school of SMB mines and industries a campus of the university ballarat

a guide to heritage buildings at the smb campus in lydiard street south, ballarat

cricos provider number 00103d table of contents precinct plan

Precinct Plan 1 public Introduction 2 car park dana street Timeline 4 Founding of the Ballarat School of Mines 5 Former Wesleyan Church 15 Technical Art School Building 16 Administration Building 18 north Former Court House 19 albert street albert Former Ballarat Gaol 20 A B H

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lydiard street sth street lydiard F

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This Guide was prepared for A Former Wesleyan Church the University of Ballarat by BAdministration Building Keith Boast with the assistance of Clare Gervasoni, Art C Technical Art School Building Curator at the University. The D Former Ballarat Gaol photographs and illustrations in the Guide are from the E Former Court House University’s Historical F ‘Old’ Chemistry Building Collection. G Former Junior Technical School H Former Botanical Gardens

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 1 introduction

smb has a proud history of over 130 years of continuous operation. you are invited to experience and enjoy the charm of smb’s architectural heritage in one of ballarat’s most historic precincts, lydiard street south.

he Lydiard Street South precinct of Ballarat is richly reflective of Ballarat’s In the ensuing years, SMB has experienced a major heritage. The nineteenth century brick buildings that comprise the precinct expansion in programs, enrolments and facilities and is now T include remnants of the former Ballarat Gaol, the former Court House, and the major provider of vocational education and training in several buildings constructed at various times from 1870 onwards to house The western . School of Mines and Industries Ballarat, commonly known as SMB. The precinct is also noteworthy for buildings now demolished, including the former Ballarat Brewery On the 1st January 1998, the University of Ballarat, SMB and the Circuit Court House. and the Wimmera Institute of TAFE were amalgamated to form the new University of Ballarat. SMB, now a campus of Located on the Ballarat escarpment, the Ballarat School of Mines, as it was originally the University, continues to operate primarily as a TAFE titled, was a direct product of the gold rush in Ballarat. Following exhaustion of the provider. It has a diverse program profile ranging over all gold to be obtained from shallow mining, the need for increasingly sophisticated major industry groups. Today, the University of Ballarat, mining techniques required by deep-lead mining generated demand for skilled through its Higher Education and TAFE courses, continues workers and mine managers. to play a vital role in developing the skills needed by Ballarat to prosper in the emerging global knowledge economy. the Ballarat School of Mines, was established principally with the purpose of providing training in the skills needed to pursue gold. It was A number of the buildings featured on the following pages the first technical training institute to be established in . have been upgraded over the years and have housed many different course offerings and operations relating to the role In the years since its establishment, secondary, technical and higher education of the institution since its inception in 1870. The Ballarat courses, covering wide and diverse areas of study have been provided to meet the Gaol was closed as a penal institution in 1965 and its emerging needs of the Ballarat community. Following the relocation of tertiary grounds were later to become part of the SMB campus. In studies to Mt Helen with the foundation of the Ballarat College of Advanced 1990 the Lydiard Street South roadway was partially closed Education in 1976, and the separation of the Ballarat Technical School shortly allowing further development and enhancement of the thereafter, SMB became a provider of Technical and Further Education (TAFE). unique streetscape.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 3 timeline founding of the ballarat school of mines

1870 October 26 – Official opening of the Ballarat Drawing for new smb School of Mines by its first President, Sir classrooms, c 1899 Redmond Barry in the Lydiard Street Circuit Court House, leased to the School. 1876 Large Chemistry Laboratory built 1883 Purchase of the Wesleyan Church and land on northern boundary for 2,000 pounds. 1899 The Foundation Stone of present Administration Building was laid. 1915 The new Art School was opened on site of former Circuit Court building site. 1919 The Gaol Governor’s residence was transferred to School for classes for girls The original initiative for the founding of the Ballarat School 1921 The Junior Technical School was accommodated of Mines was taken at a meeting of the Ballarat Mining in the current A W Steane Building. Board on 6 October, 1869. On the suggestion of Mr Harrie 1959 The former Wesleyan Church was Wood, Mr James M Bickett moved that a school of mines be converted from a museum to the established in Ballarat, in view of the shortage of managers ‘EJ Tippett Recreation Hall’. for the mines. It was proposed that the committee of the 1965 The Ballarat Gaol in Lydiard Street South was Mechanics Institute be asked to set apart a room for the closed as a penal institution. The Gaol and its grounds were later to became part of the school, and that the Melbourne University be requested to SMB campus. examine its pupils.

