NOTHING speaks of Ballarat’s heritage like its old buildings.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Full of resplendent Victorian architecture, the walls of the city’s buildings seem to hold plenty of stories – and plenty of secrets.
Those secrets will be uncovered at next week’s Ballarat Heritage Weekend, which aims to breathe fresh life into days gone by.
One such building being brought back to life ahead of the weekend is the Vox Populi art gallery in Bridge Mall.
While the gallery officially opened last year in time for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, the Ballarat Heritage Weekend will kick off its intention to become a full-time art and cafe space, launched with a month of jazz performances.
Building owner Rod McNamara said the upstairs of the building had previously been derelict before he and his family brought it back to its former glory.
“It just was old warehouse space, wooden shelving, no electricity up there. It was black as the Ace of Spades, you couldn’t see your way around it,” he said.
“It’s taken a lot of effort and hard work. One lady who wanted to exhibit during the Foto Biennale, she was in tears, she said it was like being in Paris. It is spectacular. People don’t realise until they walk up the stairs, they don’t even know it exists.”
He said the double-storey brick building was built during the 1870s and had previously housed MJ Robinson Fancy Goods and then KTI Boots. The building is now up for a heritage award for its change of usage.
Brigid McKinnon, who is organising the jazz performances, said high-profile singer Chris McNulty will kick off the sessions at Vox Populi during Ballarat Heritage Weekend next Saturday night.
Ms McKinnon described McNulty as being in “the same league” as jazz greats like James Morrison.
“She’s just an amazing, a real jazz singer. You’re in for a real New York experience in Ballarat.”
To purchase tickets to McNulty’s performance on May 7, visit Boah Organics in Bridge Mall, call 5333 3720 or email voxpopulisessions@gmail.com