The Save Civic Hall group said on Thursday there would be guided tours of the building from May 9 to 10.

Save Civic Hall group secretary Merle Hathaway said the last time the public had been allowed to enter the main hall was in 2012, when supervised tours were permitted.

The latest round of community consultation – being led by Here Studio – has been held in the Civic Hall foyer. 

“It is very hard for people to work on the community design process or get a feeling for the hall by simply looking through a broken glass window and standing in the entrance,” Ms Hathaway said.

“This is an opportunity for people to not only look around the hall but to also participate in the design and put their view forward of what they think should be the future of the site.”

The tours will be led by Art Deco and Modernism Society president Robin Grow.

Ms Hathaway said that following extensive discussions with Ballarat City Council, the only significant health hazard that remained at the hall was pigeon droppings, which were in the process of being cleaned up.

To date, more than 700 people have contributed to the community consultation design process.

“An early result we have found is that, overwhelmingly, most people who have visited the hall want it to be retained and used for some kind of community purpose,” she said.

By late April, it is anticipated that the 10 major themes that have emerged from the design process to date will be showcased at the hall. 

Ms Hathaway said reoccurring ideas had already been sketched, including an onsite community parkland, remodelling the hall’s interior to convert it into a music and performing arts centre, and revamping the hall’s facade and entrance.

The community design process ends in November.

Once it is completed, Ms Hathaway said three “fully fleshed designs” will be presented to councillors to vote on. 

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au