1981 The Old Gaol – Student Amenities Centre was The draft Constitution of the new school was officially opened. adopted by the Ballarat Mining Board on 15 January, 1983 The Vocational Skills Centre was AW Steane 1870, and a Provisional Council was set up, with Sir officially opened. Redmond Barry as President and Judge Rogers as 1986 The EJT Tippett Learning Resource Centre was Vice-President. officially opened. 1987 The MB John Building officially was opened. The trustees secured for the School, in April 1870, a fifteen year lease at one shilling per annum, of the Circuit Court 1990 Lydiard St Sth was closed to through traffic. House in Lydiard Street and an area of 11 acres surrounding 1993 Brewery site in Lydiard Street was purchased. it. Late in June The Ballarat Courier reported that the Court 1997 The Brewery Complex was officially opened by House, which had been ‘a picture of ruin’, had ‘assumed an The Hon John Howard MP, Prime Minister, on aspect of solidarity, neatness and cleanliness.’ 29 January 1997. 1999 The renovations to the ‘Old’ Chemistry Building were completed. the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 5 ballarat school of mines Construction of the new classrooms (administration Sir Redmond Barry delivered the Inaugural Address on the building) 26 October 1870. The Constitution was adopted and members of the School Council elected. The purpose of the School is captured in a document of the time:

“The primary object of the School is to impart instruction in the various branches of science relating to mining engineering. It is proposed, as soon as practicable, to extend the operation of the school so as to impart instruction in those branches of technical science which may be considered most likely to exert a beneficial influence upon the prosperity of victoria.” Because of this desperate situation the Council of the School On Monday, 23 January 1871, classes commenced with only was obliged to take extra measures to strengthen its position four students, although the number grew to thirteen in term financially. One means it adopted was to try to create a three. From these modest beginnings developed an institution greater local interest in the School by conducting public whose students were to earn it an outstanding reputation lectures at the School. The first of a series of such lectures was extending to many parts of the world. delivered on Thursday evening 20th April 1871, by Mr J F In the early years, the Council of the Ballarat School of Usher, entitled ‘Chemistry’. Mines faced its first major challenge when it discovered it had the school motto: insufficient money to implement its program. The financial support of the School, by the Government of Victoria, by ingenio effodere opes industry and commerce and by private citizens had fallen short of the Council’s expectations. Consequently the School was adopted in 1873. its meaning: Top: James M Bickett advanced into its first decade of teaching with an inadequate ingenio by talent (native ability) and uncertain income, a situation which was to persist for Above: Joseph Usher effodere to dig out many years. opes wealth (intrinsic value)

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 7 ballarat school of mines ballarat school of mines

The Ballarat School of Mines was affiliated with the University of Melbourne during the period 1887–1894. The first application for affiliation had been made in 1884 when the University had been asked to recognize the School’s lectures and examinations. The University of Melbourne was reluctant to concede equal academic status to one of the provincial schools of mines, so it delayed giving any direct answer to the request.

In 1885 another approach was made to the University, this time being supported by politicians representing the mining constituencies around Ballarat. An affiliation scheme was worked out and began to operate from 1887. The name of the School was changed to ‘The Ballarat School of Mines, Industries and Science, in the University of Melbourne.’

The name of the School was to change again when it was incorporated in 1908 to become The School of Mines and Industries Ballarat Limited, although still widely referred to as the Ballarat School of Mines.

