Sebas welcomes $10.9M community hub

DIGNITARIES and residents have come together to celebrate the opening of Sebastopol Community Hub‘s new state-of-the art Vickers Street Community Hub and Vickers Street kindergarten centre.

The $10.9 million intergenerational facility was funded with $4.5 million from the Federal Government, $4.5 million from the State Government and $1.9 million from the City of Ballarat, and is open for people of all ages following its official opening on 18 December.

The building features a kindergarten, maternal and child health consulting rooms and also a dedicated art space, meeting rooms and facilities that will be available for hire at community rates, alongside a caterer’s kitchen.

Full maternal child health services will begin on Wednesday 7 January and the new kinder is set to start in line with the 2026 school year in late January with kinder tours to start from 19 January.

Sebastopol Senior Citizens is among local groups looking forward to using the building as their home base, and a special open day coming up in February will enable anyone interested to tour the building and check out what it has to offer.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King, State Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves, wielded the scissors and cut the ribbon.Cr Hargreaves said the project had been many years in the making and she acknowledged council staff for their role, along with the two higher tiers of government that helped make the project happen.

Inside the entrance foyer of Sebastopol’s Vickers Street Community Hub.

“We’re excited about what it’s going to be able to do for the community of Sebastopol,” Cr Hargreaves said, also acknowledging input from the wider community.

Ms Addison paid tribute to builders Nicholson Construction while admiring both the light-filled northern aspect and quality acoustics, referring to the hub’s realisation as part of “the renaissance of Sebastopol.”

“We have to make sure that our older and existing suburbs don’t fall behind,” Ms King said during the launch event.

“Congratulations to everyone who was involved in making this project a reality. Connections, friendships and memories will be made here as this new community hub provides a lasting legacy for the Sebastopol community.”