Prepare to discover the Burra

HAVE you ever noticed the seven green signs spread out around Mount Pleasant?

Produced by the Mount Pleasant History Group, the boards share information about the area’s past, and significant locations, while an accompanying brochure encourages people to explore these parts of Mountie on foot.

On the other side of the river, a similar initiative is in development, driven by the Sebastopol Historical Society and the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre, with support from the City of Ballarat.

The Discover Historic Sebastopol project was announced last week, aiming to enhance the community’s knowledge of one of the city’s oldest suburbs.

As part of the project, a 24-page brochure will highlight historic Sebastopol, while interpretive signs will be installed in key locations.

Coloured royal blue and yellow – a nod to the former Borough of Sebastopol – the document and signage will the share stories of the suburb.

Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre’s Kate Owen is the project’s coordinator and said the working group expects both elements to be ready by mid-to-late 2023, following collaborative research with the Ballarat Historical Society.

“This is an opportunity for the Historical Society to share their knowledge and stories about Sebastopol with the broader community, which is exciting,” she said.

“One definite location to be featured is the old Sebastopol Primary School behind the bowling club.

“We’re looking forward to working with groups including the school and the local fire brigade on this project, and to reconnect them with the history of where they work and play.”

Sebastopol Historical Society president Bruce Harris said locals are generally “proud to be part of the Burra,” but many don’t know its origins.

“It was named after Sevastopol in Crimea, because the blasts and smoke of the mining days reminded people so much of the Crimean War,” he said.

Some of the funds from the State’s $5 million Spotlight on Sebastopol project will support Discover Historic Sebastopol and Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, said this backing will ensure the area’s stories can be “shared for generations to come.”

“The Spotlight on Sebastopol program is one of our election commitments and I look forward to seeing how this new stage of the project will improve liveability and history of the much-loved suburb,” she said.

“We know how wonderful Sebastopol is, so let’s show everybody else how wonderful it is, and take them all for a walk.

“Once we get that brochure, I’m certainly going to be putting my walking shoes on. I’m looking forward to the day.”

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said Sebas has been at the heart of Ballarat since European settlement.

“So many of us are proud of this well-established suburb. It’s beautiful that we’re recognising that in a more formal capacity,” he said.