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FORMER BALLARAT CITY FIRE STATION
702 STURT STREET BALLARAT CENTRAL, BALLARAT CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
4173 Fire Station
4173 Fire Station
4173 Fire Station
4173 Fire Station
4173 Fire Station
4173 Fire Station
4173_Ballarat_City_Fire_Station_Tower_Staircase
4173_Ballarat_City_Fire_Station_Former_Mess_Room
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The former Ballarat City Fire Station is a two-storey bluestone building with five-storey tower, which was constructed in 1860 to a design by the noted Ballarat architect, H.R. Caselli.

The Ballarat West Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed by the municipal council in 1859, three years after the Ballarat East fire brigade had been established. There was a great rivalry between the two fire brigades, particularly in attending to local fires and in the competitions at the regular regional fire-fighting demonstrations. Until the Fire Brigades Act 1890, which created the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board and the Country Fire Brigades Board, fire fighting duties were generally undertaken by volunteers and local brigades were formed by private citizens or local councils. In 1860, the prominent Ballarat architect H.R. Caselli called for tenders to construct the Western Fire Brigade House, and the foundation stone was laid on 15 June 1860. The building was extended at the rear in 1890 by the builders James & Piper and the bluestone walls had been resurfaced with rough-cast stucco by the 1930s. The Ballarat West fire brigade became known as the Ballarat City fire brigade from the 1870s and operated from the 1860 building until the early 1980s.

The imposing former Ballarat City Fire Station is a two-storey, stuccoed bluestone building, with a central octagonal watch-tower and an unusual castellated parapet. The engine house was located on the ground floor, with a mess room above on the first floor. The tower is substantially intact, and includes an internal timber staircase and an open top-storey lookout, though the early glazed lookout platform around the tower has since been removed. The original fire station layout has been replaced with modern offices and a ground floor foyer, though some internal features remain, such as the staircase, the large arched openings for the horse-drawn fire engines and the first floor coffered ceiling.

The site is part of the traditional land of the Wathaurung people.

How is it significant?

The former Ballarat City Fire Station is of historical and architectural significance to the state of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The former Ballarat City Fire Station is of historical significance as what is believed to be the oldest fire station in Victoria. It is of historical significance as a rare remaining fire station associated with the volunteer period of Victoria's fire-fighting history.

The former Ballarat City Fire Station is of architectural significance as a demonstration of the principal characteristics of a nineteenth-century fire station, notably the tall watch-tower with lookout and the street-level openings for the fire engines. It is significant for the unusual design, with a central octagonal, five-storey watch-tower and a castellated parapet.

It is historically significant for its association with the prominent Ballarat architect, H.R. Caselli.

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    • Plaque Citation

      FORMER BALLARAT CITY FIRE STATION - Plaque Citation

      Built in 1860 and designed by the prominent Ballarat architect, H.R. Caselli, this rare remnant from the volunteer fire-fighting period is believed to be the oldest fire station in Victoria.

      Permit Exemptions

      FORMER BALLARAT CITY 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.

      Specific Exemptions:

      General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: A Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works must submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

      Interior:

      Painting of previously painted walls and ceilings provided that preparation or painting does not remove evidence of any original paint or other decorative scheme.

      Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings.

      Installation, removal or replacement of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of mirrors, paintings and other wall mounted art or religious works or icons.

      Demolition or removal of non-original stud/partition walls, suspended ceilings or non-original wall linings (including plasterboard, laminate and Masonite), bathroom partitions and tiling, sanitary fixtures and fittings, kitchen wall tiling and equipment, lights, built-in cupboards, cubicle partitions, computer and office fitout and the like.

      Removal or replacement of non-original door and window furniture including, hinges, locks, knobsets and sash lifts.

      Refurbishment of existing bathrooms, toilets and kitchens including removal, installation or replacement of sanitary fixtures and associated piping, mirrors, wall and floor coverings.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      FORMER BALLARAT CITY FIRE STATION - Permit Exemption Policy

      DRAFT ONLY - NOT YET APPROVED BY THE HERITAGE COUNCIL

      The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing any proposed works will assist in answering any questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is undertaken to assist with the future management of the cultural significance of the place.

      The extent of registration protects the whole site. The addition of new buildings to the site may impact upon the cultural heritage significance of the place and requires a permit. The purpose of this requirement is not to prevent any further development on this site, but to enable control of possible adverse impacts on heritage significance during that process.

      The cultural heritage significance of the place lies in its rarity and intactness as an early fire station, demonstrating the features characteristic to a substantial nineteenth century fire station, including the tall octagonal watch-tower, and the large openings for vehicles at street level. All of the registered building is integral to the significance of the place and any external or internal alterations that impact on its significance are subject to permit application.

Public contributions

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