One teacher of the University classes during the late nineteenth century was Miss Bella Guerin, daughter of the The ‘New Classrooms’ Governor of the Ballarat Gaol. She was the first woman to Building and the graduate in the University of Melbourne, in 1883. She original Circuit Court conducted classes in Arts and Civil Science at Ballarat. The House, c 1901 reason for the ending of the affiliation was seen by the School Council to result from the University’s consistent refusal to grant fee concessions for the School’s candidates who sat University examinations.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 9 ballarat school of mines ballarat school of mines

The first comprehensive survey of technical education in The former Weslyan Victoria was undertaken by the Fink Royal Commission on Church, ‘remodelled’ Technical Education (1899 –1901) which made the following comments on the School in their Final Report:

“The Ballarat School of Mines… is recognized as the principal School of Mines in Victoria. The first President of the School was the late Sir Redmond Barry. Provision is made for associateship courses in mine engineering, metallurgy, and geology; each course extending over a period of three years”.

In the nineteenth century there were several notable schools of art in Ballarat. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Victoria government proposed the amalgamation of the Ballarat City and the Ballarat East Technical Art Schools for reasons of economy and efficiency A joint committee of the two schools was unable to reach agreement, and in consequence the Government offered the control and administration of the two art schools to the Council of the Ballarat School of Mines.

The Council assumed control of the Art Schools officially on Monday 6th May 1907 and incorporated Faith in the commercial future of gold mining in the Ballarat Left: early group them into SMB. district remained strong well into the 1930s. Throughout the of students The Ballarat Junior Technical School was established in School’s history the Council had, as far as possible provided February 1913, one year after Victoria’s first. Like all of these expert staff and equipment to support the School in early schools set up by Mr Donald Clark, first Chief providing training for the mining industry. Inspector of Technical Schools, Ballarat was staffed by Some of Australia’s great captains of industry, mining Education Department teachers but administered by the engineers, assayers and metallurgists did their training at the Ballarat School of Mines. Ballarat School of Mines.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 11 ballarat school of mines ballarat school of mines

The history of the Ballarat Junior Technical School is The Ballarat North Technical School was established in 1956 in addition to general dominated by the vigorous personality of its first Headmaster, under the School of Mines administration after a peak education for girls, Mr Albert W Steane, who founded the school and led it for enrolment of 500 had strained the old School’s facilities. practical work was 29 years until his retirement in 1942. With new schools in the north and south of the city, the undertaken in the Ballarat Technical School’s enrolment stabilized at about 400. following subjects: In 1921 the present buildings were erected next to the parent school on the constricted site excised An advertisement, published in The Ballarat Courier in Art Metal Work from a corner of the Ballarat Gaol. February 1919 offered ‘Technical Training For Girls from 13 Modeling to 16 Years of age’ at the Ballarat School of Mines and it went For several years in the 1950s the school was co-educational, Art Needlework on to say, ‘This School provides a thorough system of with the creation of the Girls’ Junior Technical School under Photography preparatory training for girls’. the administration of the Ballarat Technical School. In 1960 Bookkeeping the School of Mines Council passed a resolution that the Another advertisement in The Ballarat Courier offered Retouching girls’ wing be established ‘on some other site’, with the school ‘Special Commercial Courses’ at the Ballarat School of Mines Top left: Dressmaking removed from the Council’s control. The new site, three back view of smb from which were designed to ‘ensure real efficiency in business miles south of the city, became the Sebastopol albert street training’. Day and evening classes were held in ‘Commercial Shorthand and Typing Technical School. English, and Correspondence, Business Arithmetic, Industry Design Top: school brochure, 1914 Elementary Algebra, Shorthand, Type-Writing and Teachers Courses Bookkeeping.’ The fee for a full course was from 2 pounds, 2 (in all technical work) Above: air raid safety shillings per term: and students who completed a full course Lettering trenches at the junior in Shorthand and Typewriting or Bookkeeping were to be technical school Millinery ‘awarded a certificate by the Council.’ during world war ii Whitework

