FINE ART GALLERY, BALLARAT

38-48 LYDIARD STREET NORTH BALLARAT CENTRAL, BALLARAT CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

BALLARAT ART GALLERY_Restored Facade_Compressed.jpg 2010

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    FINE ART GALLERY, BALLARAT - History

    
    The Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat is important as the earliest - and probably the most celebrated - of Australia's provincial galleries. This is appropriate given the city's strong tradition of philanthropy in the arts. The Gallery remains one of the most tangible and enduring expressions of the cultural aspiration of Ballarat citizens past and present. The institution and its collection had notable influence on members of the Lindsay family of artists and writers towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Gallery collection includes the original Eureka flag.
    
    

    
    After opening at a temporary premise in 1884, the Gallery Association secured the use of Crown Land on the Lydiard Street frontage of the old Government Camp to construct a purpose-built gallery building. The Gallery Association appointed the architects Tappin, Gilbert and Dennehy to draw the plans, which survive in the Gallery archives. The firm’s task was to create a building with an appropriate sense of grandeur and importance, which could combine the functions of displaying works of art and running art classes while also providing income for the Gallery’s operation. Two shops were installed either side of the Lydiard Street entrance to take advantage of the commercial street frontage, while a grand staircase gave access to two large exhibition spaces. Behind the shops were the committee room and space for the provision of classes. The foundation stone was laid by local magnate Sir William Clarke Bt. on 21 June 1887, as part of Ballarat’s celebrations for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. 
    
    

    
    The building was designed with the principal gallery rooms upstairs and this is reflected in the external facade; internally it is emphasized by an impressive stone stairway. Ceiling decoration in the stairwell is of an art nouveau character, and the fruit and foliage pattern in the front gallery upstairs appears to be the original design. Also of an original design is the pair of doors opening from the landing, with heavy architrave and Greek revival detailing on the lintel. Although the building now appears to be rather heavy in execution, with its rusticated bluestone pilasters, blind window panels and lack of shop verandahs, the Fine Art Gallery is one of Ballarat's most important public buildings.
    
    

    
    In 1901, two pyramidal verandahs (crafted by the Eagle Foundry) were installed to the ground floor shop fronts. These were removed in 1967 and subsequently replaced with reproductions.
    
    

    
    From the 1890s, consideration had been given to the need for expansion at some future time. The Crown Land plot that the Gallery occupied was limited by a laneway behind the building, which serviced the adjoining shops. A plot of land at the back of the Police Station on the other side of the laneway was allocated to the Gallery in 1891, on the understanding that the Gallery could build a bridging structure over the lane. After considerable setback due to the 1890s recession, the Crouch Halls were constructed in 1927 to designs by Clegg and Morrow. The endeavour was financed by Richard Armstrong Crouch, a Ballarat-born Melbourne solicitor and politician.
    
    

    
    Further alterations were undertaken John and Phyllis Murphy in 1967, which involved incorporating the two shopfronts facing Lydiard Street into the layout of the Gallery.
    
    

    
    In 1977, Ballarat City Council took over ownership and operation of the Gallery from the Association. This provided an opportunity to incorporate a group of three shops (the Bones’ Buildings, constructed in 1886) on freehold title to the north of the gallery building which a local businessman, William Robert Bones, had bequeathed to the City Council in 1930. The inclusion of these shops into the Gallery footprint meant that there was need for the access lane that cut through the ground floor of the building, allowing for this space to be built in and included in the display areas. The Bones’ Buildings expansion in 1987-88 resulted in new exhibition spaces on both floors, including a community gallery and a dedicated space for displaying the Flag of the Southern Cross (Eureka Flag). These alterations also involved the reinstating of the Bones’ Buildings verandah, which had been removed at an earlier date.
    
    (From The Art Gallery of Ballarat, Five Moments In Time).

    
    Associated People: Assoc.People LINDSAY FAMILY OF CRESWICK

    Plaque Citation

    FINE ART GALLERY, BALLARAT - Plaque Citation

    Fine Art Gallery is registered by Heritage Council Victoria

    Built 1887 to a design by architects Tappin, Gilbert and Dennehy, this was Australia's first provincial gallery. Featuring a decorative Art Nouveau coffered ceiling, it exemplifies Ballarat's continuous support of the arts.

    Permit Exemptions

    FINE ART GALLERY, BALLARAT - 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:

    Categories of works or activities (permit exemptions) recommended under section 38 (section 40(4)(b)) 

    
    Introduction  

    The purpose of this information is to assist owners and other interested parties when considering or making decisions regarding works to a registered place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing proposed works will assist in answering questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place.   

    It is acknowledged that alterations and other works may be required to keep places and objects in good repair and adapt them for use into the future. However, under the Act a person must not knowingly, recklessly or negligently remove, relocate or demolish, damage or despoil, develop or alter or excavate all or any part of any part of a registered place without approval. It should be noted that the definition of ‘develop’ in the Act includes any works on, over or under the place.  

    If a person wishes to undertake works or activities in relation to a registered place or registered object, they must apply to the Executive Director for a permit. The purpose of a permit is to enable appropriate change to a place and to effectively manage adverse impacts on the cultural heritage significance of a place as a consequence of change. If an owner is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that Heritage Victoria be contacted.  

    Permits are required for anything which alters the place or object, unless a permit exemption is granted. Permit exemptions usually cover routine maintenance and upkeep issues faced by owners as well as minor works or works to the elements of the place or object that are not significant. They may include appropriate works that are specified in a conservation management plan. Permit exemptions can be granted at the time of registration (under section 38 of the Act) or after registration (under section 92 of the Act). It should be noted that the addition of new buildings to the registered place, as well as alterations to the interior and exterior of existing buildings requires a permit, unless a specific permit exemption is granted.
    
