The history of one of Ballarat’s oldest suburbs will be retold for future generations thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s $5million election commitment to transform Sebastopol as a growth area for the city. 

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle visited the Ballarat South Neighbourhood Centre where volunteers will document Sebastopol’s history through a series of signs, articles, and exhibitions. 

Sebastopol is named after a battle in Ukraine during the Crimean War in 1855. Locals at the time likened the blasting of the goldmines underneath Ballarat to the guns at the siege of Sebastopol. 

The ‘Discover Historic Sebastopol’ plan is one of four new projects to receive funding as part of the election commitment to improve the liveability of the suburb. 

The project is a joint initiative between the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre and the City of Ballarat and will include engagement with Traditional Owners to bring the stories of Sebastopol to life for the next generation. 

A working group will look at historic sites through stories and photos, which will be shared through a quarterly feature article in the Sebastopol community newsletter as well as brochures, posters, and exhibitions. 

The Spotlight on Sebastopol program is supported by community consultation, including a local community reference group that has helped lead the project’s design.

Funding from the program will also support streetscape upgrades to Victoria and Albert Street to improve safety, as well as an accessible bike path connection along Hertford Street to Albert Street and three public art murals.

The $5 million program is supporting 13 projects in Sebastopol including the Connecting Sebastopol project, the Yarrowee River Access project, and upgrades to MR Power Park.

The Spotlight on Sebastopol program forms part of the Government’s investment of more than $36 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2015. Find out more visit rdv.vic.gov.au/rjif.

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“This is an incredible project for Sebastopol and I’m excited to see how the story of this town can be shared for generations to come.”

“The Spotlight on Sebastopol program is one of our election commitments and I look forward to seeing how this new stage of the project will improve liveability and history of the much-loved suburb.”