THE stories behind three of Ballarat’s best-known buildings were revealed at the unveiling of the ‘Inside Story’ project on Thursday.
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The project consists of three short films focusing on the stories of the Ballarat Town Hall, Railway Station and Ballaarat Mechanics Institute and was launched as a prelude to the upcoming Ballarat Heritage Weekend, which starts on May 10.
Ballarat mayor Joshua Morris admitted his favourite part of the weekend was the arrival of a steam train in the city,which he said had a very ‘Thomas the Tank Engine feel’.
“I have to say the highlight for heritage weekend for me is probably the steam train at the railway station; you get along there with the kids,” he said.
“When you compare the old steam trains to the ones we have today it is just chalk and cheese and ... it is very Thomas-esque.”
Cr Morris said the film project had been put together by the council and would be screened throughout the project.
“It is a good opportunity to not only have a look at the buildings themselves, but also the stories that have been associated with them,” he said.
“For instance, with the Town Hall, the opportunity to speak to ex-mayors and hear about their experiences as well as all those who have been attached.”
He said he was pleased with the 100-strong crowd which turned out for the first screening of the project. “It is a great turn-out and it is indicative of how much support we get for the Ballarat Heritage Weekend, which is great,” Cr Morris said.
“I think when you live in a place you don’t always recognise some of the significance of some of the buildings that we have here, so it is a great chance to celebrate it and put a line under it and say this is what we have in Ballarat so lets look at it and support it.”