saving
the Walter Sully Emporium
with public money and the private market

A unique funding arrangement involving two levels of government and private enterprise has ensured that the Walter Sully Emporium in Broken Hill, a late Victorian shopfront in the town's main street, will be restored to its former glory and still play a real role in the local economy.

That was the resolve shared by representatives of the Heritage Office and Broken Hill Council at the announcement at the end of August by Minister for Urban Affairs & Planning, the Hon. Craig Knowles, of the first grant to be awarded under the State Government's Heritage 2001 funding program. In an innovative decision involving both the government and the local council, grants totalling $256,000 will be made available over the next two years for the Council to purchase and restore the Emporium.

The Victorian store, which became the subject of a Permanent Conservation Order in 1991, was recently purchased with a portion of the funds made available under the 1997 Heritage 2001 program. Once restoration is complete, the grants will be fully paid back to the government when the Council brokers a deal for a local business to buy back the newly refurbished building.

Broken Hill Council has yet to formally advertise for expressions of interest from the private sector to buy the building, but has already received enquiries from local businesses. Potential occupants include existing Broken Hill businesses which would take the opportunity to expand, providing long-term employment for the area.

The restoration of the Walter Sully Emporium is part of a larger ongoing project funded by the Heritage 2001 program with grants worth $200,000 contributing towards $800,000 worth of work over the next four years to restore or reinstate verandahs in Broken Hill. The project has been masterminded by the local Council, which since the late 1980s has taken the view that the town's heritage is a commodity to be aggressively marketed to both domestic and international tourists. The result is that Broken Hill, unlike some other industrial areas witnessing a decline in their traditional markets, has opened up new opportunities for the local economy while at the same time actively preserving its heritage.

In his announcement of the grant to save the Walter Sully Emporium, Minister Craig Knowles praised the foresight of Broken Hill Council. 'The purchase and restoration of this building is not only important from a heritage perspective, but will be a major incentive for development in the city centre'.

"When the restoration is completed Broken Hill Council intends to sell the Emporium for sympathetic uses such as retailing, open plan offices, an art gallery, library or motel. This will strike the right balance between conserving our important heritage buildings and encouraging their development and appropriate use", the Minister said.

Last year, the future looked bleak for the Walter Sully Emporium. Built in 1885 as one of the grandest stores in Broken Hill, it had survived largely intact with 19th century detailing including an impressive cedar staircase and internal columns. However, 14 years of neglect from an indifferent private owner were beginning to take their toll until Broken Hill Council decided to intervene and apply for a grant to buy and restore the building. The result is that the Emporium will once more impose its graceful presence on the town's main street and the local community will gain a valuable economic resource to bring much needed jobs and income into the area.

As Ron Hellyer from Broken Hill Council puts it; "Everyone's a winner with this project. The government gets its grant money back, the Council is helping the local economy in a practical way and a lovely old building is saved."