The 1000 Doors installation is a labyrinth-like maze of doors and spaces which has been described as being 'haunted by the lingering traces of past inhabitants'.

Artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney approached Federation University historian and anthropologist Dr David Waldron to bring some gold rush era Ballarat flavour to the exhibition.

Dr Waldron said the marks were purported to ward off illness and evil spirits.

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"1000 Doors is essentially like a big maze and a lot of it's constructed from abandoned doors and walls and furnishings and things from the region so it'll have that distinctive Ballarat flavour," he said.

"What I've been asked to do by the artist Christian [Wagstaff] is to come through and put in what's called 'witches' marks' and concealed objects through the installation.

"If anyone's been to Britain, they'll see these all over old churches and old castles and old houses. These are marks people used to put into walls, thresholds into your homes, doorways, windows, things like that, to bring good luck, to ward off illness, protect against evil spirits."

The installation will be built next to Town Hall at Armstrong Street South, with construction set to begin next week before it open on Wednesday, August 25.

City of Ballarat Mayor Daniel Moloney said he hoped Melbourne would be released from lockdown in time to experience 1000 Doors.

"This installation, 1000 Doors, has been sold out in Melbourne, at the Adelaide festival, in Brisbane as well, I think also New Zealand. Basically, wherever it's gone around Australia and New Zealand, it's completely sold out and it's been hard to get into," he said.

"It's got a massive following, especially from people throughout Melbourne who have missed out on the chance to see it there in the past, so bringing it to Ballarat, I think will be huge at a time when we really do need that next burst of activity.

"As we're open close, open close, we need to have the next thing ready for whenever we're open again to Melbourne so hopefully that is in a couple of weekends' time, but either way, we'll have 1000 Doors ready to go."

To book, visit www.visitballarat.com.au/1000-doors-ballarat.

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