News Alert |

Members of the public are being given an opportunity to be the first to see inside the newly restored Civic Hall.

The landmark hall will welcome a limited number of patrons on guided tours as part of the official opening on Friday 1 March.

Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh said the tours will give the public a sneak preview of the venue before the doors open for the hall’s first public event in almost 17 years the following evening.

“Few people have seen inside the Civic Hall since its doors closed in 2002, so for those who secure a spot in these guided tours you have this wonderful chance to be a part of history,” she said.

“This is the People’s Hall, and it is our community who has earned the right to be the first to step inside this re-imagined space.

“The restoration works give a nod to the hall’s past, and in the same breath bring the hall into the 21st Century and paint a wonderful picture of the array of events that have the potential to be hosted here in the future.”

The guided tours will follow the official ribbon cutting and speeches taking place onsite from 9am on Friday 1 March.

Tours will commence at 11am, running every 15 minutes until 1pm.

Numbers are limited to 15 people per tour, so anyone interested is encouraged to book their place now.

Bookings are now being taken at the Her Majesty’s box office next to the Ballarat Mining Exchange on Lydiard Street North.

After being closed for 16 years, works began in early 2018 to restore the interior of the Civic Hall.

Ballarat building contractor S.J. Weir won the $4.6 million contract to carry out the works, fully-funded by the City of Ballarat, including: internal detailed demolition; restoration of the main auditorium with painting, repairs, lighting, electrical and mechanical services, including new heating, cooling and ventilation, along with insulation, acoustic treatments and window restoration; installation of two new lifts to the mezzanine, foundations to the new external decks, ramps and stairs; floor finishes, with tiling for the foyer, carpeting in the upstairs area, vinyl in the wet areas and existing floorboards to be polished; and staged landscaping, including the addition of palm trees.

As regional Victoria’s largest flat floor auditorium, the Civic Hall is once again a multi-format venue capable of staging a range of events and catering for up to 1,400 people.

It features raked balcony seating, a green room and six dressing rooms.

On Saturday 2 March the newly restored hall will host its first community event.

The community celebration earmarked for 2 March will take the shape of a Begonia Ball with an impressive line-up of local live performances and locally produced food.

Tickets are now on sale at hermaj.com or in person at the Her Majesty’s box office next to the Ballarat Mining Exchange.

Reserved seating, which includes a two course meal and a drink on arrival, is $60 per person.

The 1950s-inspired evening will commence at 6pm, with live entertainment, classic car displays and drinks kicking off the evening from 5.30pm outside the hall.

Attendees are also encouraged to dress in 1950s inspired formal wear.

More details about the entertainment line-up and menu will be released over the coming week.