Discovering the history of Sebastopol
11/07/2022The history of one of Ballarat’s oldest suburbs will be retold for future generations thanks to the Victorian Government’s support to transform Sebastopol as a growth area for the city.
Volunteers from The Ballarat South Neighbourhood Centre will document Sebastopol’s history through a series of signs, articles and exhibitions.
The centre will form a working group to research and retell Sebastopol’s rich history as part of the $5 million Spotlight on Sebastopol program which is a 2018 election commitment.
Sebastopol is named after a battle in Ukraine during the Crimean War in 1855. Locals at the time likened the blasting of the goldmines underneath Ballarat to the guns at the siege of Sevastopol.
The ‘Discover Historic Sebastopol’ plan is one of four new projects to receive funding as part of the 2018 election commitment to improve the liveability of the suburb.
The project is a joint initiative between the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre and the City of Ballarat and will include engagement with Traditional Owners to bring the stories of Sebastopol to life for the next generation.
A working group will identify historic sites through stories and photos, which will be shared through a quarterly feature article in the Sebastopol community newsletter, brochures, interpretive signage at historic sites, posters, and exhibitions.
The Spotlight on Sebastopol program is supported by detailed community consultation, including a local community reference group that has helped lead the project’s design and guide investment.
Funding from the program will also support streetscape upgrades to Victoria and Albert Street to improve safety, an accessible bike path connection along Hertford Street to Albert Street and three public art murals.
The $5 million funding commitment is supporting 13 projects in Sebastopol including the Connecting Sebastopol project, the Yarrowee River Access project and upgrades to MR Power Park.
The Spotlight on Sebastopol program forms part of the Government’s record investment of almost $36 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2015. For more information, visit Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.