Civic Hall

The Civic Hall site is of special significance to the City of Ballarat, particularly from a social and cultural point of view.

However building practices, environmental requirements and cultural and social needs have changed and in many ways the built form of the Civic Hall is no longer relevant or appropriate to our modern community.

The development and adoption of the Ballarat CBD and Economic Development Strategies have provided Council with clear guidelines to support the potential redevelopment of the Civic Hall site.  Together with advice from leading heritage consultants Lovell Chen, Council now has a clear understanding of the historical and cultural significance of the site and critical information concerning whether full or partial retention of the existing building can be contemplated.

Substantial planning work has been undertaken in respect of the Civic Hall site including:

• Assessing the heritage significance of the building through the Civic Hall Heritage Appraisal;
• Assessing the physical capacity of the site to accommodate office floor space, having regard to the CBD Strategy;
• Assessing the requirements and capability for car parking on the site; and
• Assessing Council’s requirements for office accommodation for its administrative staff.

The June 9, 2010 Council resolution to relocate Council’s administrative activities to the Civic Hall site will free the Town Hall to once again become the civic and community heart of Ballarat. This community space will be used for civic receptions and Council meetings, as well as a variety of community benefit activities, such as arts, cultural and community gatherings.

The Town hall project also provides an opportunity for Council to restore the A Hall which is currently dilapidated and not fit for public use. A renovated A Hall would enable many of the former uses of the Civic Hall to once again take place in the heart of the Ballarat CBD.

A master plan working group has developed a series of options for the site. The group has considered how the site can be developed with either full or partial retention of the existing structures, or alternately with full demolition of the existing building.  This process has identified three preferred potential master plan concepts for the Civic Hall site.

• to view concept x, click here
• to view concept y, click here
• to view concept z, click here

The master plan options have been designed to accommodate a staged development of the site, with consideration for maximum site yield and car parking provision.  As the Library is to be retained, the master plan will ensure that Library building is properly respected and integrated into the development, and that pedestrian and vehicular access to the Library is maintained and enhanced.

Council has a clear commitment to involve the community in considering the best way to achieve a range of outcomes through the development.  In order to maximise this outcome it is proposed to establish a Community Advisory Committee to be chaired by an elected Councillor to oversee the consultation with the community. The Community Advisory Committee will include representatives from key community interest groups, and will be responsible to discuss issues and identify opportunities relative to the project. 

The final master plan will guide the redevelopment, taking into consideration the carefully articulated principals governing the desired outcomes for the site and planning permit requirements.