The City of Ballarat unanimously resolved to erect a Civic Hall in Mair Street in 1951. The architects, Gordon Murphy, of Melbourne, and H.L. and L.J. Coburn, of Ballarat, were commissioned in 1952. The Council constructed the foundations and footings for the building under the supervision of the former City engineer, Mr L.H. Finch, in 1953. These footings are of massed concrete. The design for the building took advantage of the cross fall of the land, providing for the Small Hall to be entered from the Doveton Street frontage through a foyer under the Main Stage, the structure is steel with brick panels, with accommodation for 1,592 persons in the Main Hall and 440 persons in the Lower Hall. The front facade faces Mair Street, set back from the building line to provide for the entrance drive-ways and kerbed gardens. Tenders were invited on a firm price basis. A young Ballarat master Builter, Walter Benbow Trahar was the successful tenderer, the contract price being 139,841 pounds. the work was commenced in 1953 and has proceeded in spite of material and labour difficulties until its completion. The following statistics are of interest:- * The foundations contained 200 cubic yards of concrete. * The constructional steel work weighs approximately 270 tons. * The reinforcing steel 47 tons. * Reinforced concrete in the structure, 1,100 cubic yards. * The approximate number of bricks in the building, 580,000. * The flooring is of selected kiln-dried hard wood and totals 40,000 lineal feet. * The dimensions of the Main Auditorium, 100ft by 86 ft, including the side promenades each 82ft by 13ft. *The Main stage, of reinforced concret with parquette finish measures 62 ft by 40ft. *The floor area of the Lower Hall is 74 ft by 38 ft, and has a stage dimensions of 40ft by 20 ft. * Each hall has independent heating and ventillating systems. Where possible the material in the building was furnished from local business houses. The public address installation, which provided for additional microphones, is on the main Stage. There is inter-communication throughout the building connecting the front office, with the bioscope box, the stages in both the large and lower halls, and the Hallkeeper's residence. Local craftsmen have completed the painting, plaster work, and the electrical installation; local produced materials being used in the construction of the buildings with the exception of the timber for the Main Floor, the roofing and the structural steel. The City of Ballarat Councillors in 1956 were Councillors N. T. Callow, F.J. Cutts, K.C. Webb, W.E. Roff, O.W. Curnow, F.T. Woodward, Allan C. Pittard, A.W. Nicholson, J.A. Chisholm, G.L. Scott, F.W. Oliver, A.D. Mason. The Town clerk was H.R. Maddern and the City Engineer was G. Murrowood. A City of Ballarat Council meeting of 25 September 2013 voted to demolish the Ballarat Civic Hall. The Council heard from nearly 50 members of the public during a marathon six-hour meeting. Councilors John Birt, Des Hudson, Amy Johnson, Josh Morris, Peter Innes, John Philips supported the motion to demolish Civic Hall. Councillors Samantha McIntosh, Vicki Coltman and Belinda Coates voted against the motion.Six page souvenir Program of citizens' entertainment on the occasion of the Opening of Ballarat Civic Hall on in August 1956. The front cover features the City of Ballarat Coat of Arms. The programme starts with a message from the Mayor, Cr Neil T. Carrow. It includes the Concert Programme directed by James H. Davey, an asrtist's impression of the Civic Hall from Mair Street, and information relative to the New Civic Hall. The programme features images of the City of Ballarat Coat of Arms, Cr N.T. Callow, , James H, Davey, and an artist's impression of the Ballarat Civic Hall. Mayor Neil Callow's Message: "To-day, our citizens witness the fulfilment of the most extensive Municipal undertaking in the City's period of recent prosperity and development. Their Hall now fills a requirement of which they have been deprived since the Coliseum building was destroyed by fire over 20 years ago. The building has been designed as an all purpose structure and I am hopeful the citizens will use it and enjoy it to its fullest extent. Your Council and its Architects have planned as broadly as possible for the benefit of all to-day and for years to come. We are proud of the work executed by a Ballaarat Master Builder whose work is a monument to the City's craftsmen. I feel I should also remind this assembly that the women of Ballaarat, back in 1951, provided funds which have been applied in the purchase of a Grand Piano and two Upright Pianos which are now installed in this building. The sincere hope of myself and your Councillors is that this Hall and its amenities will prove of immense value to the development of the cultural and artistic tastes of this community and that it will be freely used for these and many other purposes. From now on this magnificent building and its furnishings and equipment will be available to all. I strongly exhort you to use and protect it. My hope is that the citizens will, for many years to come, enjoy the amenities which it has to offer. ballarat civic hall, civic hall, architecture, finch, art deco, city of ballarat, coat of arms, city of ballarat coat of arms, callow, shugg, lemke, oates, gullan, tuuri, john, robertson, sorrell, antonio, gordon murphy, walter benbow trahar, trahar, coburn, h.l. coburn, l.j. coburn, n.t. callow

