Small places with fresh spaces for our tiniest communities
22/04/2026The Burrumbeet Soldiers Memorial Hall and Cardigan Village Reserve have new leases on life, ready for community members to make more memories at events and community gatherings.
Redevelopment of the hall and creation of the reserve’s playground were supported through our $20 million Tiny Towns Fund – which is making hundreds of regional Victoria’s smallest towns better places to live, work, stay and play.
They are among more than 100 community halls and dozens of playgrounds being upgraded or renovated through the fund.
The Burrumbeet Soldiers Memorial Hall has cut through the clutter in its meeting rooms by extending the existing building to boost storage capacity.
Catering to visitors of all ages and abilities, the hall now also has baby changerooms and is more accessible for visitors.
From weddings to community events, the hall has been an important community facility since 1935, when it was built to commemorate Australian soldiers who fought in the First World War.
Nearby in Cardigan Village, the town’s local reserve is now home to upgraded play equipment, park furniture, gathering areas, paths and a sensory garden, transforming the space for locals and visitors.
These upgrades have brought the reserve up to accessibility standards, making it a more welcoming place for families to gather and enjoy the outdoors.
The improvements followed community consultation between the City of Ballarat and locals to make the space more enjoyable.
Our Tiny Towns Fund is a part of our ongoing support for communities in regional and rural Victoria.
It has provided grants of between $5,000 and $50,000 to help regional communities connect, boost tourism and support local workers during project development.