WHAT’S your favourite heritage building in the Ballarat region?
The Pride of Ballarat series aims to identify the attractions, events and facets of Ballarat that make our city great through your votes.
The Courier will publish selections in 12 different categories, continuing with heritage buildings.
The next category will be events and festivals, to be published on March 1.
Click here to take survey
Vote for your favourite and provide your contact details to go in the running to receive two tickets to Regent Cinemas.
The top reader selections in each category will be published in a special calendar later this year. Cut out the tokens which will appear on each Pride of Ballarat category in the print edition of The Courier and we’ll provide a 2013 calendar for free in December.
Her Majesty's Theatre
WHEN Her Majesty's Theatre opened in 1874 to replace Ballarat's outdated Theatre Royal, it was known as the Academy of Music before changing to its current name in 1899. The building has had many applications over the years, including as a movie theatre and the home of the Royal South Street Society. The Society changed the name of the building to the Memorial Theatre in 1965, before gifting it to the then City of Ballaarat in 1987. The theatre was re-opened after restoration works in 1990, as Her Majesty's once again. Her Majesty's Theatre carries great significance as the ongoing home of the South Street competitions, and one of the most enduring symbols of the performing arts in Ballarat.
Craig's Royal Hotel
CRAIG'S Royal Hotel is one of the most important buildings on Ballarat's historic Lydiard Street. The hotel, Ballatat's first licensed house, was built in stages from 1862 to 1890, and has since then served as a meeting place for Ballarat's most important visitors.
Notable features of the building include its octagonal tower, while the south wing of the building is an important example of the Italianate style of architecture. The building showcased the wealth and power of Ballarat during its gold rush boom era, and forms an integral part of the city's history.
Ballarat Railway Complex
AS ONE of the oldest and largest regional railway stations in the state of Victoria, the Ballarat Railway Complex is also one of the most important. The complex is one of only a few railway stations constructed in the mid to late nineteenth century to remain almost fully intact and in use, and is therefore also considered to be of great architectural significance. The grand scale and size of the station reflects not only the former glory of Victoria's railway age, but the importance of Ballarat as goldfields hub. Notable features of the station include a clock tower and the historic footbridge over the tracks. The complex also contributed greatly to the development of many other historically significant buildings in Lydiard Street North.
Arch of Victory
THE Avenue of Honour and accompanying Arch of Victory in Ballarat have gained national recognition as one of the earliest recorded examples of a uniquely Australian form of memorial. As well as being one of the earliest known examples of a tree lined Avenue of Honour memorial, it is also one of the longest in Australia. The Arch of Victory was officially unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1920 as a monument to those of the Ballarat region who gave up their lives in World War I, inspiring the construction of a further 91 avenues in Victoria. Restoration works on the Arch were completed earlier this year, while the Avenue has lasted well, with more than 80 per cent of its bronze plaques still in place.
Former Ballarat Post Office
THE former Ballarat Post Office was the third post office constructed on or near its current site. The building was completed in two sections, with the primary building on Sturt Street opening in November 1864 and the Lydiard Street section in 1885.
The building showcases several important design elements, including the Northern European Renaissance style dormer windows and roof in the tower. It has been altered several times, with major works on the facade being completed in 1912. The building is considered one of the most important public buildings in Ballarat's history, and is a major icon in Ballarat's streetscape.
Former Mining Exchange
THE spectacular facade of the former Ballarat Mining Exchange is one of the most iconic in all of Ballarat. The venue still plays host to many public and private Ballarat functions, and showcases a wonderful piece of the city's history. The foundation stone was laid on Queen Victoria's Jubilee Day in 1887, on the same day as construction began on the Fine Art Gallery. The Exchange was designed by local architect C D Figgis. The central exchange hall played host to share traders during the mining boom of the 1800s, and is still in excellent condition. The Mining Exchange reflects the wealth and importance of Ballarat during the gold rush period, and the fact that it is still in use today is a testament to the design of the building.
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