| ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE Broken Hill has a rich, varied and unique architectural heritage. The city grew very rapidly after commencement of mining in the 1880s, reaching peak population in the early 1900s. Its location, isolation, origin as a mining town and early rapid growth have resulted in a unique combination of built heritage, particularly the housing. Most of the city’s housing was built before World War 1 and ranges from simple cottages to ornate Italianate styles. The need for lightweight, easily transported building materials resulted in the almost universal use of galvanised iron for roofing, and galvanised iron and weatherboard for cladding. Galvanised iron was also preferred for fencing. The city consequently has a unique appearance with light – coloured galvanised iron dominating from higher viewpoints. The earliest permanent dwellings were singled – fronted Victorian cottages with a simple rectangular floor plan. Three main roof construction styles can be identified; gable, hip, and roofed – over double gable forming a soft curvilinear roof line. A variation of the typical gable has created a unique Broken Hill roofline by starting the addition to a cottage from the ridge of the gable roof rather than the ends of the gable. Galvanised iron was used for roofing, horizontal cladding (often with smaller fluting), chimneys and front fences. The earliest cottages were built without verandahs but these were soon added to provide protection from the heat, sometimes embellished with cast iron brackets. Interiors were lined with timber panelling and pressed metal ceilings. Interior walls were covered with hessian. Usually only the front and backs of houses were painted, leaving the sides and roofs in galvanised iron finish. The more substantial houses built prior to 1900 were of pug, local stone and brick in South Australian style, with red brick quoins and masonry walls. Other housing variations include a few semi – detached cottages in galvanised iron or brick and stone, and terrace or row housing. By the early 1900s, the simple rectangular floor plan of the Victorian cottage was modified by Gothic Revival and Federation (Edwardian) styles. Front rooms were added, breaking the line of the hipped roof but retaining the verandah. Hipped roof line modified to Gothic peaks, Gothic bargeboards with timbered finials and return verandah were common variations. Housing built in the city between the two world wars tended to adopt the styles of housing used elsewhere in Australia (e.g. Californian Bungalow, Mock Tudor and Spanish Mission). Again, the vast majority was built of galvanised iron with decorative facades of pressed metal, given the housing a unique quality. Better transport after World War 11 tendered to break down the unique character of Broken Hill architecture, as housing began to mimic that built elsewhere in Australia at the same time. This was particularly so after 1960. In addition to private housing for miners in the city, mining companies provided housing for salaried staff on their mining leases. The first company housing was erected by BHP and the oldest remaining company housing survives at Proprietary Square . Other company housing, often with extensive landscaping, was erected during the last boom period at Broken Hill in the 1940s and 50s at Junction Circle, North Mine, Zinc Mine and NBHC Mine. The majority of non – residential private buildings are in South Australian style with stone walls and brick quoins. Most of these were built prior to 1980, and include the city’s hotels, shops, churches and Town Hall. In contrast, State Government buildings were erected in the NSW architectural style, and include the Post Offices, Police Stations, Schools, Court House and theTtechnical College. |
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| CALIFORNIAN STYLE GABLE ROOF |
| GOTHIC STYLE VICTORIAN STYLE |
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