More than 70 people attended the awards ceremony on Tuesday night hosted by the Ballarat branch of the National Trust at the Old Colonists Club on Lydiard Street. 

Twenty finalists were recognised across five categories which covered heritage innovation, conservation, community contribution and development.

The pinnacle award of the night – Greg Binns Award for Outstanding Community Contribution to a Heritage Place – was presented to the Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society Inc.

The Golden City Paddle Steamer II was launched last year after volunteers were left heartbroken by a 2006 blaze that destroyed the original Golden City Paddle Steamer.

“It’s a huge honour. I don’t feel as much as the guys who did all the work. The credit goes to former president Bob Wuestewald,” Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society president Daryl Smith said.

Mr Smith said the award had come as a surprise. 

“It’s Bob’s dream come true. He’s seen it through blood, sweat and tears.”

National Trust Australia Ballarat branch president Dianne Gow said the night was owed to the finalists.

“It’s becoming a lot more diverse and extends past built heritage,” Ms Gow said.

“The beauty of tonight is everybody who is a finalist should be celebrated.”

The annual awards were held in the lead-up to Ballarat Heritage Weekend which will take place this weekend and exhibit the history of the city through its iconic buildings.

THE WINNERS

CATEGORY: NEW WORK/DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A HERITAGE AREA

Winner: 19 Nightingale Street, Newington

CATEGORY: ADAPTIVE REUSE OF A HERITAGE PLACE

Winner: Old Learmonth Bakery and Blacksmiths, 339 High Street, Learmonth

CATEGORY: CONSERVATION OF A HERITAGE PLACE OR HISTORIC COLLECTION

Winner: Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society, 401 Gillies Street, Wendouree

Special Commendation: Stone Cottage, 145 Bell Street, Mt Helen

CATEGORY: SPECIAL HERITAGE SKILLS

Winner Special Heritage Skills (Traditional): Geoff Norwood, Stone Cottage,145 Bell Avenue, Mt Helen

Special Commendation(Traditional): Ballarat Fish Hatchery, 401 Gillies Street North, Ballarat

Winner Special Heritage Skills (Individual): Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter

Special Commendation (Individual): Phil Roberts for ‘History of College and Clarendon 1864 - 2004’ & ‘150 Years: Ballarat Clarendon College’

CATEGORY: HERITAGE INNOVATION

Winner: Ballaarat General Cemeteries Trust, Finding Futures and Wadawurrung - Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation for Ballarat Dreamtime Aboriginal Cemetery Project.

Special Commendation: Ballarat Reform League Inc. for Eurekapedia

AWARD: THE GREG BINNS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TO HERITAGE

Winner: Golden City Paddle Steamer Museum Society Inc.

CREDIT DUE: Winners, commendation winners and some finalists of Tuesday night’s Heritage Awards.