Commemorate and celebrate freedom and diversity
The battle of the Eureka Stockade on Sunday 3 December 1854 has become a powerful symbol of democracy and the spirit of freedom in Australia.
Every year, Ballarat commemorates the events of Eureka with a program of actvites with something for everyone, from talks and historical lectures to commemorative walks and dinners. Here is the program for the Eureka 157 celebrations to take place in November/December 2011.
THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER
7:30pm Annual Eureka Lecture
Mulkerans Theatre, ACU Acquinas Campus, 1220 Mair St Ballarat
Guest Speaker: Eureka Education Officers:- Bob Allan and Richard Patterson
Presented by the Eureka Stockade Memorial Association (ESMA).
Contact: Frank Williams on 0438 326 38 or 5332 6386
TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER
2:00pm Raising of the Eureka Flag
Bakery Hill flagpole, cnr Victoria and Humffray Sts
Symbolic start of Eureka Week, supported by Mayor Cr Craig Fletcher and students from St Alipius Primary School, recognising the raising of the Eureka flag at Bakery Hill on 29 November 1854.
Presented by the City of Ballarat.
Contact: Robert Allan, Eureka Education Coordinator on 5320 5189.
FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER
9am-12:30pm Eureka 157 Schools Event
Art Gallery of Ballarat, 40 Lydiard Street North
Year 5/6 students from local schools participate in a flag raising ceremony, a tour of the Gallery, a creative arts workshop and an opportunity to participate in the Eureka Enquiry role-play.
Refreshments will be provided.
Presented by the City of Ballarat. Contact: Robert Allan on 5320 5189
SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER
4am-10pm Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion
Eureka Stockade site, Bakery Hill, Town Hall, Old Cemetery, Art Gallery of Ballarat
A 12 hour commemorative event, which visits key locations from the Eureka story. BYO food and drink for breakfast and lunch.
Presented by the Anarchist Media Institute. www.anarchistmedia.org
Contact: Dr Joe Toscano on 0439 395 489 or 8508 9856
(24 hour messaging service) or anarchistage@yahoo.com
12 noon: Eureka Graves Ceremony
Ballarat Old Cemetery, cnr Macarthur and Drummond Streets
This annual commemoration includes the Peter Tobin Oration, with guest speaker Mayor Craig Fletcher.
Presented by the City of Ballarat.
Contact: Doug Sarah on 0409 791 888.
6:30pm Eureka 157 Pacing Cup
Bray Raceway, cnr Bell and Sutton Sts, Redan
Eight races for the night including the $8,000 Eureka 157 Cup with a trophy to the winning owner.
Adult $8, Child U18 Free, Pensioner/Concession $4.
Dining packages available.
Presented by the Ballarat Trotting Club.
Contact: Ballarat Trotting Club on 5335 9041
Bookings filling fast
7-10pm Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion Annual Dinner
Stockade Hotel, 152 Eureka Street, Ballarat
This inaugural dinner will feature guest speaker Clare Gervasoni speaking on ‘The Role Foreigners played in the Eureka Rebellion’.
Presented by the Anarchist Media Institute. www.anarchistmedia.org
Contact: Dr Joe Toscano on 0439 395 489 or 8508 9856 (24 hour messaging service) or anarchistage@yahoo.com
Bookings essential.
7pm for 7:30pm: Eureka’s Children’s Annual Dinner
The Annual Address & Award at the Celtic Club, Melbourne
Guest Speaker: Dr Richard O'Brien - Former Irish Ambassor to Australia.
Speaking on: Irish Contribution to the history & Development of Ballarat and the democratic ideals of Eureka.
Cost: $38.50 per head
Bookings Essential. Contact: Helen on 9670 6472.
Celtic Club: 316-320 Queen St, Melbourne
SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER
12 noon for 12:30pm: Eureka Sunday Luncheon
Old Colonists Club, Lydiard Street Nth
Guest speaker Katherine Armstrong - Managing Director of Lateral Propjects.
Consultants for the design & construction of the Austrlian Centre for Demonracy at Eureka
Cost $50 per head, drinks at bar prices.
RSVP by Saturday, 26 November. Presented by ESMA.
Contact: Frank Williams on 0438 326 384 ot 5332 6386.
EUREKA CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT
The Eureka Centre is currently closed, due to major redevelopment works being undertaken by the City of Ballarat in partnership with the State and Federal governments.
The result of these works will be the new Centre for Australian Democracy at Eureka, a state of the art education and community space that acknowledges the educational, historical and cultural importance and significance of the Eureka Stockade, within the context of our nation’s overall democratic history.
The proposed development will dramatically change the nature of the building from an inward-focused layout to one that embraces and engages the entire Eureka Stockade site, drawing the local community in and leading Centre visitors out into the site.
The redeveloped centre will also feature:
- a 135 seat theatrette with raked seating;
- expanded cafe and kitchen facilities with outdoor dining;
- a function/meeting room;
- expanded exhibition and display areas;
- expanded education indoor and outdoor spaces and facilities;
- improved access for all abilities;
- research facilities;
- a retail floor area; and
- an outdoor amphitheatre with stage.
Some of Australia’s best regarded museum and education specialists are involved in the project to ensure that visitors to the Centre have an experience that is authentic, unique, memorable and evolving.
The redeveloped Centre is expected to open in mid 2012. The Eureka Education Program will continue to operate from the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
OTHER EUREKA ACTIVITIES
Eureka Stockade site – Cnr Eureka and Rodier Sts.
The Eureka Centre is closed for redevelopment but visitors are free to browse through the heritage Stockade gardens and to explore the 1884 bluestone memorial and the Eureka Circle, which was commissioned as part of the Eureka 150 celebrations in 2004.
Art Gallery of Ballarat – 40 Lydiard St Nth.
The Gallery, home of the original Eureka Flag, is displaying a full-scale replica while the flag is being conserved. While at the Gallery you can explore one of the nation’s most significant regional art collections including a special Eureka display. www.artgalleryballarat.com.au.
Contact 5320 5858
Eureka Trails – The self-guiding Eureka Trails brochure identifies
historic Eureka sites and takes you on the paths to the Stockade of the diggers from Bakery Hill and the troopers from the Government Camp. Brochures are available from the Visitor Information Centre.
www.eurekaballarat.com Contact: 1800 44 66 33
Ballarat Old Cemetery – Cnr Macarthur and Drummond Sts.
Many of the Eureka dead were buried in a mass grave but in 1856 a memorial was erected to the fallen diggers and later local citizens and the Victorian Government decided to mark the soldiers’ graves. Explore the memorials and other old graves in this heritage cemetery.
www.eurekaballarat.com Contact 1800 44 66 33
For more information about visiting Ballarat go to visitballarat.com.au or phone 1800 44 66 33