Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the launch of the City of Ballarat's Save Her Majesty's Ballarat - The Time is Now campaign.
The campaign called on the Victorian and Australian Governments to provide the $15 million required for further works needed to secure the future of Ballarat's foremost performing arts venue.
Since the campaign was launched on 19 July 2018, the City of Ballarat has received a Victorian Government commitment of $10 million for stage three works.
However, the City of Ballarat is still campaigning for the additional $5 million of federal funding needed to achieve more of the works identified in the vision for the theatre and complete a greater degree of the safety and accessibility works, improving the functionality of the 144-year-old Lydiard Street landmark.
The extra $5 million will facilitate works that will provide greater levels of DDA compliance and functionality of the building, including two new lifts to cater for artists and patrons of all abilities.
A passenger lift at the back-of-house aims to provide direct access to dressing rooms, toilets and the stage while a new passenger lift at the front-of-house aims to provide greater access inclusive of the Dress Circle, Long Room and administration offices. One of the challenges that comes with renovating and improving the safety and accessibility of this historic building is the need to meet current building and construction standards and regulations, which have changed significantly since it was first constructed in 1875.
The Save Her Majesty's Ballarat - The Time is Now campaign has captured the hearts and minds of the Ballarat and wider performing arts community.
Highlights in the past year include:
More than $100,000 donated by the community to the Her Majesty's Foundation
A Royal South Street Society petition, at Change.org, has reached more than 2,800 signatures
Numerous messages of support from across the nation have been posted on our dedicated Save Her Majesty's Ballarat - The Time is Now campaign website - savehermaj.com
A $10 million commitment from the Victorian Government during last year's election campaign
A $5 million funding promise from Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King in the event a Labor Government was elected at the 18 May 2019 federal election.
The emergency conservation and restorative works began at the theatre in early 2018. These works have been supported by a $2 million grant under the Victorian Government's Living Heritage Program.
The City of Ballarat also provided funding for works, allocating $5.3 million in its 2018-2019 budget to assist realising significant structural repairs to the theatre's stage and roof trusses.
These first stages of the project - the emergency restorative and structural repair works - will be completed in September 2019.
While the theatre today continues to be a construction site, the City of Ballarat plans to showcase the essential completed works to the community in coming weeks - stay tuned!
