Heritage Weekend 2012 began with a tour of one of my favourite buildings in Ballarat. The Ballarat Mechanics Institute has recently undergone some significant restorations which included returning the old cinema to its former state as a single level theatre. All the heritage colours have been restored and the room can now be hired. The barrels above were for mixing up raffle tickets and are on display in the library.
The library and reading room houses a large collection of heritage works and old papers were on display. The tour gives some great information about what is stored in the collection at the Institute.
Even the old reading tables are still used, with the headings for old newspapers in place where their editions used to be available to peruse. The Mechanics Institute will be open again (as it always is) this coming Heritage Weekend. If you are coming down, be sure to schedule one of their tours into your day.
I will admit that I get a bit stupid for cupcakes from Cake Bakeshop. In 2012, Cake had their vintage caravan in Camp St selling cupcakes, macarons and soft drinks. It worked well with the vintage car and caravan display on the street beside. I’m pictured here with my sister (and my second favourite Cath Kidston bag) proudly holding up our red velvet cupcakes on the first day of the weekend. Boots are definitely the right sort of attire to be wearing at a Heritage Weekend for the cool Autumn weather. This year we will be sporting more boots, coordinated with scarves and gloves. Watch this space coming up to the weekend for our style guide for braving the Ballarat weather.
The view from the very top floor of the Ballarat Trades hall. The top image is overlooking the vintage car display and the bottom one is an overview of the autumn leaves and sky of the CBD. To the very left is the Mechanics Institute with the statue of Minerva on top, then the Titanic band stand, the Unicorn Hotel, and the turret belongs to Craig’s Royal Hotel. The old law courts are on the very right. The Mechanics Institute I have previously mentioned has tours, but if you are walking past, have a look at the Titanic band stand which has a model of the Titanic on the windlass. It was erected by the musicians of Ballarat, in memoriam to the musicians who played aboard the Titanic.
The Unicorn has brilliant ice coffees, hash browns, and eggs benedict. These are facts every person in Ballarat should know.
Craig’s has High Tea and other events every Heritage Weekend so keep and eye out for the timetable to know what is on.
The old law courts are now the home of the University of Ballarat Arts Academy students of music, acting, dance, and art so it is unlikely to be open for viewing on the Heritage Weekend.
On the ground level of the Trades Hall had a really fun miniature train display. From memory, you can also catch these over at the Ballarat Airport.
One of the vintage caravans on display in Camp St, and below, detail of a Buick just after a light autumn shower.
Heritage Weekend is held in Ballarat every year during the month of May on Mother’s Day Weekend. This year it will be held on May 11 and 12. Check out theBallarat City Council website (or my blog) for updates.
