, built in 1885, was a shop with two front entrances. It had a staircase leading to an upstairs gallery and to the cellar.
• The second part, built around 1900, included two more shops with a cellar underneath them.

Outside Appearance

The walls were originally made of exposed stone. They had red brick details around the corners and along the top edge (called quoining and parapet detailing). Later, probably when the 1900 extension was built, the front of the building (the facade) was made to look uniform. This was done with a special coating called render and a veranda was added. The shopfronts are made of timber, and the new part copied the original design.

Between 1939 and 1957, some of the original details on the facade were removed. They were replaced with cement render. Tall, flat columns called pilasters, built around 1900, divide the shopfronts. These pilasters have decorative tops called quasi-corinthian capitals. A new verandah was also added. This verandah has a timber frame roof that is slightly curved. It is supported by steel posts and has a hidden gutter behind the front board (fascia).

The Roof and Other Features

The roof of the building is made of galvanised iron. The roof of the original building is a shallow barrel shape. It is supported by small steel bow trusses. The roof of the newer section has two gables (triangular sections) hidden behind the shop parapet. It also has a central box gutter and ends with two hips (sloping edges) and roof ventilators at the north end.

On the site, there are also some outbuildings made of corrugated iron. There is a brick building for storing explosives, an underground water tank, and an underground well. Before the renovations by the Broken Hill City Council, the building was reported to be in poor condition.

Why It's Important: Heritage Listing

The Walter Sully Emporium is a very important historical site. It was the longest-running business in Broken Hill until it closed. It played a key role in helping the mining industry grow and explore the mineral fields. It also helps make Argent Street a special and historic place.

The Walter Sully Emporium was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it meets certain important standards.

Historical Importance

This building is important because it shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.

• It was the earliest commercial business in Broken Hill that survived until 1985.
• It was connected to two well-known Broken Hill families: the Sullys (from 1885–1924) and the Sweetaples (from 1924–1985).
• The business provided all the heavy machinery and equipment needed for the development and exploration of Broken Hill's mineral field.

Design and Appearance

The emporium is also important for its aesthetic (how it looks) and its creative design.

• It is a strong and noticeable building on Argent Street.
• Even though some original details were removed from the front, the two-storey buildings, built in two stages, are still remarkable.
• It is a key part of the street's overall look and feel.

What We Can Learn From It

The building also has the potential to teach us about the cultural history of New South Wales.

• The inside of the building is still in its original condition. It has old office furniture and timber shelving from the store.
• The upstairs living areas still have their original finishes. Even though they are in poor condition, they show us the types of decorations used in Broken Hill from around 1900 to 1940.