The red carpet was rolled out at Civic Hall as hundreds of Ballarat residents stepped back to the style and glamour of the 1950s. For the first time in 17 years, a major function once again graced the city's historic venue with the Begonia Ball on Saturday night.
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Billed as “a throwback to the annual balls and galas which regularly took place in the hall’s early days”, it was held as part of the celebrations for the reopening of Civic Hall after several years of restoration.
The mayor of Ballarat Samantha McIntosh officially opened the hall last Friday (March 1).
The $60 a head tickets sold out swiftly after going on sale at the end of January.
Entertainment included The Beaufort Brass Band, Wang Murrup (Crow Spirit) Wadawurrung Dance Group, Word of Mouth, Ballarat-based Seb Big Band, Crank Williams and Patsy Decline, as well as rockabilly act Peter Daffy Trio.
Dress code was formal "1950s inspired".
Bruce Roberts was the MC for the evening.
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