historic Colour photo, Site of Ballarat Institute of Adult Education (B.I.A.E.) campus, 1968, before construction, looking west showing "Pontresina" homesteadballarat institute of advanced education, green hill, federation university, "pontresina" homestead

Old Ballarat Pottery was set up by John Gilbert as part of the Old Ballarat Village, opposite Sovereign Hill. Gilbert had lectured at Ballarat College of Advanced Education before establishing the Edinburgh Pottery at Sovereign Hill in 1972 to enable visitors to see traditional trades at work. The Old Ballarat Pottery was a much larger concern, producing wares for sale through department stores and on party plan via Faberware as well as through the village. Early works looked as though they might have been made in the 1850s, with unturned bases, crude marks and dark treacle-like glazes. Peter Pilven, one of Gilbert's students, worked there after graduating from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education, teaching throwing to students like the potter John Ferguson, who was there from 1978-79. Potters were initially employed by Gilbert's company Pontresina Pty Ltd, registered in 1973. (The Old Ballarat Pottery was registered as a company from 1984-1994.) Early works are marked with an impressed long-tailed 'B', or an 'OB' on either side of a mine tower. A printed stamp also features a mine tower surrounded by the text 'Old Ballarat Pottery Made in Australia'. Later work is impressed 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery Australia' with a kangaroo.Hand thrown black glazed bottle with lip. Stamped 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery' and impressed with a long tailed B.old ballarat pottery, australian studio pottery, pontresina, bottle

Old Ballarat Pottery was set up by John Gilbert as part of the Old Ballarat Village, opposite Sovereign Hill. Gilbert had lectured at Ballarat College of Advanced Education before establishing the Edinburgh Pottery at Sovereign Hill in 1972 to enable visitors to see traditional trades at work. The Old Ballarat Pottery was a much larger concern, producing wares for sale through department stores and on party plan via Faberware as well as through the village. Early works looked as though they might have been made in the 1850s, with unturned bases, crude marks and dark treacle-like glazes. Peter Pilven, one of Gilbert's students, worked there after graduating from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education, teaching throwing to students like the potter John Ferguson, who was there from 1978-79. Potters were initially employed by Gilbert's company Pontresina Pty Ltd, registered in 1973. (The Old Ballarat Pottery was registered as a company from 1984-1994.) Early works are marked with an impressed long-tailed 'B', or an 'OB' on either side of a mine tower. A printed stamp also features a mine tower surrounded by the text 'Old Ballarat Pottery Made in Australia'. Later work is impressed 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery Australia' with a kangaroo.Hand thrown blue glazed jug.Stamped 'Stoneware Old Ballarat Pottery?old ballarat pottery, australian studio pottery, jug, pontresina, ceramics

The Federation University Mt Helen Campus was once the farm of John Latta and his wife Elizabeth Ann Dean. The couple married in 1867 and had three children at the time of John Latta's death (Elizabeth Ann b.1870; Mary b.1873; John b.1875). Elizabeth later married George Downing, and had another six children. The house was situated in the vicinity of the current Administration and Caro Conference Centre buildings, surrounded by an orchard, and a well under the current Albert Coates Building (Union Building). The land was purchased by the Ballarat School of Mines for their tertiary division from the Stapleton family.Various items relating to the Federation University Mount Helen Campus, and the early settlers on the land, the Latta Family. .1) Parish Plan, including E. Latta, M. Fiscalini, R. Wynne, R. Nixon, J.U. Smith, J. Davis .2) Part of a 1930s ordinance map showing Ballarat, Buninyong and Greenhill .3) Contour Map with the first two Mt Helen Campus buildings included. .4) Drawing a a proposed campus plan .5) Latta Family negativemount helen campus, latta family, greenhill, e. latta, m. fiscalini, r. wynne, r. nixon, j.u. smith, j. davis, parish plan, john latta, elizabeth latta, george downing, elezabeth downing, green hill, pontresina, abraham baxter, g. dean, market gardens, jim downing, bob thornton, j. hateley, martin fanning, toll keeper, anne beggs sunter