Facsimile of a plan held by the Public Record Office Victoria. Facsimile of a plan of Ballarat showing leads, gold workings an dthe frontage system.ballarat, mining, inkermann lead, golden point lead, robert davidson, terrible lead, white horse lead, frenchman's lead, little magpie lead, milkmaid's lead, woolshed lead, nuggety lead, blackman's lead, canadian lead, sailor's gully lad, nightingale lead, malakoff lead, black hill gully, pennyweight flat, black hill, winter's pre-emptive right, nelson company, great extended, great republic lead, cgt

The University of Melbourne System Garden was created by the first professor of Natural Science Frederick McCoy in 1856. It was originally comprised of a series of concentric garden beds, aorganised acording to plant classification. The only remnant from that time if the towere whih formed the centre of the octagonal glasshouse. Colour photograph of the Melbourne University System Garden.system garden, materia medica, university of melbourne, frederick mccoy

The University of Melbourne System Garden was created by the first professor of Natural Science Frederick McCoy in 1856. It was originally comprised of a series of concentric garden beds, aorganised acording to plant classification. The only remnant from that time if the towere whih formed the centre of the octagonal glasshouse. Colour photograph of the Melbourne University System Garden.system garden, materia medica, university of melbourne, frederick mccoy

The University of Melbourne System Garden was created by the first professor of Natural Science Frederick McCoy in 1856. It was originally comprised of a series of concentric garden beds, aorganised acording to plant classification. The only remnant from that time is the tower which formed the centre of the octagonal glasshouse. Colour photograph of the Melbourne University System Garden.system garden, materia medica, university of melbourne, frederick mccoy

The University of Melbourne System Garden was created by the first professor of Natural Science Frederick McCoy in 1856. It was originally comprised of a series of concentric garden beds, aorganised acording to plant classification. The only remnant from that time if the towere whih formed the centre of the octagonal glasshouse. Colour photograph of the Melbourne University System Garden.system garden, materia medica, university of melbourne, frederick mccoy

The University of Melbourne System Garden was created by the first professor of Natural Science Frederick McCoy in 1856. It was originally comprised of a series of concentric garden beds, aorganised acording to plant classification. The only remnant from that time if the towere whih formed the centre of the octagonal glasshouse. Colour photograph of the Melbourne University System Garden.system garden, materia medica, university of melbourne, frederick mccoy

Colour photograph of the Upper Coliban Reservoir, Victoria.upper coliban, coliban, water, reservoir, supply, system

upper coliban, coliban, water, reservoir, supply, system

upper coliban, coliban, water, reservoir, supply, system

Colour photograph of the Upper Coliban Reservoirupper coliban, coliban, water, reservoir, supply, system

upper coliban, coliban, water, reservoir, supply, system

Constructed in 1903 and enlarged in 1917 this dam originally featured the only siphonic spillway in Victoria. Being the uppermost of the three Coliban storages, it is usually the first drawn down in periods of high demand.Colour photograph of the Upper Coliban Reservoir.upper coliban, coliban, water, reservoir, supply, system, upper coliban reservoir, water storage

Demonstrates documentation and methods used to prepare annual reports for each SEC tram system.Report - 9 sheets, (8 foolscap), titled "Annual Report - Bendigo Tramways", dated 30/6/1956. Memo dated 31/10/1956 to the Ballarat office. Report signed by J H Sutherland. Report comprises information on Rolling stock, and Tram depot Maintenance, painting, spare parts ex Geelong, tram track maintenance including personnel numbers, overhauls, traffic, personnel, accidents, injuries and lost property. A separate report is provided for overhead. trams, tramways, bendigo, annual reports, rolling stock, traffic staff, trackwork, personnel, accidents, overhead, tramcars, maintenance

