This image shows the 1906 Keel House conservatory. It was designed and fabricated in England, then re-assembled in the Ballarat Gardens. It was purely for display, only allowing public viewing through glass windows at either end. It became known as the Keel House because the roofline resembled a boat hull, but this roof profile was specifically designed to ensure that snow would be shed from the roof. It was replaced in 1959 by Cuthbert House, another conservatory which also did not allow public access. An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.statues, greenhouse, lake wendouree, botanical gardens, marble lion statue, charles summer, james russell thompson, william wallace statue

The Gold Discovery centenary (1851-1951) monument in its original position in Albert St, Ballarat facing Sturt St, with the original public toilets behind. The monument features a replica of the Welcome Nugget, found in 1858 and the world's largest at that time. The monument also lists the weight of gold removed from the large "deep lead" mines, with a model of surface buildings of a mine sitting on top. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library. ballarat, vintage bus, gold mining, welcome nugget

Cuthbert House, erected in 1959 as a display house for the famous Ballarat begonias. It replaced the earlier Keel House. The conservatory was not open to the public, but the flowers could be viewed through the windows. It was replaced in 1995 with the current Robert Clark Conservatory. The former Lakeside Hospital can be seen in the background. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library. greenhouse, botanical gardens, lake wendouree, lakeside hospital, hothouse, ballarat, conservatory, begonias

A delightfully framed shot of the Botanical Gardens in the mid to late 1950s. We can be reasonably sure of the date of this image because it shows the Keel House conservatory. Designed and fabricated in England, it was then re-assembled in the Ballarat Gardens in 1906. It was purely for display, only allowing public viewing through glass windows at either end. It became known as the Keel House because the roofline resembled a boat hull. The Keel House was replaced in 1959 by Cuthbert House, another conservatory which also did not allow public access. Cuthbert House was replaced in 1995 by the present Robert Clark conservatory, which allows public access for the first time. Note other details in this photograph, the sprinkler at full bore and the little boy hiding behind the sundial. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library.greenhouse, glasshouse, keel glasshouse, garden, building, public building, ballarat botanical garden

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Thomas Bath came to Australia in 1849, establishing a butchering establishment at Geelong. He mined during the rushes at various sites, eventually coming to Ballarat where he established a hotel now known as Craig's Royal Hotel. He held the first publican's license on Ballarat (1854) and his hotel was known as The Ballarat, later changed to Bath's Hotel; after the sale to Mr Craig in 1857 Thomas Bath established his farm Ceres, at Learmonth. Thomas Bath was instrumental in the formation of Ballarat and was a champion of all public institutions. He died in 1901. These reminiscences appear to have been recorded by the AHRS rather than Mr Bath writing them himself.goldrush, sailing ships, coach fares

The Benevolent Asylum, circa 1870-1880, was located in Ascot Street South. It is now the Queen Elizabeth Geriatric Centre. This sketch comes from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views.benevolent asylum, queen elizabeth geriatric centre, ascot street south, ballarat, building, public

Ballarat Town Hall circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views.town hall, ballarat, building, public, premier album of ballarat view

The Central State School no. 33, Ballarat West circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views. We know this school today as Dana Street Primary School.building, public, school, education, central state school, dana street primary school, premier album of ballarat views, ballarat

The Ballarat Fire Station, Ballarat East circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views. The building still stands in Barkly Street.ballarat fire station, building, public, ballarat east, barkly street, premier album of ballarat views

The library building still stands in Barkly Street but the Town Hall and Police Offices are no longer there. This sketch comes from from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views circa 1870-1880. ballarat east, town hall, police offices, library, building, public, barkly street, premier album of ballarat views

The Corner was where the Ballarat Stock Exchange was housed where groups would gather each day. Also pictured are the Unicorn Hotel, the Mechanics' Institute and Grevilles Hotel. This sketch comes from from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views circa 1870-1880.corner, buildings, commerical, public, hotel, sturt street, premier album of ballarat views

The photos show Verna Coombs and John Forrest sitting on seating at the Median Gardens of Sturt Street. In the background can be seen Craig's Grocery and Hoskins Stores.public, gardens, median gardens, sturt street, commerical, craig's grocery, hoskins stores, verna coombs, john forrest

This view is from the Post Office tower looking south. Things of interest include the Town Hall, the Burke & Wills Monument, Cobbs Corner and the Mechanics' Institute.panorama, commerical, public, building, gadens, sturt street, streetscape

This sketch comes from Views of Ballarat by Niven & Co.building, public, town hall, ballarat, sturt street, views of ballarat

The Post Office building is located on the corner of Sturt and Lydiard Street North. This sketch comes from Album of View by Niven & Co.building, public, monuments, post office, burke & wills, ballarat, views of ballarat

The Benevolent Asylum was on Ascot Street South. It is now the Queen Elizabeth Geriatric Centre. This sketch comes from View of Ballarat by Niven & Co circa 1885.building, public, benevolent asylum, ascot street south, ballarat, views of ballarat

The hospital is located in Drummond Street North. It may be the site of the current St John of God Hospital. The building with the tower is still standing although, the tower has been removed. The sketch comes from Views of Ballarat by Niven & Co.building, public, hospital, drummond street north, ballarat, views of ballarat

The Ballarat State School became the Urquhart Street State School and the building is now used by Brace Education and Training. The sketch comes from Views of Ballarat by Niven & Co circa 1885.building, public, school, ballarat state school, urquhart street state school, views of ballarat

Post Office decorated for Centenary 1838-1938.building, public, post office, centenary, ballarat

Former West Fire Station decorated for Centenary 1838-1938. building, fire station, centenary, public, ballarat

Tram Shelter decorated for Centenary Celebrations 1938. Located in Sturt Street. The Union Hotel and Butler's Cake Shop can be seen in the background.building, public, tram, transport, centenary, ballarat, hotel, commercial

lake wendouree, wendouree rowing club, boatshed, building, public, centenary

The postcard depicts the Eureka Memorial and lake at the Eureka Reserve, the Ballarat East Bowling Club and Bridge Street.building, streetscape, public, commerical, ballarat east, eureka, bridge street, ballarat east bowling club, eureka reserve

This procession was conducted in Sturt Street. The picture insert is of the statue 'Flight from Pompeii'. Some of the buildings seen in the photo are Mechanics Institute, Town Hall and the Unicorn Hotel.celebrations, 8 hours day, streetscape, buildings, commerical, public, town hall, mechanics' institute, unicorn hotel, statue, flight from pompeii, sturt street, ballarat

The Lord Roberts was launched in 1904 and broken up in 1962. This image comes from the publication, Beautiful Ballarat.vehicle, public, paddle steamer, transport, lake wendouree, beautiful ballarat

statue, botanical gardens, public, lake wendouree

The Ballarat Grammar School in located in Forest Street, Wendouree. A small timber chapel can also be seen. This picture comes from the publication, Beautiful Ballarat.building, public, school, education, ballarat grammar, forest street, wenduree, chapel

The Agricultural High School was located on corner of Sturt and Gillies Streets. This picture comes from the publication, Beautiful Ballarat.bulding, public, schooling, agricultural high school, sturt street, gillies street, education

The Coliseum Picture Palace was located in the Grenville - Little Bridge Street area. building, public, coliseum picture palace, entertainment, cinema, ballarat, interior