Ballarat Heritage weekend - May 9th

While in Ballarat for Mothers Day, we ventured up Lydiard street to the mining exchange to see what was on display. There were horse and carriage rides and vintage bus trips along Sturt Street and a small collection of vintage cars parked in front of the mining exchange. For a Sunday, the city centre was quite busy!

The mining exchange had an awesome display of antique bicycles (and tricycles) down the centre, with small booths representing different historical societies, geneaology resources and libraries from around the central highlands district. The bikes were each unique with amazing seats and hadlebars, breaking systems and bells.

Also at the mining exchange was a collection of very old, and now very expensive luggage by Louis Vuiton. In a time before luggage limits, metal detectors and frequesnt flyer points, there was some very, very nice cases. Some small, some large, all very carefully finished, stiched and studed. some trunks were like a wardrobe in a box, with suit hangers, shoe pockets and draws, to keep ones belongings in order whilst at sea. They're certainly much nicer (and undoubtedle heavier) than luggage of the 21st century. It's sad that the LV print has been cheapened by the tacky rip offs and (in my eyes) over use. Things are much nicer before they make it to mass production...

From there we wandered across the street to where the big band was playing on the balcony of the George Hotel. Upstairs was an exquisite display of lucite hangbags, each one different, once a prized possession of its owner, and still now, all these years later, in imaculate condition, some from as early as the turn of last century! There were too many to have a favourite, I guess even after generations, a girl can never have too many hand bags!

It's amazing to think that when this little treasures were hung from petite forearms, they held little more than a hankerchief and some lipstick. Unlike today where we carry half our lives around on our shoulders, phones, purses, diaries... it's no wonder there are so many neck and back problems in today's society.




From the George we headed back to the Town Hall were there were displays of antique postcards, displaying local houses, stores, churches and schools, some of which are still recognisable today. There were tourism brochures and campaign materials from post gold rush era but pre WWI, which I found quite amusing. There were even instructions on how to "see Ballaarat in 7 days" with directions on how to catch the trams to local attractions at the time. There was also an entire display based on the Chinese history of Ballarat from the Gold rush era, with some beautiful Chinese artifacts, that unfortunately I was unable to photograph. I was called "ma'am" by a teenage boy (not appreciated, made me feel INCREDIBLY old) how ever he is forgiven, only because he was in an air cadet unform and as such, knows no better. Here are the few pictures I did manage to take before being told off!

All in all a very cheap (all the exhibits we saw were free), and a very interesting day out. So much so I may need to mark this in to next years calendar!