Demonstrates arrangements made by the TMSV to record the closure of the SEC Ballarat system in 1971 and has a strong association with the donor's activities at the time.Set of three "Last Trammail Cover" envelopes address to Robert Green, 68 Hodder Street, East Brighton Vic. 3187. Envelope - preprinted in dark green ink - titled "Last Trammail Cover" - with a purple stamp in top left hand corner - "Carried by Tram between Sebastopol and Ballarat / Sponsored by the Tramway Museum Society of Victoria Ltd.", in top right hand corner - 6c Australia stamp, featuring Sturt's Desert Rose and a Post Office Cancellation stamp "Ballarat 18 Sep. 71". Envelope made by Tudor Presseal. Would contain a Preprinted card - green ink titled "Last Trammail Cover", headed by TMSV's name, address and details of the TMSV, with the names of the Organisers John Fitzsimons and Bob Prentice along the lower edge. See Reg Item 2942 for images of the card. Envelopes have been well sealed.trams, tramways, tmsv, last tram, post office, postage stamps

Yields information about the method of advising SEC Management of letters to the Editor concerning the possible closure of the SEC Ballarat system., Yields information about the method of advising SEC Management of letters to the Editor concerning the possible closure of the SEC Ballarat system.Set of five memorandums to the Engineer & Manager, to or from the Manager Ballarat Branch on green paper or original Memo forms - all with rounded corners. 1 - enclosing cuttings from The Courier, 12 and 17/5/1962 (dated 18/5/1962) 2 - ditto cuttings for 5/5, 8.5 and 9/5 (dated 11/5/1962) 3 - memo from Engineer and Manager to Ballarat, commenting about the cutting of 3/5/62 (dated 10/65/1962) 4 - memo to Head Office re the cutting of 3/5 commenting on inconsistencies, (dated 8/5/62) 5 - memo enclosing cuttings of 3/5 and 4/5 (dated 4/5/1962) See Reg Item 7908 for these items. trams, tramways, closure, letter to the editor, editorial

Yields detailed information about the statistics of the Ballarat Tramway system during the 1960/61 Financial year, passenger loadings, finances and tramcar operation..1 - Report titled "Ballarat Tramways - Statistics", carbon copy, dated 5/3/1962, responding to a head office letter of 6/3/1962. Compiled in association with Schedules and Statements required, in response to specific questions for compilation of reports by the SEC. Details types of passengers (Pensions, Adults, Scholars, chartered trams, passenger totals including parcels) for 1960/61. .2 - Four foolscap sheets giving details of fares and charges, route length, services, fare sections, length of fare sections, employees, trams in service, tram usage, area and population served, expenditure, revenue, loss, average fare per passenger and extra trams needed for events. Also refers to Reg Item 7932 and 7951 for the original request. All sheets have rounded corners.trams, tramways, reports, passengers, employees, fares, tramcars, routes, revenue, finances, tickets

Yields information about the method of advising the City of Ballarat and the Borough of the planned closure of the tram system., Yields information about the method of advising the City of Ballarat and the Borough of the planned closure of the tram system.Copy of a Memorandum on quarto paper sent by the Melbourne office, Engineer and Manager SEC to the Manager Ballarat, dated 1/2/1962, forwarding copies of letters to go the City of Ballarat and the Borough of Sebastopol, the following day, notifying them of the intention to abandon the tramway service. Also a copy of the Press Statement.Date stamped 2/2/62 and has file number in the top right hand corner in ink.trams, tramways, closure, staff, sec, ballarat, city of ballarat, borough of sebastopol

Yields information about the method of advising the City of Ballarat and the Borough of the planned closure of the tram system, parliamentary processes and a fare increase., Yields information about the method of advising the City of Ballarat and the Borough of the planned closure of the tram system, parliamentary processes and a fare increase.Memorandum on foolscap paper sent by the Melbourne office, Engineer and Manager SEC to the Manager Ballarat, dated 25/1/1962, advising both Managers of the Bendigo and Ballarat district of the proposal to close the tramways, that Fare increases had been approved, Notices to the Municipalities would be issued soon on 1/2/1962 by the Departmental Superintendent and an outline of the Parliamentary process to be followed and giving time for alternative services to be arranged.Date stamped 30/1/62 and has file number in the top right hand corner in ink and pencil notes in left hand margin.trams, tramways, closure, staff, sec, ballarat, city of ballarat, borough of sebastopol, fares

