SCHOOL OF MINES (FORMER BALLARAT GAOL)
5 LYDIARD STREET SOUTH BALLARAT CENTRAL, BALLARAT CITY
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Statement of Significance
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SCHOOL OF MINES (FORMER BALLARAT GAOL) - History
The construction of the gaol began in 1856 and the first cell blocks were completed by 1857. It was completed in 1862 with 58 cells designed to hold a mixture of 74 male and female prisoners. The prison was closed in 1965. The School of Mines was founded in Ballarat in 1870 by a group of officials from the Mining Board, to provide scientific and practical training focused on, but not exclusively related to, mining. As its reputation in science, engineering, metallurgy, chemistry and geology increased, the School of Mines diversified into a programme of general studies.
Known location of 13 executions:
1 March 1864: Alexander Davis
19 March 1866: James Jones
16 April 1867: Denis Murphy
7 August 1867: George Searle and Joseph Ballam
11 May 1891: John Wilson
18 May 1891: James Johnston
11 August 1873: Oscar Wallace
21 August 1875 : James Ashe
3 September 1885: Charles Baker
21 November 1891: Cornelius Bourke
12 November 1894: Elijah Cockroft
28 June 1908: Charles Henry Deutschmann
SCHOOL OF MINES (FORMER BALLARAT GAOL) - Interpretation of Site
1856-1965: Former Ballarat Gaol
1870: School of Mines established
1970s: Renamed Ballarat College of Advanced Education
1994: Established as University of Ballarat
SCHOOL OF MINES (FORMER BALLARAT GAOL) - Archaeological Significance
Site is of archaeological significance as the burial site of 13 executed prisoners buried within the Ballarat Gaol between 1864 and 1908.
SCHOOL OF MINES (FORMER BALLARAT GAOL) - Historical Significance
The School of Mines at Ballarat is of historical significance due to the important role it played in providing colonists employed in mining with formal scientific education and in spreading mining expertise to other parts of Australia. Its establishment reflects the strong tradition of mechanics institutes and mining schools brought to Victoria by British migrants, with Schools of Mines being particularly popular in Victorian gold mining towns such as Bendigo, Castlemaine and Ballarat. The Ballarat school has a long history within the City and this building was the first built specifically for the School of Mines. Together with the former Wesleyan church building, the adjacent 1914 building, the 1868 Supreme Court and remains of the former gaol to the south, it forms a collection of related educational buildings all fronting Lydiard Street.
Heritage Inventory Description
SCHOOL OF MINES (FORMER BALLARAT GAOL) - Heritage Inventory Description
Known location of the burial of 13 prisoners executed between 1863 and 1908 at the Former Ballarat Gaol
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FORMER POLICE STATION, BALLARATVictorian Heritage Register H1544
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BALLARAT TRADES HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0657
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PRIMARY SCHOOL NO.33Victorian Heritage Register H1714
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