Broken Hill Miners Settlement Scheme Jul 1921-Jun 1924

In July 1921 the Department of Labour and Industry presented to NSW Cabinet a proposal to locate mine workers who were receiving compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation (Broken Hill) Act on irrigation farms. A large number of miners, all of whom were prevented from following their usual occupations in the mines, were receiving compensation of varying amounts up to £3.17.0 per week. Although many of the miners were considered to be capable of earning a living wage, it was thought that it was unsafe for them to continue working in the mines as the industrial disease (Fibrosis) they suffered from, made it unsafe for them to remain in the closely settled area of Broken Hill where tuberculosis was present. Due to the risk of an early death which threatened the ex-miners if the remained in Broken Hill it was proposed to encourage them to take up rural pursuits. The infant irrigation scheme on the MIA was thought to be an ideal solution.