In Broken Hill’s early days the residents lived in dwellings that consisted mainly of tents or iron structure, and the small community was dealt many hardships over the including dust storms, severe heat, drought, dirty drinking water, unsanitary conditions, disease and mining accidents were commonplace. The major illnesses in the community were diphtheria, typhoid, lead poisoning, pneumonia, dysentery and enteritis and there was a high mortality rate for the young of Broken Hill. In 1886 there was no medical facility in the township of Broken Hill, in contrast Silverton, New South Wales had three medical practitioners, but after BHP was approached by the Miners association it was agreed to provide a temporary hospital structure that could hold six beds, a morgue and two outhouses were also included, this first initial structure was a simple timber and iron dwelling.
