This free forum will look at a range of options for restoration and adaptive reuse of the Civic Hall and its site,  to create an exciting community hub for Ballarat. Also featured will be great examples from Ballarat and Melbourne. 

Speakers:
Jeremy Gadens: Director of The Substation, Newport.
Phil Roberts: Secretary, Ballarat Mechanics Institute
Ammon Beyerle: Co-Director of Here Studio, Co-Founder of Hub Melbourne and Ballarat Coworking.

2pm Sunday 25 May at Ballarat Mechanics Institute
117 Sturt Street, Minerva Space. (First floor – lift & wheelchair access)
Meet the speakers over afternoon tea and view Civic Hall memorabilia afterwards.
RSVP appreciated for catering: 0419 324042 or barbarac@comcen.com.au

See more information on Civic Hall and other local news on Weekend Notes. Ballarat has several writers providing content for this online magazine.

Voice FM will celebrate World Radio Day by focusing a large part of the day’s programs on the history and value of the Civic Hall, the community’s efforts to save it from demolition, proposed by the City of Ballarat Council, and their push for commercial development of the site.

Enjoy a variety of program segments including talk back, live debate, musical performances and pre-recorded and live interviews with various experts to feature filling a full day’s program.

Special guests will include Robin Grow, President of the Art Deco Society, Chairperson of Save Civic Hall, Dr Penny Greenslade who is leading the environmental impact study, Rod Broadbent who performed at the Civic Hall and who has recently coordinated a group of tradesmen willing to assess and repair the Lower Hall.

Dr Ron van Oers, Vice Director, World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and the Pacific (WHITRAP) will also contribute to the programme. Based in Shanghai Dr van Oers spoke at a forum late last year about the Heritage Urban Landscape programme, which Ballarat Council has signed up to. His special interest is the contribution older buildings with social and heritage significance make to the life and health of cities.

Tune in to Voice FM 99.9, especially from 9 – 12 noon, and from 3 – 4pm.

Stop Press: Council has declined to participate!

Adapted for kids from the classic play by William Shakespeare.

You are invited to a St Valentine’s Day special performance by the Save Civic Hall players of an abridged and wonderfully zany version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As you might expect, the Civic Hall and Lake Wendouree may find their way into the plot!

At Trades Hall Theatre, 24 Camp Street, Ballarat. 

Entrance is by gold coin. All funds raised go to saving the Civic Hall from demolition.

More information ring Alison 0409 537 972 or Jacqui 0410 641 357.