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City of Broken Hill

Coordinates: 31°57′S 141°27′E / 31.950°S 141.450°E / -31.950; 141.450
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This article is about the local government area. For the outback city, see Broken Hill.

City of Broken Hill
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Map
Coordinates31°57′S 141°27′E / 31.950°S 141.450°E / -31.950; 141.450
Population
 • Density104.2/km2 (270/sq mi)
Established22 September 1888
Area170 km2 (65.6 sq mi)
Time zoneACST (UTC+9:30)
 • Summer (DST)ACDT (UTC+10:30)
MayorTom Kennedy (Independent)
Council seatCouncil Chambers, Broken Hill
RegionFar West
CountyYancowinna
State electorate(s)Barwon
Federal division(s)Parkes[3]
WebsiteCity of Broken Hill
LGAs around City of Broken Hill:
Unincorporated Far West
Unincorporated Far West City of Broken Hill Unincorporated Far West
Unincorporated Far West

The City of Broken Hill is a local government area in the Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. The area contains an isolated mining city, Broken Hill, located in the outback of New South Wales and is surrounded by the Unincorporated Far West Region. The city is located adjacent to the Silver City and Barrier Highways and the Broken Hill railway line.

The mayor of the City of Broken Hill Council is Cr. Tom Kennedy, an independent politician.

Council history

[edit]
The Broken Hill Town Hall, completed in 1890, was the council seat until 1968.

Following a petition submitted by residents to the Colonial Secretary on 2 May 1888, the Municipal District of Broken Hill was first incorporated on 22 September 1888.[4][5] The incorporation occurred during a typhoid epidemic, which killed 128 people, and the need for public health and water supply provisions was one of the main driving forces behind incorporation, and one of the biggest issues for the new municipality.[6][7] One contemporary report commented that "The town is in a terrible state owing to defective sanitary arrangements. People continue to leave by trains daily in hundreds in view of the impending drought."[8] As a consequence, in 1892 the private Broken Hill Water Supply Company completed construction on the Stephens Creek Reservoir, which provided the first reliable clean water supply to the town.[9][10]

The first council was divided into four wards: Burke, Wills, Sturt and King, each returning three aldermen, and the first election, conducted by Charles George Gibson as Returning Officer, was held at the Broken Hill Court House on 24 November 1888.[11][12] The ward system remained in place until early 1909 when the council requested that the state government abolish the wards and elect the aldermen proportionally, which was proclaimed on 24 May 1909.[13][14] By 1891 the population had passed 23,000, making Broken Hill the third largest town in New South Wales, and that number continued to grow, reaching 25,000 by 1897.[15][16] Civic improvements, spurred on by silver mining profits, continued during the 1890s with the construction of schools, a technical college, town hall, post offices and gaol. Timber and temporary structures gave way to brick and stone, the town's streets were paved and recreation reserves were planted with trees.[17][18][19] The council commissioned the Town Hall, designed in the Italianate style by Whittall & Wells of Adelaide, with the foundation stone laid by Sir Henry Parkes on 3 April 1890.[20][21][22] The hall was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Jersey, with the Governor of South Australia, Lord Kintore, in attendance, on 6 August 1891.[23][24]

The council was renamed the Municipality of Broken Hill following the passage of the Municipalities Act, 1897 on 6 December 1897. The council's population continue to grow in this period and by 1906, the council resolved to apply for City status, being able to fulfil the city conditions set in Local Government Act, 1906, and the City of Broken Hill was proclaimed on 17 July 1907, the only municipality to do so under the 1906 act.[25]

Later history

[edit]

Following the release of the report of public inquiry that detailed ongoing infighting among councillors and their conflicts with staff and councillor interference in operational matters, on 10 January 2007 the council was dismissed by the Minister for Local Government, Kerry Hickey.[26] The elected council was replaced by a single Administrator, with the former Broken Hill General Manager, Ken Boyle, appointed.[27] Elections originally scheduled for September 2008 were deferred and the council remained under administration until a special election held on 5 December 2009.[28]