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 13 ballarat school of mines former wesleyan church (c 1856)

By the time the school celebrated its golden jubilee This building, originally the Wesleyan Church, and later the on thursday 15th april 1920 it had developed into the SMB Museum was built in c1856. It was purchased by SMB largest vocational training centre outside of melbourne. in 1883 for 2000 pounds. It is believed that the church was abandoned due to subsidence of the foundations. This may A civic luncheon at Craig’s Royal Hotel was followed by the be accurate as the floor at the back of the building is laying of the foundation stone of the new building for the significantly lower than at the front. School of Mines Junior Technical School by the , The Hon H S W Lawson. The building was used as the School’s Museum from the 1880s until the early 1950s. It was originally a geological and That evening the School was opened to the public for mineralogical museum and was seen as an important part of inspection between 7.30pm and 9.30 pm. A feature of that the teaching facilities of the School. evening was the use of electricity to illuminate the grounds.

Above: views of the smb The BotanicalGardens botanical gardens The Gardens (1879–1979) were established in connection with the teaching of botany, a subject in the pharmacy course taught at the School. The Gardens were inspired by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 15 technical art school (1914) technical art school (1914)

This building was opened by Sir Alexander Peacock. It cost The windows on the lower floor feature five supporting 10,000 pounds and was constructed by the Public Works keystones whereas the upper windows have sandstone lintels. Department from plans drawn by the then Art School The base of the building is rusticated sandstone. Principal, Herbert H Smith. The building contractors were Messrs Gower and Edwards. The entrance on the northern side has attractive leadlight glazing in an art deco style, above the door a miner’s map and According to the annual report of 1914 ‘the internal pick are featured in the design. upholstering and fittings have all been carried out in Australian timbers, with Queensland maple largely The building is functional in design in that it has large metal used throughout’. windows in the south wall; this was to ensure good light in the studios. The northern wall has standard double hung Before this building was constructed art and crafts classes timber windows. were held in various buildings around Ballarat. Herbert H Smith The interior of the building features a carved wooden staircase The building could be described as federation-art deco in and cast iron ceiling vents. The rear drawing studios can be style. It features sandstone insertion with sandstone string made into one large studio by opening paneled timber doors. coursing. The base of the building is rusticated sandstone. This opening features classical plaster pilasters with a pediment above. The building is now named the Gribble Building after The relief stone panel on the front with the words ‘Technical an eminent former President of the SMB Council. Art School’ features stone pilaster brackets and corbels. In the centre front can be seen a rectangular sandstone pediment with decorative stonework incorporating the date of construction.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 17 administration building (1899) court house (1868)

The polychrome brickwork is fret patterned with string coursing to create interest.

This building was constructed in 1899 as new classrooms for The rear of the This building, the former Supreme Court, was built in 1868 the Ballarat School of Mines at a cost of 4,000 pounds and building features by the Public Works Department. was designed by the Public Works Department and built by wrought iron Mr D Morrison. It was officially opened on 18 May 1900. It balustrades with Usually Court Houses had a public gallery and central was described in the School’s Annual Report of 1900 as pierced work on the courtroom of two stories in height, flanked by the offices for ‘handsome in design, well lit, well ventilated, commodious – upper arches; the magistrates and clerks. The importance of the Ballarat Court containing council room, office, chemical laboratory, columns are cast iron is shown by the fact that the flanking wings are also two- mineralogical laboratory, students’ room and six lecture with corinthian storied, and their hipped roofs (each with weathered vanes) rooms’. capitals. differentiates this building from other Public Works designs.

