Members of the Bendigo Heritage Advisory Committee visited Ballarat recently after hearing about the variety of successful heritage work being undertaken in the city.

The group met with the Ballarat Heritage Advisory Group to discuss recent activities, plans for the next 12 months and emerging issues and responses.

City of Ballarat Councillor Samantha McIntosh took part in hosting the Bendigo committee and said the visit had provided a number of opportunities for both groups.

“As well as discussing our work, we also had a chance to talk about how the two committees can work together, particularly in retaining heritage trade skills”.

Following the meeting, committee members visited three heritage places that were at risk of demolition and witnessed how Council’s ‘Preserving Ballarat’s Heritage’ strategy is assisting in turning around the condition of these buildings.

Owners of the Old Learmonth Bakery recently received a ‘Preserving Our Heritage Together’ grant from the City of Ballarat to restore the derelict building. They will use adaptive reuse techniques to restore the building which had been vacant for 25 years.

The group was shown around the former Shire of Ballarat hall which has been restored to be used as a records place of deposit (POD). This project was undertaken by Council and the Learmonth and District Historical Society.

Finally, the group toured the Peel Street Development. The developer of the site is working with Council to retain, restore and conserve a series of neglected buildings on the site. 

For more information on heritage in Ballarat, visit Council’s website www.ballarat.vic.gov.au and follow the links.