There are those who have no feeling or fondness for the past, of course; who argue as one Courier reader did recently in a Facebook conversation:

“I can appreciate your sentiment, but not all parts of history are worth preserving. It (the Civic Hall) has no discernible historical or heritage features that suggest it is a part of our town’s history. It is ugly, old and decrepit. Sentimentality is not a good enough excuse to stand in the way of progress. Did you see some of the submissions for developments of the site? They were tasteful, a mix of modern and contemporary features that fitted with the town’s aesthetic. A far sight better than what still stands there.”

How do we decide what we want to save and what is worth saving, when hyper-inflated real estate prices lead to boom rate incomes for councils and massive profits for developers? Should the market rule, or is there a centre path to be trod?

In recent weeks local residents approached The Courier with concerns the historic Jubilee Church and Sunday School Hall on Lake Wendouree are in danger of being lost to ‘demolition by neglect’.

The well-known weatherboard gabled buildings are a landmark in Ballarat, as much for the ongoing conversations about their continued existence as for the buildings themselves.

Several famous families in Ballarat worshipped at the church over the 100 years it served its congregation. The gates at the front are named for the Troon family’s contributions over time, while an article from The Spectator and Methodist Chronicle of October 1915 reported the following:

‘The morning service at the Lydiard Street Methodist Church on Sunday was conducted by Mr. W. Coltman, who exactly 50 years ago preached his first sermon at the Wendouree Methodist Church. Mr. Coltman, who was elected in 1864, and proved an earnest and successful teacher in the Lydiard Street Sunday school, retired from active teaching in the Sunday school in 1864...’

Opened in October 1887, the wooden building was constructed in accordance with the strict Wesleyan codes of restraint in design and a lack of ornamentation, and cost £450 to construct. It was drafted by the well-known Ballarat architect A.G. Legge, responsible for the Ararat and Swan Hill hospitals, William Bones Brick Building and the Old Colonists' Hall in Lydiard Street, and replaced an earlier brick church.

The buildings were in use until 1991. They were sold by the Uniting Church in 1996 to Daylesford’s Convent Gallery owner Tina Banitska, who retains ownership of them. In 1999, a Toyota Hilux crashed through the wall of the church causing extreme damage to the interior. The building was restored, but since that time it and the Sunday School alongside it have remained unused.

Rumours around the city suggested the buildings might become an art gallery, reception centre or cafe. However the only building permit issued for the historic site was one to allow repairs following the car accident, according to then-Ballarat City Council planning and development director Trevor McCullough.

“No further applications have been received at this stage,” he told The Courier 10 years later, in 2009. City of Ballarat issued a further statement this week in response to queries about the two buildings: ‘No planning permit applications have been lodged or permits issued in relation to the existing buildings. The property is not currently under a heritage overlay. 

Erika Gray and Denise Boyko are two residents who have watched the gradual decline of the church and school’s exteriors with growing concern. Ms Boyko attended the church as a congregation member, and recalls clearly attending the Sunday School next door as a child.’

“I grew up there,” says Ms Boyko.

“It was my church. I went to kinder in that hall, before Enid Rogers (Kindergarten Hall) was built out the back, so that was 1953, 1954… The Sunday School has always been there, it’s an important part of the site, and it’s sad to see it falling apart.”

Both Ms Boyko and Ms Gray drew attention to a quote given by the then-National Trust Ballarat branch president David Irons in 1996 on the sale, saying the buildings could not be demolished as they were listed with the Historical Buildings Council (now the Victorian Heritage Council Register), and to the 2009 Preserving Ballarat’s Heritage Strategy, wherein the City of Ballarat acknowledged:

Many heritage properties in Ballarat are at risk of becoming cases of ‘demolition by neglect’. Demolition by neglect occurs when a building is not maintained properly or is not being used. As a result, buildings will often fall into disrepair. There are many different reasons why a building is no longer maintained or in use and in some cases this has led to the loss of a part of Ballarat’s living history. 

The strategy is now incorporated into the Historic Urban Landscape which features heritage overlays across Ballarat.

However as noted earlier, according to City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo, the historic church and school have no heritage overlay protection.They are also missing from the Victoria Heritage Database.

It’s this lack of enforceable protection for such important buildings that has the local population worried.

“It’s painful to look at how badly they have deteriorated,” says Denise Boyko.

“I walk around that lake every day, and it’s just painful. I think the front gates have been restored, but I’ve never seen anybody in there.”

For Tina Banitska, the allegations of neglect are hurtful. She says she spent $110,000 of her own money to repair the 1999 damage.

“My love and commitment to the preservation (of these buildings) is of utmost importance to me, and hopefully to the Ballarat community,” Ms Banitska told The Courier.

“Both these buildings have had work done on them in the last five years. In fact a fire nearly destroyed the lot. It was lit by some local children and got out of control; (it was a) huge cost to repair the damage. I would really love some help and community support to bring this gem to life again.”

Therein lies the answer. It’s on everyone – owners, community, council, Ballarat as a city – to have a genuine discussion about what we want from our built environment, our stunning heritage - how we can make it survive. It’s about sharing, not strategies.

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