Lydiard Street Heritage Precinct
LYDIARD STREET, ALBERT STREET, ARMSTRONG STREET, BATH LANE, CAMP STREET, CHANCERY LANE, DANA STREET, DAWSON STREET, DOVETON STREET, GRENVILLE STREET, LEWIS STREET, MAIR STREET, AND STURT STREET, BALLARAT CENTRAL, BALLARAT CITY
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Statement of Significance
The Precinct is aesthetically and architecturally significant as an outstanding example of 19th century provincial city centre representing the development of modern urbanism, initiated by the 1850s gold rush in rural Victoria. As a model of a mid 19th century classical European city it is an excellent testament of European colony planning where urban design and perspective views were adapted to the local context and can be appreciated in all its magnitude. The natural physical framework along with the built is used as a theatrical backdrop with rectilinear streets lined by buildings of similar neo-classical facades and similar heights that define the sociopolitical functions and cultural centre of Ballarat.
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Lydiard Street Heritage Precinct - Physical Description 1
The Lydiard Street Precinct is dissected by Sturt Street running east / west from Dawson Street to the Bridge Mall and Lydiard Street north / south from the railway to Grant Street. The northern boundary follows Market Street and turns southwards at Armstrong Street to include properties on the northern side fronting Mair Street and both sides of Lydiard Street to the railway area. It then returns south crossing Mair Street to include Camp Street then east along Field Street, south along Cattan Street and along the property boundary east to Grenville Street. The eastern boundary follows Grenville Street to Little Bridge Street where it aligns with the rear of the properties fronting Lewis Street to Albert Street. The southern boundary is formed by Grant Street between Albert and Armstrong Streets and then along property boundaries until Dana Street to Doveton Street. The western boundary extends along Dawson Street and includes buildings fronting Sturt Street to Dawson Street, and Doveton Street to Mair Street.
The Lydiard Street precinct is of state significance.
The precinct was first surveyed by the government surveyor William Urquart, who laid out the city centre on the plateau using a four-block grid pattern. In that plan, Lydiard and Armstrong Streets were main thoroughfares and Mair, Dana and Sturt Streets were cross streets. The survey did not extend east beyond Lydiard Street being the site of the government camp. The camp was the administrative centre established to keep order on the goldfields and was strategically located at the edge of the township where it had views across the diggings.
The precinct includes Ballarat's significant civic, institutional, religious and commercial buildings and monuments. The collection of buildings reflects the wealth that the 1851 gold discoveries brought to Ballarat influenced by the Anglo Saxon immigrants who diversified into other occupations following the gold rush.
Buildings and features in the precinct show the features associated with the civic and commercial development of the area from the 1850's. Notable contemporary architects, such as Casselli & Figgis and Leonard Terry designed many of the civic and commercial buildings. The significant and contributory buildings are predominantly Victorian, Federation, Edwardian and Inter War styles and feature ornate detailing, verandahs and intact interiors and exteriors.
Subdivision of parts of the government camp in the late to mid 1880's was followed by the construction of 'boom style' architecture on the new lots which included the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, the Old Colonialists Hall, the Mining Exchange, the Ballarat Commercial Club and Bones Buildings. Together with the Post Office and the Victorian buildings on the west side of Lydiard Street, this group of buildings created a distinctive 'boom style' streetscape.
The opening of the railway line attracted hospitality businesses and warehouses to Lydiard Street north, while Lydiard Street South became the focus for the legal and financial businesses. The oldest operating theatre in mainland Australia, Her Majesty's theatre is a substantial presence in Lydiard Street south.
Substantial churches were established at the corner of Dana and Lydiard Streets and added to the importance of Lydiard Street. The character of Sturt Street was being defined in the 1860's with the development of the dual carriageway divided by a udbank, later planted with shrubs and trees known as the Camp Street gardens. The central median strip provided a civic space for structures, monuments and memorials.
Sturt Street originally housed timber buildings but by the 1870's these were replaced by brick shops. Other significant commercial and institutional buildings include the Town Hall, the Myer building and Golden City Hotel.
Key features of the precinct include the retention of the original street grid pattern, the topographical setting of the escarpment, the gracious boulevard of Sturt Street, and significant landmarks. Also included are the intact bluestone kerbs and gutters and remnants of cobblestone paved lanes, two areas of original street paving of large bluestone flagstones, a retained section of tramlines and timber block paving along the north edge of the median strip in Sturt Street near the corner of Armstong Street, an early cast iron post box in Lydiard Street.
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MITRE TAVERNVictorian Heritage Register H0464
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MELBOURNE SAVAGE CLUBVictorian Heritage Register H0025
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FORMER LONDON CHARTERED BANKVictorian Heritage Register H0022
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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