Historical information

On 28 March 1981 the Ballarat College of Advanced Education 1870 Founders hall was opened. The hall was erected from the proceeds of the Centenary Appeal for a sum of approximately $800,000. The hall commemorates the initiative of the founders of the original Ballarat School of Mines and its "descendants", including Ballarat College of Advanced Education, as well as formal technical education in Australia.

The hall was build to accommodate 670 persons in a theatre type seating and was intended for multiple purpose use by community groups as well as by the College.

Construction of the hall commenced in 1978. It was opened approximately 110 years after the Ballarat School of Mines (26 October 1870) and 10 years after the opening of the Mt Helen Campus (31 October 1870).

Physical description

.1) White card with blue and brown ink relating to the opening of the 1870 Founders Hall by His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen, Governor-General of Australia.

.2) Souvenir Programme and Entree to inaugural concert in the 1870 Founders Hall.

.3) Invitation card to the opening of Founders Hall made out to Mr and Mrs Z.A. Plavina