In 2015, Broken Hill became the first city in Australia to be included on the National Heritage List.[29][30][31]

Demography

[edit]
Selected historical census data for Broken Hill local government area
Census year 2001[32] 2006[33] 2011[34] 2016[1]
Population Estimated residents on census night 20,274 Decrease 19,361 Decrease 18,517 Decrease 17,708
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 72nd Steady 72nd
% of New South Wales population
% of Australian population
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		 English
Australian
Italian
Chinese
Irish
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		 Italian
Mandarin
Cantonese
Korean
Greek
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		 Catholic
No religion
Anglican
Eastern Orthodox
Buddhism
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$
% of Australian median income
Family income Median weekly family income
% of Australian median income
Household income Median weekly household income
% of Australian median income

Council

[edit]
Broken Hill Administration Centre and Council Chambers has been the council seat since 1968.

Current composition and election method

[edit]

Broken Hill City Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected directly by a popular vote. The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021 and the makeup of the council is as follows:[35][36]

Party Councillors
  For A Better Broken Hill 6
  Team Broken Hill 2
  Labor 2
Total 10

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election, is:[35][36]

Mayor Party Notes
  Tom Kennedy Better Broken Hill Mayor 2021–date
Councillor Party Notes
  Dave Gallagher APM Team Broken Hill Deputy Mayor 2014–2017
  Michael Boland Better Broken Hill
  Darriea Turley AM Country Labor Mayor 2016–2021, Deputy Mayor 1997–1998, 2001–2002, 2012–2014[37][38]
  Bob Algate Better Broken Hill
  Ronald Page Team Broken Hill
  Marion Browne Labor Deputy Mayor 2017–2021
  Jim Hickey Better Broken Hill Deputy Mayor 2021–date[39]
  Hayley Jewitt Better Broken Hill
  Alan Chandler Better Broken Hill

Election results

[edit]

2024

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Murray and Far West § Broken Hill results.[edit]
2024 New South Wales local elections: Broken Hill[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
For A Better Broken Hill 1. Tom Kennedy
2. Michael Boland (elected)
3. Jim Hickey (elected)
4. Bob Algate (elected)
5. Hayley Jewitt (elected)
6. Alan Chandler (elected)
7. Elaine Gillett (elected)
8. Thomas Kennedy
9. James Elston 		6,338 63.00 +12.60
Labor 1. Darriea Turley (elected)
2. Ashley Byrne (elected)
3. Blake Edgecombe
4. Nathan Fell
5. Richard Shoebridge 		2,292 22.78 +0.98
Team Broken Hill 1. Dave Gallagher (elected)
2. Ron Page
3. Dean Grose
4. Matthew McCarthy
5. Anita Hoysted 		1,263 12.55 −11.95
Independent Branko Licul 168 1.67 +1.67
Total formal votes 10,061 92.63 −0.77
Informal votes 801 7.37 +0.77
Turnout 10,862 83.20 −0.20

2021

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections in Murray and Far West § Broken Hill results.[edit]
2021 New South Wales local elections: Broken Hill[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
For A Better Broken Hill 1. Tom Kennedy
2. Michael Boland (elected)
3. Bob Algate (elected)
4. Jim Hickey (elected)
5. Hayley Jewitt (elected)
6. Alan Chandler (elected) 		5,237 50.4 +50.4
Team Broken Hill 1. Dave Gallagher (elected)
2. Ron Page (elected)
3. Dinny Reardon
4. Patrick Reincke
5. Matthew McCarthy 		2,549 24.5 −1.8
Labor 1. Darriea Turley (elected)
2. Marion Browne (elected)
3. Branko Licul
4. Ashley Byrne
5. Blake Egdecombe
6. Nathan Fell 		2,263 21.8 −16.9
Independent Gigi Barbe 346 3.3 +3.3
Total formal votes 10,395 93.4
Informal votes 732 6.6
Turnout 11,127 83.4

