As advised, the first meeting of the Historical Society for 2025 is Monday 10^th February, starting at 7 pm. Following a brief general meeting, and the guest speaker, supper will be provided.

Our very special guest speaker is Sharon Snir, from Sydney.  Sharon is a granddaughter of an original member of the Jewish community in Broken Hill and will be speaking about that community’s history.

A little background

As local and away ‘Hillites’ know, Broken Hill is built on very rich layers of Indigenous and immigrant colonial/settler history.

Part of that history includes the development of a vibrant and successful Jewish community that dates to the Gold Rush in the late 1800s in Australia, because of the large iron ore, silver and zinc deposits found here.

With many Jewish immigrants from Europe and Russia making their way to this isolated town, a Jewish cemetery was consecrated as early as 1891, with the founders of the Broken Hill Hebrew Congregation arriving after 1891, leading to the building of a Synagogue.

The foundation stone for the Broken Hill Synagogue was placed at 165 Wolfram Street in 1910, which until the 1960s served the approximately 200 members of the Jewish community.

In 1991 the Synagogue was converted to the Synagogue of the Outback Museum, now owned and maintained by the Broken Hill Historical Society.

Do keep in mind that you are very welcome to come to Society meetings and hear our guest speakers. You don’t have to be a member, and you don’t have to live in the region – you can be a visitor too.

Our meetings are held at 165 Wolfram Street, at the back of the Synagogue complex.