Ballarat:
Next stop Ballarat, named by Scottish squatter Archibald Yuille who established the first settlement—his sheep run called Ballaarat—in 1837, with the name derived from local Wathaurong Aboriginal words for the area, balla arat, thought to mean "resting place". The present spelling was officially adopted by the City of Ballarat in 1996
Just months after Victoria was granted separation from New South Wales, the Victorian gold rush transformed Ballarat from a small sheep station to a major settlement. Gold was discovered at Poverty Point on 18 August 1851 and news quickly spread of rich alluvial fields where gold could easily be extracted. Within months, approximately 20,000 migrants had rushed the district. Several Australian mining innovations were made at the Ballarat diggings including the first use of a Chilean mill in 1851 and the first use of a mine cage in 1861. Unlike many other gold rush boom towns, the Ballarat fields experienced sustained high gold yields for decades. Eureka Rebellion began in Ballarat, and the only armed rebellion in Australian history, the Battle of Eureka Stockade, took place on 3 December 1854. In response to the event the first male suffrage in Australia was instituted and as such Eureka is interpreted by some as the origin of democracy in Australia. The gold rush and boom gave birth to many other significant cultural legacies. The rebellion's symbol, the Eureka Flag, has become a national symbol and is held at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka in Ballarat. Other nationally significant heritage structures include the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, established 1857, the best example of a regional botanic gardens in Australia with the greatest concentration of public statuary.
Proclaimed a city in 1871, Ballarat's prosperity continued until late in the 19th century, after which its importance relative to both Melbourne and Geelong rapidly faded with the slowing of gold extraction. It has endured as a major regional centre hosting the rowing and kayaking events from the 1956 Summer Olympics.
We had no idea that Ballarat is in 2016 currently in the news for its part in the alleged cover up of child sex abuse by the Catholic church in the past.
Sturt St.
The Former Sutton's Music Store
After a long drive from Philip Island we were all in need of lunch and saw an interesting cafe. 
It turned out to have been built in 1891 by Mary Sutton to be Australia's first purpose-built music emporium. No expense was spared in erecting the grand three storey Victorian building, many people coming to the store just to ride in the city's first hydraulic elevator as well as buying the best and latest instruments and sheet music.
Situated in Sturt St. ( which had to be three chains wide - 60m. - to allow for the turning circle of bullock wagons) it still showcases regular music events and has a thriving cafe.
A good way to be introduced to the town!
Time was short, we only arrived in the early afternoon, so we decided not to visit Sovereign Hill, a re-created gold-mining town of the 1860s, not least as we had previously visited similar attractions in the US and New Zealand. Instead, we strolled around Ballarat's main streets with some of Australia's finest Victorian architecture.
Walking along Sturt St. we arrived at the Ballaarat Mechanical Institute
inaugurated in 1859 and moved to its present permanent site in 1935, the old Mining Exchange Hall. Its historical significance is its Reading Room housing a collection of newspapers, journals and periodicals from Ballarat, Victoria and overseas since 1845.
Lydiard St.
Her Majesty's Theatre opened in 1875 and was first known as the Academy of Music, a name calculated to overcome religious and temperance scruples against patronising a 'theatre'. Built to supersede Ballarat's Theatre Royal, which hda become outdated, it had a flat floored auditorium suitable for dances and dinners and a fully equipped stage.
The Mining Exchange was built between 1877-9
and was used for trading shares in mining companies during the Gold Rush era. It still houses the Mining Exchange Gold Shop today.
Proclaimed a city in 1871, Ballarat's prosperity continued until late in the 19th century, after which its importance relative to both Melbourne and Geelong rapidly faded with the slowing of gold extraction. It has endured as a major regional centre hosting the rowing and kayaking events from the 1956 Summer Olympics.
We had no idea that Ballarat is in 2016 currently in the news for its part in the alleged cover up of child sex abuse by the Catholic church in the past.
The Former Sutton's Music Store
After a long drive from Philip Island we were all in need of lunch and saw an interesting cafe.
It turned out to have been built in 1891 by Mary Sutton to be Australia's first purpose-built music emporium. No expense was spared in erecting the grand three storey Victorian building, many people coming to the store just to ride in the city's first hydraulic elevator as well as buying the best and latest instruments and sheet music.
Situated in Sturt St. ( which had to be three chains wide - 60m. - to allow for the turning circle of bullock wagons) it still showcases regular music events and has a thriving cafe.
A good way to be introduced to the town!
Walking along Sturt St. we arrived at the Ballaarat Mechanical Institute
inaugurated in 1859 and moved to its present permanent site in 1935, the old Mining Exchange Hall. Its historical significance is its Reading Room housing a collection of newspapers, journals and periodicals from Ballarat, Victoria and overseas since 1845.
Lydiard St.
Her Majesty's Theatre opened in 1875 and was first known as the Academy of Music, a name calculated to overcome religious and temperance scruples against patronising a 'theatre'. Built to supersede Ballarat's Theatre Royal, which hda become outdated, it had a flat floored auditorium suitable for dances and dinners and a fully equipped stage.
and was used for trading shares in mining companies during the Gold Rush era. It still houses the Mining Exchange Gold Shop today.
looks an interesting place just to walk around even if you didn't go to Sovereign Hill (not that I got there either but you can pan for gold there apparently).
ReplyDelete