Virtually every aspect of life in Silverton’s heyday is represented, with literally thousands of items on display.
Tools of the trades of mining, transport, entertainment, technology, food, religion, sport, education and medicine are accompanied by a range of photographs, painting a vivid picture of Silverton’s early years.
The unique surrounds of the gaol building, erected in 1889, heighten the effect.
Silverton’s original gaol was cobbled together from timber and iron. The building itself was less than secure, and prisoners were secured with leg-irons to prevent their escape.
Due to overcrowding, prisoners often found themselves chained to a nearby peppercorn tree.
It was these appalling conditions which led to the erection of the current Silverton Gaol.
But as the town shrank the gaol found itself being used for short term prisoners and overnight lock-up only.
In the 1930s the building was used as a boy’s reformatory. It was closed in 1942 along with the Silverton police station. After being tenanted for a number of years the building was abandoned.
In 1966 the Broken Hill Historical Society set up a trust to care for the historical building, whereupon it was renovated and restored.