    Disrepair of registered place or registered object 

    Under section 152 of the Act, the owner of a registered place or registered object must not allow that place or object to fall into disrepair.
    
    Failure to maintain registered place or registered object 

    Under section 153 of the Act, the owner of a registered place or registered object must not fail to maintain that place or object to the extent that its conservation is threatened.
    
    Conservation management plans 

    It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is developed to manage the place in a manner which respects its cultural heritage significance. 
    
    Archaeology 

    There is no identified archaeology of State level significance at the place. However any works that may affect historical archaeological features, deposits or artefacts at the place is likely to require a permit, permit exemption or consent. Advice should be sought from the Archaeology Team at Heritage Victoria.
    
    Aboriginal cultural heritage 

    To establish whether this place is registered under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 please contact Aboriginal Victoria. The Heritage Act 2017 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 are separate pieces of legislation. Please be aware that both Acts are required to be satisfied and satisfying the requirements of one Act may not satisfy the requirements of the other.  
    
    

    If any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time it is necessary to immediately contact Aboriginal Victoria to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. If works are proposed which have the potential to disturb or have an impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage it is necessary to contact Aboriginal Victoria to ascertain any requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
    
    Other approvals 

    Please be aware that approval from other authorities (such as local government) may be required to undertake works.
    
    Notes 

    • All works should ideally be informed by a Conservation Management Plan prepared for the place. The Executive Director is not bound by any Conservation Management Plan, and permits still must be obtained for works suggested in any Conservation Management Plan. 
    • Nothing in this determination prevents the Heritage Council from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. 
    • Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits where applicable. 

    
    The following permit exemptions are not considered to cause harm to the cultural heritage significance of the Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat.
    
    

    General (1890 Fine Art Gallery building and 1920s Crouch Halls)

    ·         Minor repairs and maintenance which replaces like with like. Repairs and maintenance must maximise protection and retention of significant fabric and include the conservation of existing details or elements. Any repairs and maintenance must not exacerbate the decay of fabric due to chemical incompatibility of new materials, obscure fabric or limit access to such fabric for future maintenance.  

    ·         Maintenance, repair and replacement of existing external services such as plumbing, electrical cabling, surveillance systems, pipes or fire services which does not involve changes in location or scale.  

    ·         Repair to, or removal of items such as antennae; aerials; and air conditioners and associated pipe work, ducting and wiring.   

    ·         Works or activities, including emergency stabilisation, necessary to secure safety in an emergency where a structure or part of a structure has been irreparably damaged or destabilised and poses a safety risk to its users or the public. The Executive Director must be notified within seven days of the commencement of these works or activities.  

    ·         Painting of previously painted external surfaces in the same finish and product type provided that preparation or painting does not remove all evidence of earlier paint finishes or schemes. 

    ·         Cleaning of external surfaces including the removal of surface deposits by the use of low-pressure water (to maximum of 300 psi at the surface being cleaned) and neutral detergents and mild brushing and scrubbing with plastic (not wire) brushes. 

     

    Interiors (1890 Fine Art Gallery building and 1920s Crouch Halls)  

    ·         Removal or replacement of existing electrical wiring. If wiring is currently exposed, it should remain exposed. If it is fully concealed it should remain fully concealed.   

    ·         Painting of previously painted interior surfaces in the same finish and product type provided that preparation or painting does not remove all evidence of earlier paint finishes or schemes. This exemption does not apply to areas where there are specialist paint techniques such as graining, marbling, stencilling, hand painting, murals or signwriting, or to wallpapered surfaces, or to unpainted, oiled or varnished surfaces.

    ·         Maintenance, repair and replacement of light fixtures, tracks and the like in existing locations.   

    ·         Installation, removal or replacement of carpets and/or flexible floor coverings, window furnishings, and devices for mounting flat wall hung artworks including sacrificial wall finishes (e.g. plasterboard).  

    ·         Installation, removal or replacement of bathroom and toilet fittings within existing bathroom and toilet areas.

    ·         Works to maintain or upgrade existing bathrooms and kitchens including installing new appliances, re-tiling and the like.  

    ·         Removal or replacement of smoke and fire detectors, alarms and the like, of the same size and in existing locations.  

    ·         Repair, removal or replacement of existing ducted, hydronic or concealed radiant type heating provided that the central plant is concealed, and that the work is done in a manner which does not alter building fabric.  

    ·         Installation of plant within the roof space, providing that it does not impact on the external appearance of the building or involve structural changes.  

    ·         Installation, removal or replacement of bulk insulation in the roof space. 

     

    Outdoor areas (1890 Fine Art Gallery building and 1920s Crouch Halls) 

    ·         Repair and maintenance of the two pavilions on the Lydiard Street North elevation where fabric, design, scale, form and method of fixing is repaired or replaced like for like. 

    ·         Subsurface works to existing utilities such as gas, water and drainage systems provided that the surface is returned to its previous appearance.

    ·         Repair and maintenance of existing hard surfaces including paving and footpaths where fabric, design, scale, form and method of fixing is repaired or replaced like for like.

    ·         Installation, repair, removal or replacement of signage in existing fixing points.

     

    1886 Bones’ Building and 1980s extension (Gallery cafe; Timken, Selkirk, Powell and Ritchie galleries)

    ·         All permit exemptions as listed for the Fine Art Gallery building and Crouch Halls, providing they do not permanently change the external appearance of the Bones’ Building.

    ·         Repair and maintenance of existing permanent verandah where fabric, design, scale, form and method of fixing is repaired or replaced like for like.

    ·         Installation, removal or replacement of kitchen and catering equipment and fittings within the existing kitchen areas.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    FINE ART GALLERY, BALLARAT - Permit Exemption Policy

    
    

    
    
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