Goods Shed conference space opens

CONVENTION centre The Goods Shed officially opened on Monday morning in the heart of the Ballarat Station precinct.

Having been derelict for many years, the 19th century bluestone railway building has been transformed by $28.3 million worth of works, paid for by the State Government.

The space is now home to a 120-seater conference space, a 250-seat function room, a 304-seat auditorium, a bar, and commercial kitchen, with restored heritage timber beams and doors as a prominent design feature.

Outside landscaping includes an amphitheatre for open-air performances, and a huge heritage rail track sculpture by Robbie Rowlands.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said The Goods Shed was previously “falling down” around anyone who entered, so its transformation is “astounding.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the government. Ballarat is going to love this newest play space, that will entertain us and be great for conventions,” he said.

“This precinct was a place with gravel pits all around, and a shed about to fall down. We now have beautiful clean surrounds.

“My generation always walked past this building, but future generations are going to get married here, have their 21st birthdays here, see conferences here.”

Thirteen hundred people have been employed throughout the project, which has been done by the Pellicano Group.

A developing retail space at the east end of the Shed, set to open later in the year, will house hospitality businesses including a distillery, café, and restaurant.

Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said The Goods Shed is a “magnificent” example of “integrated development.”

“The work respects the heritage of the fabulous major railway buildings across that state that for so long have been falling into disrepair,” she said.

“With the heritage respected in the way that it has been, while being so contemporary, it is so ready to be teaming with people, alive with conferences, theatre, music, and food and drink.

“The redevelopment… has transformed this heritage precinct into a true drawcard for the city.”

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said the project is better than she could have imagined, recalling the previous shed and surrounding yard as “embarrassing.”

“Visitors would arrive from the train and walk in or past what was a pretty ordinary and unsafe space, so to provide this fundamental, welcoming place for people coming to Ballarat is extraordinary,” she said.