Selected elements of the former Latrobe Street saleyards have been identified as having local heritage significance.
These include:
- the 1909 administration building
- an area of sheep yards next to it
- the 1963 selling pavilion
Ballarat City Council voted at its November 27 Planning Special Committee meeting to seek authorisation from the State Government to prepare a Planning Scheme Amendment to apply a Heritage Overlay to these elements.
Public consultation will be required as part of the formal public exhibition stage.
In October 2018, the Ballarat Saleyards relocated to the Central Victorian Livestock Exchange at Miners Rest, with the Latrobe Street site’s future use now being considered as part of the Latrobe Street Saleyards Precinct Urban Renewal Plan.
Precinct design guidelines will also be created to ensure future developments incorporate heritage elements wherever possible.
The area outside the proposed Heritage Overlay will also be photographically recorded.
The Latrobe Street saleyards site comprises two parcels of Crown Land, which totals about 13.1 hectares, and which is managed by the City of Ballarat.
The site is historically significant because it was Victoria’s longest running corporation sale yards, built in 1863 and opening in February 1864.
The administration building is a substantially intact example of Federation design associated with saleyard operations, while the pavilion is Victoria’s sole remaining selling ring with intact theatre setting.
The sheep yards next to the pavilion includes bluestone and timber paving, ramps, fencing, early signage and sheltered walkways.
Two stages of community consultation have been undertaken on issues relating to the proposed Latrobe Street Saleyards Precinct Urban Renewal Plan, along with discussions with nearby businesses.
Talks have also been held with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning over a potential City of Ballarat acquisition of the site from the State Government and the potential removal of a caveat which currently restricts its use to saleyards only.
The Ballarat Strategy 2015 identifies the saleyards and surrounding area as an urban renewal area, while the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2017-2021 includes an objective to protect, maintain and enhance our built and natural assets.
