Wedding plans rescue old fire station

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 the station for almost 70 years, and new tenant Alyssa Strangwick said they’ll do their best to honour that legacy.

“We want to keep a lot of the charm because the building is really old but that’s also a positive thing for the venue itself,” she said.

“People love exposed beams and high ceilings and older features so we really want to nod to that in our planning.”

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.

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.

“It’s just a refresh so we’re not making any massive changes to the building,” Ms Strangwick said.

“The main space will have that Hampton essence with black and white and chandeliers, and the back building will be very Brunswick and arty.”

Ms Strangwick said the venue will be open before the end of the year, with plans to gift the Buninyong-Mount Helen CFA’s logo to them and invite them to tour the reburnished space.

With heritage often a contentious issue in the regions, Ms Strangwick said the plans have been warmly received by the community and surrounding businesses.

“We know particularly with the businesses, there’s so much crossover we’re able to bring to them,” she said.

“On the community end of things, the feedback has been overwhelmed with joy at the fact there’s a wedding venue locally.”