THE former Buninyong fire station next to town hall is set to take on a new life as a wedding and functions venue.<\/p>\n
Since acquiring the lease in April, wedding venue Ivory Pavilion is looking to redevelop the building once a planning permit, currently with the City of Ballarat, is approved.<\/p>\n
Buninyong-Mount Helen CFA occupied the station for almost 70 years, and new tenant Alyssa Strangwick said they\u2019ll do their best to honour that legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to keep a lot of the charm because the building is really old but that\u2019s also a positive thing for the venue itself,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople love exposed beams and high ceilings and older features so we really want to nod to that in our planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a capacity to hold 80 to 100 people, the changes include replacing the concrete floor with floorboards, and converting the back kitchen partition into a bar service window.<\/p>\n
Other works include transforming the back offices into a multi-purpose green room, the addition of a kitchen and bridal suite, while the driveway will become a beer garden.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a refresh so we\u2019re not making any massive changes to the building,\u201d Ms Strangwick said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main space will have that Hampton essence with black and white and chandeliers, and the back building will be very Brunswick and arty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Strangwick said the venue will be open before the end of the year, with plans to gift the Buninyong-Mount Helen CFA\u2019s logo to them and invite them to tour the reburnished space.<\/p>\n
With heritage often a contentious issue in the regions, Ms Strangwick said the plans have been warmly received by the community and surrounding businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know particularly with the businesses, there\u2019s so much crossover we\u2019re able to bring to them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the community end of things, the feedback has been overwhelmed with joy at the fact there\u2019s a wedding venue locally.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE former Buninyong fire station next to town hall is set to take on a new life as a wedding and functions venue. Since acquiring the lease in April, wedding venue Ivory Pavilion is looking to redevelop the building once a planning permit, currently with the City of Ballarat, is approved. Buninyong-Mount Helen CFA occupied […]<\/p>\n