The Davey Paxman Experimental Steam Engine was purchased as the result of a bequest from Thomas Bath. The 'substantial sum' was used to build an Engineering Laboratory. The Ballarat School of Mines Council minutes of 08 November 1901 record: - Plans for [the] proposed building were submitted ... and ... it was resolved that a temporary building for an Engineering Laboratory be put up.' This laboratory, as an existing building, is first mentioned in the Ballarat School of Mines President's Annual Report of 1901, presented on 28 February 1902, reporting 'the erection of a building 67ft long by 33 ft wide' This report also lists all the equipment that would be accommodated in the Engineering Laboratory, including the experimental steam engine and boiler. The experimental Davey-Paxman steam engine arrived in Ballarat towards the end of 1902. The Engineering Laboratory was opened on 14 August 1903 by His Excellency Sir Sydenham Clarke. This engineering laboratory remained in use till about 1945. By 1944 preparations were under way at the Ballarat School of Mines to expand existing facilities, to be ready for the influx of returned soldiers. A new Heat Engines laboratory was built, this time of brick construction, replacing the previous corrugated-iron shed. In the early stages the steam engine was used to drive an overhead transmission shaft for machinery in the adjacent workshop. Later the steam engine was moved to a space that became the Heat Thermodynamics Laboratory. At the end of 1969 the engine was relocated to the Thermodynamics Laboratory at the then Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education (BIAE) Mt Helen Campus. It was donated to Sovereign Hill in 2006. According to the research of Rohan Lamb in 2001 around five experimental steam engines were made by Davey Paxman, and three of these had similar configuration to the Ballarat School of Mines Steam Engine, however, each of these was also unique with different valve arrangements. The list, which was on a scrap of paper in a folio held in the Essex Archives, confirmed that one was sent to India. The Ballarat steam engine can be dated to late 1901 to early 1902. Zig Plavina was responsible for moving the steam engine to Mount Helen, and worked on it as a technician for many years. He observed the following: * The condenser is driven by the low pressure engine. * The following arrangements are possible: i) the high pressure engine alone, exhausting to atmosphere. Condenser not used, crankshaft flanges not coupled. ii) crankshafts coupled, mains pressure (120 psi) steam supplied to high pressure engine, partially expanded steam delivered to low pressure engine (Tandem operation). Choice available re exhaust steam: either to the condenser or to atmosphere. iii) crankshafts not coupled, reduced pressure steam supplied to low pressure engine. Exhaust steam - either to the condenser or to atmosphere. * Valve arrangement - a choice of Pickering cut-off or throttle governor. On low pressure engine - throttle governor only.Black and white photograph of the Davey Paxman Experimental Steam Engine. On the brake is returned serviceman Norman WIlliam Ludbrook (Diploma Electrical Engineering, 1952). Far right is Roy E. Mawby (Diploma Electrical Engineering, 1950)steam engine, model steam engine, davey paxman, electrical engineering, laboratory, scientific instrument, norman ludbrook, norman william ludbrook, roay mawby, roy e. mawby

Black and white photograph showing the newly completed Adminsitration Building at the Ballarat School of Mines.ballarat school of mines, a building, gas lamp, administration building

This stamper battery was moved to Mount Helen campus c1970.Colour photograph of a stamper battery that was used in the Ballarat School of Mines Model Mine. It is currently in the courtyard beside F building at Mount Helen Campus.stamper battery, johnson and sons south melbourne, tyne foundry, engineers, ballarat school of mines model mine

Colour photographThis Stone was laid by The Hon. H.S. Lawson, Premier of Victoria in the Jubilee Year of the Institution 15t April 1920 W.H. Middleton, Presidentbuildings, ballarat school of mines, smb campus, premier of victoria, w.h. middleton, plaque, memorial stone, foundation stone, anniversary, h.s.w. lawson

This building was erected c1856 as the Wesley Church. Negotiations for its sale to the Ballarat School of Mines started in 1883, and the sale was completed for 2000 pounds. The Ballarat School of Mines Musuem was transferred to this building in 1885 giving the collection a more permanent and suitable location. The front was remodelled in 1920. The building was converted from the museum to the E.J. Tippett recreation Hall in 1959, after plans to demolish it were abandoned due to lack of funds.Colour photograph of the former Ballarat School of Mines Museum during a fall of snow. ballarat school of mines, e.j. recreation hall, ballarat school of mines museum', former wesleyan church, snow

Photograph of evidence of Assay Kiln in The Old Chemistry Buildingballarat school of mines, old chemistry building, c building, assay kilns

Photograph of the door to the former Engineering workshop at the Ballarat School of Mines.ballarat school of mines, engineering workshop, flecknoe building

The Ballarat Technical Art School was a division of the Ballarat School of Mines. Colour photograph of a double story building custom built as the Ballarat Technical Art School.ballarat technical art school, ballarat school of mines

