Mutwe-wa-Nsovu

From Great North Road

Broken Hill - Zinc & Lead: Spur to progress

Broken Hill was first known in the latter part of the 19th Century as Mutwe-wa-Nsovu meaning "Elephants Head".

In the 1880's a Mr Harrison Clark settled in the area, and in 1900 "Chiraplula" Stevenson walked over it. Not until 1903 was the settlement named Broken Hill.

In 1902 Mr. T G Davey had discovered lead and zinc outcrops in two kopjes in the bush. As these outcrops were similar to those of Broken Hill mine in Australia, the same name was chosen. In 1904 the Broken Hil Development Company was formed, and mining started.

About this time a mine near Mumbwa petered out, and the miners transferred to Broken Hill. Among them was Charles Murdoch Boon who became one of the pioneers of commerce in the township: his name still lives in the present Boon's Bar.

As a result of the mineral discovery, the railway which, until then, ran only as far as the Victoria Falls, was pushed through to Broken Hill. The township thus became the railhead in 1906 and is still the head-quarters of Rhodesia Railways in Northern Rhodesia.

In 1911, the railway extended to Sakania in the Belgian Congo, but, during the five years. Broken Hill became the centre of supply for settlements north and east, goods being transported by carriers as far as Abercorn and Fort Rosebery.

In 1907 Charles Boon opened the first store and, in the following year, the first hotel and bakery. These establishments were closely followed by other stores including that of the African Lakes Corporation (which also acted as Bankers).

Broken Hill main street - 1935.

Original kopje – Broken Hill.

Charles Boon – 1904.

Elephants Head Hotel - Broken Hill.

Rhodesia man plaque – Broken Hill.

Boon’s Bar Ltd.

Commercial development was slow in those days, but a Village Management Board was formed in 1914 under the chairmanship of Charles Boon, and in 1914 a Post Office was opened in a rondavel near the station.

In 1923 work started on a hydro-electric scheme on the Mulungushi River, 35 miles away, to supply power to the mine, and in 1927 the Prince of Wales (now Duke of Windsor) opened the project-the first hydro-electric scheme on the continent of Africa.

It was not until 1949 that commercial development began to expand to any great extent. In that year, under the first Mayor, Councillor A. G. Easton, the town began to develop rapidly and has continued to do so since. In the same year, the railway township was incorporated.

Broken Hill was made a full municipality in 1954, and, since 1949, has doubled its population.

Article from the 1957 “Broken Hill Brochure”

Contributed by: Ada and Chris Cantrell

March 2002