It is a typical two-storey red brick educational building of the The building is listed The building is substantially intact apart from the turn of the century and is substantially intact apart from the on the victorian removal of the front chimneys and minor alterations removal of the entrance door and the roof finials. heritage register and to the side and the rear. has been recorded by The building is composed of two flanking pavilions with a The roof features decorative terra cotta ridging and dormer the national trust. recessed central portion containing a ground floor arcaded cents. Below the spouting can be seen ornamental brickwork loggia and with ground floor arched windows, rectangular incorporating brick corbels. hooded windows on the upper floor (with original blind The street façade is divided into five bays, with paired and hoods) with a central tripartite window. The building has tripled windows topped by segmental heads and hood been used as a performing arts centre since 1984. moulds. The windows on the top floor feature curved arches whereas the lower windows have pointed arches. There are sandstone keystones above each window. The portico features bluestone columns with Corinthian capitals.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 19 The ballarat gaol (1857) The ballarat gaol (1857)

The Ballarat Gaol that was built in 1857 replaced a wooden structure erected on the site in 1854. Further additions were commenced in 1859 and completed in 1862. These included a tunnel connecting the prison with the Court House. The total cost of construction was 42,126 pounds. The design was undertaken by the Public Works Department, and R A Powden, A T Snow, and HA Williams signed the drawings. The Gaol buildings that remain today are classified by the National Trust.

The Gaol was one of the earliest constructed as part of a major gaol building program. This was the result of the report of the Select Committee on Prison Discipline of September 1857, which recommended the abolition of the Gaol watch tower When looking at the brickwork in the Gaol wall note the In the remaining guard prison hulks and the immediate construction on land of negligible amount of movement in the joints. The nature of tower, the stair is the prison accommodation. All prisons built in Victoria after the clay in the bricks, the system of burning the lime mortar main feature, however 1851 adopted the Pentonville Prison design of 1842. into the joints and the general shape of the wall would be the door and the small contributing factors to the high degree of stability of the wall. window surrounds and The design was based on a central hall from which About the time the wall was built, there were approximately the roof above on radiated wings of cells – the principle of the design 14 brick making plants in Ballarat. ironwork supports are being that a single guard could stand in the centre also important. of the hall and at one glance survey all cells. The cell building housed cells at two separate levels. Cells at The gaol buildings the higher level were reached from a well-designed and solidly remaining today are The prison was designed to hold both male and female constructed cast iron staircase, which linked the platform classified by the prisoners; it had 58 cells and could hold 74 prisoners. The gangways on each side of the passage. The iron balustrades national trust and average one-man cell was 7’ x 9’ (2m x 2.7m) and the resembled the street channel guards at the intersection of listed in the Victorian community cells, which held four men were 9’ x 13’ (2.7m x some of Ballarat’s streets. Heritage Register. 3.9m). It is believed that at least 12 men were hanged at the Gaol, the first was in 1864 and the last in 1908. The main gate is a monumental work. The arch key stone facing Lydiard Street is beautifully executed. The gates The materials used in the construction of the Gaol were themselves and the iron lacework over the top are quite locally quarried basalt in combination with locally made distinctive. The arch under the flyover is also distinctive; the bricks. The foundation to all the walls consisted of coursed basalt keystone appears to have been cut from one single basalt laid directly onto sand, which would have been placed block of stone. on a natural rock base. At this stage reinforced concrete footings had not come into use.

the school of mines and ind ustries b allarat a campus of the university of b allarat a guid e to heritage b uild ings in lyd iard street south, b allarat 21 school of SMB mines and industries ballarat a campus of the university ballarat

The university of ballarat (ub) is a regional university with a reputation for relevance and excellence. australia’s third-oldest tertiary education institution, ub boasts a strong tradition of education and training delivery which spans 135 years.

ub meshes a youthful energy with its rich history, embracing the freedom and dynamism that comes from being a progressive university with close links to industry and technology.

with a proud track record in innovation and entrepreneurship, ub strives to enhance the relevance and currency of its education, training, research and consultancy capabilities. ub is actively engaged in the development and expansion of its strategic partnerships as well as highly productive links with business, industry and the community.

proud of its past while firmly focussed on the future, the university of ballarat continues to excel. CC_0906