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Sturt Park Broken Hill Australia
Sturt Park in Broken Hill is a recreation area, that provides an open space for people to enjoy a variety of activities which includes the use of the gardens, picnic tables, childrens playground and the skatepark. The area of land bounded by Beryl and Cobalt, Chloride and Sulphide Street was gazetted as the Central Reserve in 1895. It was designed with a rotunda (BM Fri 10 May 1895 p2) situated in its centre in the late Victorian style. Trees were planted, paths laid out (BM Wed 14 Aug 1895 p2) and soon the park attracted good crowds whenever the bands were performing. Prior to the building of the Rotunda, the area was used as a football ground (BM Thurs 2 May 1895 p4)

It was renamed Sturt Park in 1944 to commemorate the centenary of the inland explorations of Captain Charles Sturt in 1844-45. During the Sturt Centenary Celebrations Miss Donella Burrell a former Broken Hill High School Teacher officially unveiled a memorial plaque in recognition of the parks change of name. From Sunday 21 August 1944 the former Central Reserve was known as Sturt Park in honour of explorer, Captain Charles Sturt who named several land marks just outside the city (BM Mon 21 Aug 1944 p2).

In 1911 the Broken Hill City Council decided that a fence should be erected around round the perimeter of the Reserve. They used wooden post and fencing wire, good enough to stop any livestock from wandering in (BM Mon 11 Sept 1911 p4). In 1912 Mr. George Parer opened the Central Reserve Kiosk. He installed the latest American soda fountain and he sold cool drinks and ice creams to the general public everyday of the week (BM Sat 12 Oct 1912 p4).

Socially, the park became very popular during the summer months, for when the temperatures heated up people’s houses they sought refuge under the many shady trees scattered throughout the reserve. During heatwaves, when the nights were excessively hot families moved out of their homes into the park in the hope of getting a good night’s rest (BM Fri 30 Jan 1931 p4).

During the early development of Broken Hill the reserve was used for social activities ranging from picnics to protests. At one time it played host to a small zoo which was located on the Cobalt side of the park. At one stage it played host to monkey’s, kangaroos, an Emu and a variety of birds native to the local area. It operated from around 1919 till 1940 when the Council deemed it to be too cruel to dumb animals to be locked up, so the animals were dispersed and the structure was demolished (BM Fri 23 Aug 1940 p4).

By the late 1940’s children were provided with playground equipment (BM 8 Sept 1948 p5) and adults were not left out as two tennis courts (BM Tues 2 Feb 1954 p2) were constructed to cater for the local’s passion for the sport.