Historical information
The Ballarat Technology Park is associated with Federation University Australia. The first stage commenced on 03 August 1989 when the first sod was turned by Hon, David White, Minister for Industry, Technology and Resources.
John Beaumont was the Director of the Ballarat Technology Research and Development Park in 1989.
Physical description
Twenty items relating to the History of the Ballarat Technology Park as collected by John Parkin.
.1) Handwritten notes by John Parkin on the history of the Ballarat Technology Park
.2) Letter from A.E. Helyar (Shire of Buninyong Secretary), 08 March 1988
.3) Shire of Buninyong Minutes 07 June 1988
.4) Development of High Technology Activity by Jack Barker
.5) Definition of a Technology Park by Derek Woolley
.6) Shire of Buninyong minutes 28 June 1988
.7) Shire of Buninyong minutes 19 July 1988
.8) Invitation to a reception to commemorate the inauguration of the Ballarat Technology Park (John Parkin) by Shire of Buninyong President Cr Judith Coull to be held on 03 August 1989.
.9) Invitation to a reception to the Ballarat Technology Park (John Beaumont)
.10) Ballarat Courier article 04 August 1989
.11) Draft letter to Professor Geoffrey Blainey from John Parkin
.12) Letter to the Editor from John Parkin, 18 December 2000
.13) University of Ballarat Development Appeal, 04 November 1994
.14 & .15) Invitation to installment dinner to celebrate the installation of Professor Geoffrey Blainey as Chancellor of the University of Ballarat to be held in the Union Building (now Albert Coates Building), Mt Helen campus
.16) Letter to the editor from John Parkin
.17) Letter from John Beaumont, 25 November 1994
.18) Invitation to the opening of the ISSC Southern Region Data Centre to be held on 24 November 1995.
.19) Letter from Barry Traynor, 13 December 1995
.20) Planning Scheme information relating to the LaTrobe Research and Development Zone.
Inscriptions & markings
.1) 2nd May 2005
History of Technology Park (I.T. centre)
The history of the Technology Park started back in the mid-1980s. At the time I was a Buninyong Shire Councilor and as such I was Buninyong's representative on the then Ballarat Development Committee.
At one of our meetings we received a request for information on a suitable site for a technology park. The requirements were for a site adjacent to a tertiary institution, secluded for security purposes and large enough to contain such a development.
The next morning I contacted our Shire Engineer at the time, Newell Barrett and we drove around the area we both agreed that the current site was the most suitable we saw to meet the requirements. At the time it was owned by George Morrison.
however the original enquiry to the B.D.C. came to nothing but the Shire Council and the B.D.C. decided to investigate the possibility of the site becoming a technology Park and information was collected.
At about this time Mr Morrison put the property on the market and it was bought by a Ballarat builder, Mr John Beaumont, with the idea of developing it as a residential area. Council then arranged a meeting with Messrs Morrison and Beaumont to discuss the matter. I remember Mr Morrison saying he did not care what was done with it he just wanted to sell it and move down to the coast. Mr Beaumont, on the other hand, said he wasn't ready to retire yet and the idea interested him.
As a result a committee consisting of the B.C.A.E., B.D.C. and Buninyong Shire Council (and Mr Beaumont) was formed to plan the development and rezone the area to technology park. It was previously zoned residential land and would seem to have been suitable for sub-division and residential development - its close proximity to the College being a major factor in its favour.
The point of this is if Mr Beaumont had insisted on pursuing his original plan and had opposed the rezoning, I am quite confident he would have won an appeal at the A.A.T . (Administrative Appeals Tribunal - forerunner of V.C.A.T.) and the I.T. centre would not have got off the ground and the area would be covered with houses.
But Mr Beaumont did go into the project with enthusiasm and the first stage was commenced on the 3rd August 1989 when the first sod was turned by Hon. David White, the Minister for Industry, Technology and resources (See the Courier 4th August 1989)
Mr Beaumont went overseas to study similar parks and look for tenants. Unfortunately government did not support the project as they have now and apparently Mr Beaumont was ahead of his time for the private sector so Mr Beaumont could not continue the development and the site eventually passed to the College.
I personally think more could have been done ...
The work done by the Buninyong Shire Council and Ballarat Development Committee seems to have been forgotten as according to the Courier December 21, 2000 we are told the Park opened in 1995 as a joint venture between the City and the University. As a former Councillor said to me on the day "What happened to the plaque David White unveiled in 1989!"
If there is any other information you want, please contact me. You may use my file for reference.
Kind regards
John Parkin
PS I always felt a bit guilty that I encouraged John Beaumont and he was left in the lurch.
