The Ballarat School of Mines Prize Night was held at the Ballarat Town Hall Trench Room from 1960-1971, the Lower Civic Hall 1972, Wendouree Municipal Hall 1973-1975. The prizes awarded were for the work done in the previous year. Guest speakers: 1960 J. Lonsdale, Production Manager, M.B. John & Hattesley Ltd. 1961 E.J. Neale, Manager Ballaarat Gas Company 1962 W.G. Smith, Director, Myer Empirium (Ballarat) Pty Limited and Member of the School of Mines Council 1963 K.C. Webb, Member of the School of Mines Council 1964 A.E. Stohr Vice-President of the School of Mines Council 1965 B.J. Nicholson, Factory Manager, Australian Timken Pty Ltd and Chairman of the Ballarat PRoductivity Group 1966 L.C. Yandell, District Inspector of Schools 1967 J.L. Trevenen, Vice-President, Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce 1968 A.C. Eldridge, Assistant Director of Technical Commission of Victoria 1969 W.J. Anderson, General Manager, Bendix Mintex Pty LtdS. Martin-Brown, Managing Director, Firth Cleveland Pty Ltd 1971 S.F. Newman, Manager Director, Engineering Products Pty Ltd, Employer Representative, Metal Trades Division, Apprenticeship Commission 1972 R.J. Dobell, Regional Directorof Education, Ballarat 1973 B.J. McCulloch, Manager, ELectrical Supply, Mid-Western Regions, State Electricty Commission. 1974 W.J.C. North, Managing Director, Australian Timken Pty Ltd 1975 I.D. McCoy, Managing Director, James Selkirk Pty Ltd Four page booklets listing students who won a trade prize at the Ballarat School of Mines. From 1960 to 1971 the awards were held at the Ballarat Town Hall Trench Room, in 1972 it was held at the Lower Civic Hall, and from 1973 to 1975 it was held at the Wendouree Municipal Hall. ballarat school of mines, prize night, ballarat town hall, trench room, lower civic hall, wendouree municipal hall, commercial, awards, dressmaking, woolclassing, turning and fitting, tool and die-making, oxywelding, electric welding, boiler making, panel beeting, motor mechanics, electrical mechanics, arpentry and joinery, plumbing and gasftting, m.b. john, h.e. arblaster, harry arblaster, w.g. smith, a.e. stohr, ken webb

This is the second town hall, the first having burnt down. This building was eventually incorporated into the current building (the Trench room is part).ballarat town hall, sturt street, will's saddler, stoney's new market hotel, hotchin booksellers, building, streetscape, commerical, manufacturing

James McKain MEEK (1815-1899) Born England Arrived Australia 1838 James Meek was an artist who built the first house at Ballarat. He wrote 'designed, composed and written with pen and ink by James Meek (founder of the City). When this work was completed the in 1893 the Ballarat Star described the work: - "An Industrial Inmate. At the conclusion of Monday's meeting of the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum Committee one of the inmates, named James McBain Meek, having been introduced, laid upon the table a magnificently executed work of art, bearing the following inscription: - The past and present of Ballarat, or 40 years' progress from an uninhabited wilderness, 1852 to 1892, during which time it has become the grandest inland city of the Southern World. It stands unrivaled by that of any city in her Britannic Majesty's extensive domain over which the sun never sets, and o'er which Albion's beloved sovereign sways her benign sceptre." The work conveys by words and pictorial representations a complete history of Ballarat from its inception up to the 17th March inst. The various pillars and scrolls by which the many incidents that are related are surrounded are marvelously executed, the plain and ornamental lettering is exquisite; while the language used in the narrative is of the most eloquent and refined description. Sketches of the Ballarat Hospital and Benevolent Asylum, equal to any photographic picture, are shown at either end of the word " Ballarat," which occupies the most central position of the chart. The work, which is worthy of a position in any public library or private residence, has been designed and composed by Mr. Meek, who is 78 years of age, at the Asylum. It is done entirely with pen and ink, and was commenced on the 22nd October, 1892, and completed on 17th March, 1893. (Ballarat Star, 27 March 1893)Although 'Past and Present Ballarat of Forty Years of Progress from an Uninhabited Wilderness' was printed it appears that few have survived the ravages of time. Another copy of this works survives in the collection of the Australiana Room at the Central Highlands Regional Library Corp. No others have been located to date. (2012)Large black and white poster (now brown with age) with the hand drawn work of James Meek reproduced by the Ballarat printers Rider & Mercer. Many, but one includes 'Most respectfully dedicated to the native born children of European parents in the Ballarat Mining District by the author.'ballarat, james meek, meek, ballarat benevolent asylum, nazareth house, ballarat mayors, james bury, james oddie, la poer trench, welfare