Professor Howard Worner CBE is an eminent metallurgist and scientist who became seriously interested in collecting minerals after a visit to Broken Hill in 1932. His collection is the result of 70 years of acquiring interesting and beautiful specimens from around the world.
Professor Howard Worner donated his collection of approximately 1000 mineral and rock specimens, together with his medals and awards, his mineral-collecting gear and a copy of the first edition of his book "Minerals of Broken Hill" to the University of Wollongong in 2000. These were put on permanent display in the foyer of the Sciences Building (Building 41) of the Wollongong Campus by Paul Carr and Penny Williamson in two phases.
The first phase, comprising the Broken Hill cabinet and the Central cabinet, contains 652 specimens and 16 medals and was completed in September 2000.
The second phase, with the remainder of the specimens plus two addition awards that Howard had received since the initial donation, was completed in May 2003.
Professor Worner, who turned 91 on August 3, 2004, was actively involved in the display of his collection.
