Community hub keeps buzzing along

WHEN Ballarat Group Training moved from Mount Pleasant to the former Ballarat Secondary College site on Barkly Street, they didn’t just find educational premises.

With more space than they needed, BGT realised the building’s potential to evolve into a Ballarat East community hub with other likeminded groups, and over the last two years as Barkly Square, this is precisely what it’s become.

BGT CEO Graham McMahon said the space quickly gained momentum.

“As community groups saw other community groups moving in, they wanted to be part of it, and now we’ve got this collaboration between them,” he said.

The old school building is at capacity, with 19 sub-tenants which are mostly not-for-profits; Altitec Australia, Ballarat Italian Association, Ballarat Wholefoods Collective, Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, Ballarat Times News Group, and the Centre for Multicultural Youth are all based in the Square.

Cops n Kids, Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services, Djirra Aboriginal Legal Services, Goldfields & District Lacrosse League, Noah’s Ark, Sports Central, The Hidden Orchard, a Men’s Shed, Ballarat Toy Library, Very Special Kids, Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association, Voice FM and the YMCA share the space, too.

“They support each other in a myriad of ways, including funding opportunities,” Mr McMahon said.

“Recently BRMC, CMY and BGT combined to put in a funding submission to upgrade and fit-out the commercial community kitchen.”

Successful in their application, the kitchen will be accessible to tenants, and publicly leased as a commercial facility.

BGT is “nurturing” social enterprise, A Pot of Courage, to establish a sustainable business model at Barkly Square, while also providing a space to run their own vibrant, intercultural café.

“The food, smells, meetings, coffee, take-home meals… all this activity is so important here.

“Without that social hub, we’re just an office building. The cross-pollination support has been fantastic,” Mr McMahon said.

“BGT has a truer community outlook now that we’ve had before.”

Ballarat Wholefoods Collective founding member, Wendy Aston said the centre has a positive energy.

“Everybody is enthusiastic to be here. We’re all like minded, you can stop in the hallways, have a talk, and it’s just got such a really nice feel about it,” she said.

“Every time a group arrives, it adds to the jigsaw.”

Voice FM has a purpose-built studio upstairs. Chair, Ron Egeberg said Barkly Square is full of an “exceptional, eclectic mix of complementary organisations.”

“We’re proud to be part of the community hub, and to support it as an important part of the community of Ballarat,” he said.

“It has so many advantages; excellent disability access, it’s positioning is ideal for parking, and it’s easy for anybody to get to, especially our volunteers and public interviewees.

“It’s given us a new lease of life, and as we recover from COVID, we’re working with BGT to create a way forward.”