Fernery finery finds firm footing

WORK to replace a fernery at the Botanic Gardens is underway with foundations being laid for the Gothic style replica of a building that once stood at the site.

Located on Wendouree Parade at the northern edge of botanic gardens, Elizabeth Gilfillan, chair of spaces friends group said that seeing work on the replica fernery get underway was “very, very exciting.”

“It’s a beginning and we’ve been waiting a long time,” she said. “It’s a very important element of these gardens, a fundamental, original element.

“Once completed the building will enhance the space and bring the two ends of the Gardens together.”

The original fernery was constructed in the 1880, before being closed in 2013 and pulled down last year.

Ms Gilfillan said the replacement building would play many roles in the Gardens.

“It’s a show piece,” she said. “But it’s also an educational facility that tells a story. This is part of the story that was missing and now it’s coming back.”

The foundations are stage one of the reconstruction project and being undertaken by Resicare Builders with materials coming from Plinius Engineering and Whiteheads Timbers.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Ben Taylor said works were a long time coming.

“It’s been talked about for many, many years and it was number one in relation to priorities for the lake precinct,” he said.

“We know it’s had many construction timelines over many years. Really what’s exciting to see is that we’re now at the stage where we’re turning a sod and getting the fernery to happen.”

The first stage of the works are fully funded by the municipality, with stage two of the project dependent on the City a successful grant application.