FORMER SCOTT BUTCHER SITE
25 AND 27 AND 29 BRIDGE MALL, BALLARAT CENTRAL 3350
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Statement of Significance
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FORMER SCOTT BUTCHER SITE - History
The Bridge Street Mall was once part of Main Street, Ballaarat East, one of the earliest commercial areas in the goldfields. This part of Main Street was the original thoroughfare between the official township in Ballarat West, and the diggings to the east. Main Street (also known as Main Road and Plank Road). The location of Bridge Street is between two of the first alluvial gold fields and truncated the original alignment of the Yarrowee creek to the west. This created environmental and social issues for store owners and residents. The landscape changes created by the rush in 1852 and mass alluvial mining in these areas led to multiple disastrous flood and fire events. The Yarrowee and other drainage pathways were choked with sludge causing frequent inundation and ultimately resulting in the realignment and chanelling of the Yarrowee as early as 1855. There were several disastrous fire events throughout the 1850s which caused thousands of pounds in damages, which in addition to multiple inundation, resulted in the street level in this part of Main Road, being raised approximately six feet in the 1860s. Earlier forms of commercial premises are likely to have been canvas and timber, as shown below. It is unknown the exact proximity to the diggings, but from descriptions and the 1857 mapping we can see that they encroached on Main Street. Waste management was also an issue, with descriptions of thousands of bottles being dumped in sumps and shafts. The site was likely established in 1854 but there are limited records available to confirm this. The land was first sold in 1856. There are three allotment shown on the 1857 Revised Plan of Main Road. The 1874 Panorama from Ballarat Town Hall and a photograph of Bridge Street shows two single story structures across Allotment 4 and 4a. in 1890, Mr A Kaul advertised the site for auction. The advertisement notes that the site has been occupied by good tenants for the last 25 years (11 June 1890, The Ballarat Star: 3). The tenant was noted as ‘Mr Olds Green Grocer’. On May 12 2890 the premesis was impacted by fire (The Ballarat Star: 2). During the 1870s, the site is likely to have been occupied by A. Scott Butchers. There are advertisements through the 1870s for A Scott ‘Butcher’ on Bridge Street Ballarat (14 May 1874, the Ballarat Star: 3). In 1890 (12 May 1890 The Ballarat Star: 2. ) there was a fire in the upstairs of Mr Scotts establishment, which started in the upstairs of Mr Olds Green Grocer. The article notes that Mr Scott lived on the premises with ‘several children’ and he estimated to have lost 400 pounds in damages. The site next door is noted to be owned by Mr Kaul, Jewller. In 1890 Mr Kaul auctioned the property and it was likely purchased by Mr Scott, whom advertised the lease of ‘newly erected premises in Bridge street with Large Shopand goos dwelling (14 August 1891, the Ballarat Star: 3). It is unknown whom occupied the property and when Mr Scott vacated the premises. Figure 3: 1870 Bridge Street Source: SLNSW Figure 4: 1870, Panorama of Ballarat from Ballarat Town Hall. Source: SLNSW Figure 5: 1882, F. Kruger, Bridge Street, looking East, from Sturt-street, Ballarat. Source: SLV. Figure 6: c.1920-1954, Rose Stereograph Co., BRIDGE STREET, LOOKING EAST, BALLARAT, VIC. Source: SLV. The site became 25, 27 and 29 Bridge Street Ballarat. The Ballarat Sewerage plan shows adjoining cesspits at 27 and 19, and a cesspit to the north of 25.FORMER SCOTT BUTCHER SITE - Interpretation of Site
Phase 1: Initial Gold Rush 1850s-1865 General commercial occupation Phase 2: Established Township 1870-1890 Scott Butcher and Mr Olds Green Grocer Directories and Rate books should be reviewed to determine any sequence. Phase 3: Golden City 1891-1923 Late nineteenth-century commercial occupation Directories and Rate books should be reviewed to determine any sequence. 2024 Hil historical elevation modeling for Allotment 26 showing 2m-3m of potential fill, likely to be sealing early deposits and archaeological features (see figure below).
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER SCOTT BUTCHER SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
the site is occupied by three stores. The structures are Victorian with no known basements. the buildings extend from Bridge Street to Curtis Street and comprise no open land.
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NORTH MELBOURNE POTTERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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STONY CREEK SLIPWAYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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SEASONING WORKS SITE AND TERRACOTTA LUMBERWALLVictorian Heritage Inventory
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