THE new Ballarat Showgrounds site has officially opened, and is set to host this year\u2019s Ballarat Show following a hiatus in 2024.<\/p>\n
The new showgrounds at Rose Hill Road, Mount Rowan includes a 28,000 square metre pavilion which is suitable for hosting agricultural and community events.<\/p>\n
The building has already been used for CraftAlive, the Ballarat Outdoor Living and Camping Expo, Farmer’s Night Off, and will host the Victorian Sheep Show this weekend.<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society has been operating in the region for nearly 170 years and joint president Kerri Gallagher said the 40-acre site allows more room for growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had been at the old [Creswick Road] site for 80 years, and the site was starting to fall down around our ears,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut here we have this large open space pavilion that we have built that\u2019s going to allow so many more exhibitions to be able to come to Ballarat and be undercover in one shed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Development of the site was funded with $5 million from the State Government, and the facilities will be available for commercial hire, supporting events in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cBAPS supports so many primary producers and so many people in the agricultural sector across our region,\u201d Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that they have the best possible facilities into the future so that we can have them being strong for another 170 years, and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is also about economic growth for our region and that $5 million will go a really long way to bringing tourism and major events to Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Federal Government pledged $1.5 million for the site to build an events and exhibition centre that could hold 400 people standing or 300 seated.<\/p>\n
The election commitment included upgrades to the equestrian centre on site to make it more accessible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE new Ballarat Showgrounds site has officially opened, and is set to host this year\u2019s Ballarat Show following a hiatus in 2024. The new showgrounds at Rose Hill Road, Mount Rowan includes a 28,000 square metre pavilion which is suitable for hosting agricultural and community events. The building has already been used for CraftAlive, the […]<\/p>\n