The Bells of Ballarat
Date
Sunday 10th January, 4.30PM
Venue
Ballarat Town Hall
Duration
30 minutes
The magnificent eight bells of Ballarat Town Hall, first rung on Christmas Day in 1871, are among Australia’s finest rings of bells — and one of only a small number in the world housed in a civic building rather than a church. Known as the Alfred Bells, they have sounded for coronations, royal funerals, mayoral installations and countless other civic occasions, becoming an enduring part of the life of the city.
The Festival afternoon begins with a free public talk by Sarah Stancombe, exploring the history, workings and fascinating traditions of bellringing. Then hear the bells themselves in a special performance by The Ballarat Bellringers, the dedicated group entrusted with the care and ringing of Ballarat’s historic bells.
Combining music, mathematics, physics, engineering, history and community, English full-circle bellringing is both an ancient tradition and a remarkable feat of coordination. Come and discover the extraordinary bells above Ballarat Town Hall — and hear them ring as you have never heard them before.
The Festival afternoon begins with a free public talk by Sarah Stancombe, exploring the history, workings and fascinating traditions of bellringing. Then hear the bells themselves in a special performance by The Ballarat Bellringers, the dedicated group entrusted with the care and ringing of Ballarat’s historic bells.
Combining music, mathematics, physics, engineering, history and community, English full-circle bellringing is both an ancient tradition and a remarkable feat of coordination. Come and discover the extraordinary bells above Ballarat Town Hall — and hear them ring as you have never heard them before.
