The Side Elevation of the Former Baptist Church – Corner Victoria and Otway Streets, South Ballarat
The former Baptist Church on the corner of Victoria and Otway Streets, South Ballarat, first opened its doors in 1904. Built of red brick with stone detailing, it is a picturesque country church which serviced the southern outskirts of the Ballarat township, rather than the grander Baptist church built on Dawson Street in the centre of Ballarat’s church precinct in 1866. With no pretentions of grandeur it is simple and unassuming in its design, in spite of sitting on such a prominent thoroughfare as Victoria Street. The former Baptist Church is a classic example of an Arts and Crafts style of building, and beyond the wall treatment has other common qualities of the movement including; its original hipped corrugated iron roof, a stone base, and red brick banding around the doors and Romanesque style windows. Only the front elevation is made of stone. The remainder of the church is a weatherboard construction with large, plain windows.
In the year 2000, Paula Heenan of the Ballarat Centre for Music & the Arts recognised the potential of her local disused Baptist Church in Victoria Street. It seemed ideally suited for refurbishment as a school for music, dance and drama. Today it continues to provide a stunningly spacious and ambient environment for the education of our young, along with an embracing community feel.
The Side Elevation of the Former Baptist Church – Corner Victoria and Otway Streets, South Ballarat
The former Baptist Church on the corner of Victoria and Otway Streets, South Ballarat, first opened its doors in 1904. Built of red brick with stone detailing, it is a picturesque country church which serviced the southern outskirts of the Ballarat township, rather than the grander Baptist church built on Dawson Street in the centre of Ballarat’s church precinct in 1866. With no pretentions of grandeur it is simple and unassuming in its design, in spite of sitting on such a prominent thoroughfare as Victoria Street. The former Baptist Church is a classic example of an Arts and Crafts style of building, and beyond the wall treatment has other common qualities of the movement including; its original hipped corrugated iron roof, a stone base, and red brick banding around the doors and Romanesque style windows. Only the front elevation is made of stone. The remainder of the church is a weatherboard construction with large, plain windows.
In the year 2000, Paula Heenan of the Ballarat Centre for Music & the Arts recognised the potential of her local disused Baptist Church in Victoria Street. It seemed ideally suited for refurbishment as a school for music, dance and drama. Today it continues to provide a stunningly spacious and ambient environment for the education of our young, along with an embracing community feel.