Drawing details brake rigging and dimensions for a Brill 22E truck. Dated 4/8/1947, prepared by the SEC Geelong branch, signed by H N Hornabrook 6/8/47 showing the layout and loads on each part of the brake system, drawing No. T1647. See item 9025 for another version.Yields information about the brake rigging for Brill 22E trams and demonstrates the activities of the SEC Geelong office.Drawing - blueprint, titled "Brake rigging dropped centre double bogie tram Brill maximum traction truck 22E, Trams Nos. 31,""D1775" in ink on top sheet right hand corner.brill 22e, drawings, brake rigging, geelong

Yields information and has a strong association about the view from the central median strip of Sturt St possibly at the time of the closure of the SEC operated system.Glass negative mounted in a three side metal holder - three bogie trams at the City terminus, Sturt St north side with the ANZ bank and the Post Office in the background. tram 34 at rear. Photo by Harvey Studios, possibly on the last day or one of the closures given the number of people in the photograph with cameras - September 1971 Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler.trams, tramways, sturt st, city

Demonstrates domestic items manufactured soon after the establishment of the tramway systems in Ballarat.Ash Tray - white glazed on front, unglazed rear with gold edge trim, light weight China in the shape of a "spade" with an image of the intersection of Sturt St and Lydiard St from the Post Office looking at the buildings on the south side of Sturt St including the Town Hall with two electric trams and the tram lines in the view. One of the trams is hauling a trailer. Possibly made mid to late 1900's. On rear has the makers stamp of "W&R Stoke on Trent" http://nicholnack.com.au/wiltshaw-robinson-patterns/index.php - accessed details that it is the mark of Wiltshaw and Robinson.tramways, trams, ash tray, sturt st, lydiard st, town hall

Set of four Printed colour foreign language versions of BTM "Welcome Aboard" pamphlets for handing out to passengers on trams. Features photos of 26, 38, 1 & 14 and interior photo ex 26 and text describing "Your Trip", the trams, Ballarat Tramways, and the museum itself and has maps of the Ballarat system and the Gardens area. See Reg. items 712 and 1532 for details of earlier productions. Item folded as presented to a passenger or picked up at the depot. 250 each printed 12/2019 by Waller and Chester. .1 - Korean version .2 - Japanese version .3 - Indonesian version .4 - Chinese version Work by etranslate, Pamela Lee, March 2016. When checked 26/12/2019 - now part of Transperfect, with a Sydney office. Word and pdf versions of the items are stored on the website server - 8-1-2020. trams, tramways, btm, handouts, passengers, pamphlets, foreign language

Printed single sheet pamphlet, advertising the formation of the BTPS following the end of the SEC system and seeking support. Has a sketch of a bogie tram in the top right hand corner. References to Ballarat spelt with 'aa'. Has post office box number, but with box number in a different type face, almost handwritten. A large number printed but not used by the BTPS due to the spelling of the word "Ballarat". Were used in the depot for many years as scrap paper.trams, tramways, btps, pamphlets, advertisements

Yields information about the formation of the BTPS in 1971 and some of the people who attended meetings etc. and about the closure of the Ballarat tramway system.Two Newspaper clippings pasted onto a single sheet of paper with two Punch holes on the left hand side. First clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, Monday, 31/5/1971, titled "Society formed to Preserve Trams" (newspaper date, with page 2), about the formation the previous day of the BTPS at a meeting of the Lake Wendouree Tramway Museum Committee with a membership of 55 people to retain a tourist tram system for Ballarat. Gives names of the elected office bearer, details of proposals, some costs, alternative sites and that a tram was chartered before the meeting. 1071.1 - photocopy of the article added 24/1/2008. Has the names of those elected highlighted in pink ink. Second cutting dated "14/7/71" from the Courier titled "Three stage plan for phasing out of trams" of the three stage plan for phasing out of the trams in Ballarat. The plan was announced by Transport Regulation Board the previous day. August 23 - Drummond St North and Victoria St., Sept. 6 for Gardens via Sturt St and Mt Pleasant and Sept 20 for Lydiard St. North and Sebastopol. 1071.2 - as above, original clipping, donated by Dave Macartney, added 10/9/2013In red ink in upper right hand corner of second cutting, "14/7/71" Has numerous pencil and pen marking from previous use, possibly at Ronaldson and Tippet where the donor worked.trams, tramways, closure, bus changeover, transport regulation board, tram services, btps