The History of Ballarat's Victoria Park

 

Victoria Park: 

This expansive park, covering 130 hectares, is situated at the intersection of Sturt and Gillies Streets in Ballarat, Australia. Its layout has remained largely unchanged since its initial design and planting between 1890 and 1910. Originally, the land was considered a necessary public reserve, and in 1861, the Ballarat Council sought to specifically reserve it as a park. During that time, it was locally known as “Royal Park.”

Crown Grant: 
In 1888, the Crown Grant officially reserved the land as Victoria (Royal) Park, covering 325 acres. It was vested in the Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of the City of Ballaarat for the purpose of a public park and related facilities.

Mining Interests

 Despite its primary purpose as a public recreation facility, mining interests were also present within Victoria Park. Various companies explored gold within its boundaries, including the United Hand-in-Hand and Band of Hope Company. In 1866, they even sank a shaft within the park for gold exploration.

Mount Holled-Smith:

After 1898, the large mullock heap (a mound of mining debris) within Victoria Park became known locally as “Mount Holled-Smith.” It was named in honor of Major General Sir Charles Holled-Smith, the British commander of the Victorian Defence Force. During Easter 1898, Major General Holled-Smith supervised military exercises involving around 3000 men at Victoria Park, with one of the objectives being the defense of this mullock heap.

Tree-Lined Avenues: 

The streets within Victoria Park took their names from the 3,000 trees planted alongside the roadways on Arbor Day 1890. This ambitious plan transformed the barren former mining site into a graceful London-style park, with avenues named after different tree species: elm, plane, cedar, oak, and poplar.

Ballarat Cycling Club

Ballarat Cycling Club were originally based  just west of Mt Holled Smith in Victoria Park on a sealed track with raised banks (its remains are still there), while Sebastopol used a sealed track in what is now the Marty Busch Sports Complex, amid the mullock left over from the mines just west of where the concrete velodrome is today. What eventually brought the two clubs together was Victorian government policy.  Both clubs had shown interest in constructing new tracks.  Ballarat was seeking assistance to build a 400 meter track in Victoria Park, while Sebastopol was looking for help to build a new track in Sebastopol. Not unlike current-day government policy, the emphasis at the time was for a joined-up approach to funding, so to attract the necessary government investment for a velodrome in Ballarat, the clubs were told to form a single entity capable of managing cycling and conducting open-level races in Ballarat. From this the Ballarat Sebastopol Amateur Cycling Club emerged based in Sebastopol.

Road Racing Circuit: 

On January 1st, 1946, a road race meeting was announced, utilizing a 3.6-kilometer circuit that included the very fast tar-sealed Gillies Street. This street featured a 1-kilometer stretch that ended in a right-hand hairpin just before Sturt Street.

Victoria Park has hosted various events over the years.

1. Arbor Day Celebration (1890):

   • On May 23, 1890, citizens came together to plant over 3000 trees in Victoria Park, celebrating Victoria’s first Arbor Day. This event marked the park’s green legacy and its commitment to environmental conservation

2. Picnic in the Park (Australia Day):

   • Picnic in the Park is a community event that takes place at Victoria Park. It offers a relaxed afternoon of fun, entertainment, and great food.
   • The event features:
     • Market stalls
     • Kids’ activities
     • Entertainment
   • 
     

3. Inclusive Play Space:

   • Opened in 2016, the Inclusive Play Space within Victoria Park caters to people of all abilities.
   • Features include:
     • Double flying fox
     • Multiple swings
     • Slides
     • Carousel
     • Year-round passive/imaginative water play precinct
     • An adult changing place with hoist and table for toilet use
   • Approximately 140,000 people visit this play space annually, fostering community connectedness¹.

Whether it’s celebrating nature, enjoying picnics, or playing in the inclusive space, Victoria Park continues to be a vibrant hub for the Ballarat community! 🌳🌟

Victoria Park  has been a vibrant venue for various events, including Scout and Girl Guide Jamborees. The most recent one was:

1. Kani-Karrung Girl Guide Jamboree 2023:

• Held from 15th to 21st January 2023, this grand event took place right in our own backyard at Victoria Park, with over 1,400 Guides from all over Australia.
• Highlights:
• Streams for different age groups (10-13 and 14-17) offered tailored adventures.
• Expeditions allowed Guides aged 14-17 to choose their own overnight adventures.
• Evening programs included campfire, bush dance, and more.

• The 16th Australian Jamboree was also held in the park in 1992
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• SPILT MILK MUSIC FESTIVAL

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  The City of Ballarat is thrilled to welcome back Spilt Milk music festival once again in 2023. The one-day music festival will be held in Victoria Park for the third time on Saturday 2 December, once again transforming the area into a music lover’s paradise. More than 32,000 people attended the 2022 edition of the event. In 2022 the event contributed an estimated $5 million to the Ballarat economy, more than triple the average Saturday expenditure in the city.

Researched and compiled by Andrew Parker 2024