Eureka! Upgrade plans for east-side hall

BUILT 100 years ago, Eureka Hall is earmarked for an upgrade with residents invited to share their ideas for the 119 Stawell Street South site with the City of Ballarat.

Anyone interested is able to view what is being proposed and provide their own feedback through the City of Ballarat MySay page, with community consultation open until 30 June.

Current hall users have said the existing building has accessibility and safety issues.

Proposed improvements include accessibility works, new internal toilets, kitchen upgrades, heating and cooling upgrades, replacement of sections of the roof and improved storage.

The Eureka Stockade Memorial Park Committee has been consulted during the development of concept designs so far.

Vice-president Peter McKenzie said upgrades are overdue, with accessibility issues affecting current users of the space.

“For someone in a wheelchair, they can’t go down the steps, so they have to go all the way around the front and around the side to get to the outdoor public toilet,” he said.

“There’s a lack of quality community facilities in the east. We feel Eureka Hall definitely needs an uplift.

“We have a lot of users already, but this will really boost the numbers once it becomes an inclusive space.”

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said while the hall has a strong and regular user base, it was opened in the 1920s and no longer meets the needs of many.

“Improving accessibility and safety will ensure it remains a valuable community space into the future,” she said.

Eureka Stockade Memorial Park Committee president Frank Williams said upgrades would support safer and more flexible community use.

“Accessibility and safety are major issues. We only have access to the outdoor public toilets,” he said.

“When we have school functions, Eureka celebrations, playgroups and boot scootin’ classes, we have to be very conscious of safety,” he said.

In-person workshops are being held at the hall this month, offering a chance for people to view the existing space and share feedback on its future.