Corbould Hall was named after Ballarat School of Mines alumni WIlliam Corbould. William Corbould was the son of a Ballarat tailor. He attended Ballarat College, and obtained certificates in assaying and metallurgy at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) in 1883, studying under the revered Professor Mica Smith. Corbould was not a born student and remembered his first experience at SMB: 'From the Registrar's Office I was led to be introduced to the Professor of Chemistry, one Mica Smith. The initial encounter gave me little encouragement - his large laboratory was filled with hundreds of bottles bearing strange labels with queer symbols on them. My heart sank. At the first opportunity I grabbed my hat and made for the door, but the good professor called me back. I pointed out that I was never any good at school ... so it was no use pretending to be clever enough to understand all those weird symbols! The Professor told me not to worry about that and took me to one of the benches where he found a blowpipe and a charcoal block. Mixing together two powders from bottles on the shelf he transferred a sample to the charcoal and directed the bunsen flame onto it. Soon it began to melt and a white bead appeared in front of my eyes. He then took a test tube and added a little colourless liquid from each of two bottles. A beautiful dark blue colour appeared. My interest was won.' During Corbould's mining career he travelled to Europe twice, and visited most of Australia's main mining fields. Corbould started his career as an assayer at Pinnacle Silver Mine, Silverton, and was then a self-employed assayer at Broken Hill. Corbould became an assayer for the infant BHP mine, and later worked in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, including managing Hannan's Reward, the oldest gold mine on the Kalgoorlie gold field. He spent 13 years at the Mount Elliott copper fields as general manager. In 1923, at the age of 57, Corbould went to Mount Isa and reported on options, experimented with new metallurgical processes and floated a company. John Carden of CRA said: 'Corbould was the man who brought Urquhart to Mount Isa. He was the man who made it all possible. He is tremendously important in the Mount Isa story, because he was the first technical man, the first professional man on the scene. He was responsible as I said, for bringing finance to the place, but I think even more importantly he was the first man to recognise the need to put all the little claims in the Mount Isa discovery together. I think perhaps his major contribution to Mount Isa was this amalgamation on the various claims. He recognised that the ore bodies at Mount Isa were not as rich as Broken Hill and they would never have survived had it been fragmented, so he was terribly important.' After completing major financial negotiations for Mt Isa Mine from London in 1927 Corbould remained in Europe where he remained until his death. Corbould was awarded the Legion of Honour of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurigical Engineers for fifty years service. Corbould died at Monaco in 1949 at the age of 82. He bequested 6000 pounds to the Ballarat School of Mines, his will stating 'for the purpose of founding a scholarship to commemorate the memory of the late Alfred Mica Smith'. The accumulated income from this sum provides the Mica Smith travelling scholarship, enabling successful students in mining, metallurgy or chemistry to undertake a year's travelling abroad. The first award was made in 1957. In the same year a general purpose hall at SMB was named the Corbould Hall as a tribute to a distinguished former student and generous benefactor.ballarat school of mines corbould building, corbould hall, corbould building

This footage was taken during lockdowns during the Covid19 pandemic.A video and photograph showing snow falling Snow Falling Over the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens.snow, ballarat school of mines, smb campus, covid19, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, p building

This footage was taken during lockdowns during the Covid19 pandemic.A photograph looking towards Albert Street, showing snow falling Snow Falling Over the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens.snow, ballarat school of mines, smb campus, covid19, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, m.b. john building

This footage was taken during lockdowns during the Covid19 pandemic.A photograph looking towards A building showing snow falling Snow Falling Over the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens.snow, ballarat school of mines, smb campus, covid19, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, a building, administration building

This footage was taken during lockdowns during the Covid19 pandemic.A photograph looking towards the M.B. John building showing snow falling Snow Falling Over the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens.snow, ballarat school of mines, smb campus, covid19, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens

The former Ballarat Circuit Court Building, later the first building of the Ballarat School of Mines, was demolished to make way for a new custom built Art School building. Sir Alexander Peacock opened the Ballarat Technical Art School in July 1915. It cost 10,000 pounds and was constructed by the Public Works Department from plans drawn by the then Art School Principal, Herbert H. Smith. The building contractors were Messrs Gower and Eddards. According to the SMB Annual Report of 1914 'the internal upholstering and fittings have all been carried out in Australian timbers, with Queensland maple largely used throughout.' Before this building was constructed art and craft classes were held in various buildings around Ballarat. The building could be described as federation-art deco in style. It features sandstone insertion with sandstone string coursing. The base of the building is rusticated sandstone. The relief stone panel on the front with the words "Technical Art School" features stone pilaster brackets and corbels. In the centre front can be seen rectangular sandstone pediment with decorative stonework incorporating the date of construction. The windows in the lower floor feature five supporting keystones whereas the upper windows have sandstone lintels. The building also features decorative cast iron downpipes. The entrance on the northern side has attractive leadlight glazing in an art deco style. Above the door a miner's lamp and pick are featured in the design. The building is functional in design with large metal windows in the south wall to ensure good light into the studios. The northern wall has standard double hung windows. The interior of the building features a carved wooden staircase and cast iron ceiling vents. The rear drawing studios can be made into one large studio by opening panelled timber doors. This opening features classical plaster pilasters with a pediment above.Colour photograph of a sandstone detail on a double storey, red brick building - the Ballarat Technical Art School, a division of the Ballarat School of Minesballarat school of mines, ballarat technical art school, architecture, art, gribble building

A photograph of Alec Kinnane (left) in front of Building A at the Ballarat School of Mines. alec kinnane, ballarat school of mines, administration building, architectural feature, a building, stained glass windows, leadlight

The Ballarat School of Mines is a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia. Image from the Ballarat School of Mines Prospectus, 1955. ballarat school of mines, prospectus, ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, administration building

The Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens were established in 1879, and are situated at the rear of the current administration building. The gardens enabled the students to sit for examinations for registration by the Pharmacy Board of Victoria. An important aspect of this course was the study of Materia Medica, or botanical materials used for medicinal purposes.Colour photograph of a pomegranite in the Pomegranite tree in the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens.smb botanical gardens, botanical gardens, smb, ballarat school of mines, school of mines ballarat, ballarat, photograph, pomegranite