Mayors

[edit]
Main article: List of mayors of Broken Hill

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Broken Hill (C)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 July 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2018–19". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Profile of the electoral division of Parkes (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  4. ^ "BROKEN HILL.—PETITION FOR A MUNICIPALITY". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 279. 2 May 1888. p. 3123. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 607. 24 September 1888. p. 6729. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "BROKEN HILL". South Australian Register. Vol. LIII, no. 12, 918. 9 April 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Indignation at Broken Hill". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 977. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1888. p. 14. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Typhoid at Broken Hill". Evening News. No. 6741. New South Wales, Australia. 28 December 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "BROKEN HILL". South Australian Register. Vol. LIII, no. 13, 053. South Australia. 13 September 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "BROKEN HILL WATER SUPPLY UMBERUMBERKA WATERWORKS" (PDF). Engineers Australia. October 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 668. 26 October 1888. p. 7507. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 673. 26 October 1888. p. 7583. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "THE MUNICIPALITY. Proposed Abolition of Wards". Barrier Miner. Vol. XX, no. 6385. New South Wales, Australia. 8 January 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 66. 26 May 1909. p. 2795. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "The Population of Broken Hill". Barrier Miner. Vol. 3, no. 908. New South Wales, Australia. 14 February 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "THE BROKEN HILL REVIVAL". The Argus. No. 15, 778. Melbourne. 25 January 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "BROKEN HILL". Illustrated Australian News and Musical Times. No. 419. Victoria, Australia. 1 April 1890. p. 19. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "The Silver Country". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XLI, no. 1093. New South Wales, Australia. 27 December 1890. p. 15. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "BROKEN HILL". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXVIII, no. 8, 263. South Australia. 16 June 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Broken Hill Town Hall". The Australian Star. No. 683. New South Wales, Australia. 10 February 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "THE NEW TOWN HALL". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 16, 233. 4 April 1890. p. 8. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "The Broken Hill Town Hall". Barrier Miner. Vol. 3, no. 851. New South Wales, Australia. 8 December 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "The Governor at Broken Hill". Evening News. No. 7548. New South Wales, Australia. 7 August 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "LORD JERSEY AT BROKEN HILL". South Australian Register. Vol. LVI, no. 13, 957. South Australia. 7 August 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Broken Hill Municipal District Council (1888–1897) / Municipality of Broken Hill (1897–1907) / City of Broken Hill (1907–1993 ) / Broken Hill City Council (1993- )". NSW State Archives and Records. NSW Government. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  26. ^ AAP (10 January 2007). "Broken Hill council sacked amid infighting". The Australian. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Administrator takes control of Broken Hill council meeting". ABC News. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Broken Hill City Council election: 5 December 2009". New South Wales Electoral District. Archived from the original on 30 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  29. ^ Wainwright, Sofie (12 June 2017). "Broken Hill Council pushes for Australia's first world heritage city listing in outback NSW". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  30. ^ Back, Alexandra; Coote, Gavin (20 January 2015). "Broken Hill becomes first Australian city to join National Heritage List after decade-long campaign". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  31. ^ "National Heritage Places – City of Broken Hill". Department of the Environment. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  32. ^ "2001 Census QuickStats: Broken Hill (C)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  33. ^ "2006 Census QuickStats: Broken Hill (C)". quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  34. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Broken Hill (C)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 October 2012. Edit this at Wikidata
  35. ^ a b "City of Broken Hill – Mayoral Election Results". NSW Electoral Commission. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  36. ^ a b "City of Broken Hill – Councillor Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  37. ^ Media notes Archived 22 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia (A-L), Australia Day 2018 Honours List, gg.gov.au
  38. ^ Boisvert, Eugene (27 September 2012). "Darriea Turley elected dep Mayor of Broken Hill". ABC News. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  39. ^ "Jim Hickey". www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  40. ^ "City of Broken Hill Councillor Election". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 2 October 2024. Archived from the original on 6 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  41. ^ "City of Broken Hill". ABC News. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
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