Our Venues
Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
117 Sturt St, Ballarat, 3350
In 1856 an unsuccessful attempt was made to form an Industrial Institute in Ballarat.
By early 1859, following a public meeting, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute was established. Committee meetings and lectures were held in a little cottage in Main Road and thanks to the generosity of the Fire Brigade, a Reading Room was established on the first floor of the Ballarat East Fire Station in Barkly Street. According to Nathan Spielvogel, the reading room contained three tables, 18 chairs, a number of newspapers and 72 books on the shelves.
Through the efforts of Peter Lalor (then an MP) a piece of land in Sturt Street was set aside as the site for the future Mechanics’ Institute. Much argument ensued between the East and West Councils over the future location of a permanent Mechanics’ Institute in Ballarat.
Finally on Friday, September 28, 1860 the foundation stone of the back section of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute was laid with full Masonic honours in front of a crowd, estimated by the Ballarat Star, as numbering 10,000.
Ballarat Central Uniting Church
103 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat VIC 3350
Located in the heart of Ballarat, Ballarat Central Uniting Church continues a long tradition of worship and community life in the city. Its historic church building, originally constructed for the Presbyterian congregation of St Andrew’s in the 1860s, reflects Ballarat’s rich goldfields heritage, with distinctive bluestone walls and Romanesque architectural details.
The church’s musical heritage and large 3 manual Fincham organ makes it a fitting setting for the Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival, welcoming audiences to experience the enduring connection between music, architecture and community.
Ballarat Town Hall
225 Sturt St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
A landmark of Ballarat’s rich goldfields heritage, the historic Ballarat Town Hall has been at the heart of civic life for more than 150 years. Its distinctive tower houses the magnificent eight Alfred Bells, first rung on Christmas Day 1871. Today, these remarkable bells remain a living musical tradition, rung on special occasions by the Ballarat Bellringers.
Clunes Town Hall
98 Bailey Street, Clunes VIC 3370
Opened in 1873, Clunes Town Hall is a striking heritage building reflecting the prosperity and civic pride of Victoria’s gold rush era. Designed by architect Percy Oakden, its distinctive architecture combines classical and Gothic influences. Inside, the hall features a beautiful painted stage backdrop, adding to its historic character and making it a particularly evocative setting for musical performance. Today, this landmark remains an important part of Clunes’ community and cultural life.
Get Directions
Loreto College Chapel, Ballarat
1600 Sturt St, Ballarat, 3350
Loreto College is the oldest school in Ballarat, Victoria. The school has many historical buildings and much heritage that remains present to this day.
Loreto Abbey:
Possibly Australia’s most magnificent convent church, this building was erected between 1898 and 1902 to the design of W.B. Tappin, of the firm of Reed, Smart & Tappin, and is stylistically comparable with the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Bendigo, Tappin’s magnum opus. It was substantially funded through the estate of a German countess, Elizabeth Wolff-Metternich, who had resided for some time in Ballarat. The chapel is constructed in Barrabool stone with Oamaru stone detailing and consists of a large and lofty clerestoried nave and a spacious apsidal sanctuary, all surrounded by an external ambulatory. The elaborate plastered and painted interior, recently restored, focuses upon a marble high altar surmounted by three rose windows placed above elaborate Gothic arcading.
At the rear, a huge rose window, with glass by William Montgomery, is framed by the blue stencilled facade pipes of the divided organ built in 1903 by George Fincham & Son at a cost of £675. The instrument remains largely intact apart from the refitting of the console by the same firm in 1938, when stopkeys replaced the original drawstops and the coupling actions were replaced. Restoration work has been carried out by Australian Pipe Organs in recent years.
Michael Unwin Wines
10 Powells Road, Windermere VIC 3352
Set amid picturesque countryside just ten minutes west of Ballarat, Michael Unwin Wines offers a delightful setting for the Festival’s Brunch in the Vines. This independent winery and cellar door, established by winemaker Michael Unwin in 2000, combines a passion for winemaking with a relaxed country atmosphere. With its distinctive, sustainably designed buildings and sweeping views across the surrounding landscape, it’s the perfect place to enjoy Champagne, pastries and live music among the vines on a summer’s morning.
Get Directions
St Alipius Catholic Church, Ballarat
82 Victoria Street, Ballarat East
St Alipius Catholic Church is one of Ballarat East’s historic landmarks, with origins dating to the early gold rush. The first church and school were established on this site in 1853, serving the growing Catholic community of the goldfields. The present bluestone church, built in the Gothic Revival style, was opened in 1874 and completed with its distinctive tower in the 1920s.
The church is also home to a historic pipe organ built by George Fincham & Son and installed in 1912. With its rich tonal colours and heritage setting, St Alipius offers a wonderful setting for the Festival’s musical performances.
St John’s Anglican Church, Soldiers Hill
606 Armstrong Street North, Soldiers Hill, Ballarat VIC
With its origins in Ballarat’s early gold rush, St John’s Anglican Church has served the Soldiers Hill community for more than 160 years. The brick church was completed in 1865, with its sanctuary and chancel added in 1870. Inside, the beautiful stained-glass windows depict scenes from the life of Christ, adding colour and character to this historic place of worship.
St John’s is also home to a significant historic pipe organ, built by the renowned Melbourne firm Fincham & Hobday and opened in 1891. With its distinctive double cases and largely original tonal character, the organ is an important part of Ballarat’s musical heritage.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat
3 Lyons Street South, Ballarat, 3350
This impressive bluestone building was begun in 1857-1863 to the design of the English architect Charles Hansom and completed in 1870. Consisting of an aisled nave with clerestory, large transepts, spacious chancel and flanking side chapels, the building is distinctive for its Puginesque idiom, this being particularly evident in the proportions, mouldings, elaborate window tracery boarded chancel roof and vaulted south chapel. The cathedral includes a wealth of fittings, including masonry altars and outstanding stained glass by Clayton & Bell, of London, Hardman, of Birmingham, and Mayer, of Munich.The first organ, built by Gray & Davison, of London, and divided on either side of the rear gallery, was opened in March 1867. This impressive instrument had two manuals, 25 speaking stops and a very complete tonal scheme. It was sold to St James’ Church, Dandenong in 1931. The present organ was built in 1930 by George Fincham & Sons and is the most substantial example of the firm’s interwar work to remain intact.
Get Directions
St Paul's Anglican Church, Bakery Hill
5 Humffray St S, Bakery Hill, 3350
With its origins in Ballarat’s early gold rush, St Paul’s Anglican Church has been a landmark of the Bakery Hill community since the 1850s. The present red-brick Gothic Revival church was designed by architect Leonard Terry and built in 1864, incorporating elements of the earlier church, including its distinctive square tower and historic stained-glass windows.
St Paul’s is home to a remarkable piece of Australia’s musical heritage: a pipe organ built in London by J. W. Walker in 1864. Installed in the church in 1865, the organ has remained in continuous use ever since. Enlarged in 1892 and rebuilt in 1957, it retains its original case, pipework and tonal scheme, making it a particularly special instrument to experience during the Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival.
