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BALLARAT EAST FIRE STATION
20-22 BARKLY STREET BALLARAT EAST, BALLARAT CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
BALLARAT FIRE STATION SOHE 2008
BALLARAT FIRE STATION SOHE 2008
BALLARAT FIRE STATION SOHE 2008
1 ballarat fire station front view aug1985
h01001 plan h1001
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Statement of Significance

The Ballarat East Fire Brigade Tower, designed by prominent local architect Henry Caselli, was constructed in 1864 by William Cowland, builder, and brigade volunteer. Lack of funds prevented the Engine House from being constructed to Caselli's design, the existing Engine House officially opened in 1916, recalls the earlier structure (1858) which it replaced.

The Ballarat East Fire Station is historically significant as one of the few remaining examples of nineteenth century fire stations and is possibly the oldest in Victoria. Formed in 1856, the brigade was the first to be established in Ballarat, and was progressive in its use of new fire fighting technology being the first in Victoria to use a steam fire engine and install electric street fire alarms.

The Ballarat East Fire Station is of architectural significance demonstrating outstanding application of brick masonry as both a decorative and structural material in the octagonal tower in particular, with its combination of arcaded corbel tables and angled bricks. The tower in combination with the boldly articulated and complementary Engine House forms an unusual and sophisticated ensemble of buildings.

The Ballarat East Fire Station is of further historical significance in its ability to demonstrate the size and pre-eminence of the Ballarat region in the state of Victoria, East Ballarat forming one of its many suburbs until the early decades of the twentieth century.

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    • History

      BALLARAT EAST FIRE STATION - History

      Associated People:

      Permit Exemptions

      BALLARAT EAST FIRE STATION - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

  • Notes See all notes

    Ballarat East Fire Station

    17/11/14

    Brigade is Ballarat Fire Brigade not East brigade, tower built in 1864. Brigade has operated from this site since 1858

Public contributions

Notes See all notes

Ballarat East Fire Station

17/11/14

Brigade is Ballarat Fire Brigade not East brigade, tower built in 1864. Brigade has operated from this site since 1858

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