News & Updates

Today marked a very exciting and long-awaited milestone for our community.

Inside the new building, treasured items from our past already have pride of place. The plaque from the opening of the original hall is displayed in the office, the library is in position, and the honour boards are hanging on the wall — all ready to welcome members to their new home in 2026.

At a special event presented by City of Ballarat Mayor and Delacombe Ward Councillor Tracey Hargreaves, the Vickers Street Community Hub was officially opened.

The event was attended by a wide range of distinguished guests and community representatives, including:

• The Honourable Catherine King MP, Federal Member for Ballarat and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
• Juliana Addison MP, Member for Wendouree, representing the Honourable Lizzie Blandthorn MP, Minister for Children
• Cr Des Hudson, Sebastopol Ward Councillor
• Evan King, CEO of the City of Ballarat
• Bev Lovett and members of the Sebastopol Senior Citizens Club
• Local community groups including the Sebastopol Men’s Shed, Sebastopol Girl Guides, Sebastopol & District Lions Club, and the CWA

In her address, Mayor Tracey Hargreaves spoke about the importance of shared community spaces, saying:

“I can’t wait to see people just enjoying these spaces and using them — all the collaboration, the young ones and the oldies coming together to absolutely enjoy this beautiful space.”

Welcome to Country

Rebecca Devlin, co-CEO of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, provided a Welcome to Country. She explained that bala’arat, as it is known in the Wadawurrung language, means “to rest on one elbow” — a meeting place where many mobs gathered to trade, conduct ceremony, yarn, and spend time together.

Rebecca reflected on how this history connects closely with the purpose of the new hub, saying:

“People from all different lands of different beliefs would find safe passage and rest here. Not dissimilar to what we hope this beautiful hub will be — a place where community can come, spend time together, enjoy hobbies, learn new skills and connect. The events of Sunday remind us of the need for community, for the importance of yarning with others, of spending time together, to break down barriers and to celebrate what unifies us, not our differences.”

She also explained that a Welcome to Country was a sacred promise that visitors would be safe on Wadawurrung Country. They would meet visitors at the borders and advise them which areas were safe, and where food and water could be found. In return, visitors promised to tread lightly while on Country, to care for Country, and to take only the resources they needed.

Government Funding

The Vickers Street Community Hub is the result of a strong partnership between all levels of government, with funding contributions of:

• $4.5 million from the Federal Government through the Investing in Our Communities Program
• $4.5 million from the State Government through the Building Blocks Capacity Program
• $1.9 million from the City of Ballarat

Bev Lovett, Secretary of the Sebastopol Community Centre, thanked all levels of government for their support and spoke of how much members are looking forward to using the new facilities after the Christmas break.

Catherine King MP acknowledged the importance of ensuring established suburbs continue to receive investment, noting that while new suburbs are constantly developing, older communities must not be left behind. She highlighted that this project supports seniors while also serving a broad range of local community organisations.

“The Sebastopol Senior Citizens have a well-deserved new home and Vickers Street has been transformed with the community hub now officially open.” she said.

Tracey Hargreaves said:

“We are extremely proud to deliver a facility like this that will strengthen the community and benefit people of all generations.”

Strengthening its role as a true community facility, the hub incorporates  two Maternal and Child Health consulting rooms, three kindergarten rooms, four meeting rooms for community use, a 150-person capacity hall and a community kitchen.

Sebastopol

Sebastopol has seen significant investment over the past decade, including upgrades to major intersections along Albert Street, new bike paths, the Spotlight on Sebastopol street tree program, improvements to Yarrowee Creek, and $8.4 million allocated for Marty Bush.

Juliana Addison MP paid special tribute to Councillor Des Hudson, describing him as “Sebastopol’s favourite son” and a lifelong champion of the community. She said:

“We’re here today because of people like you, and so many people who love Sebastopol. It’s in their DNA. It’s who they are, it’s who they identify with and this is a very great place for us to be.”

She also commended the innovative design by Centrum Architects and the work of AW Nicholson Construction, emphasising the importance of local projects being delivered by local businesses to support the regional economy.

The official opening concluded with the ribbon cutting — a cleverly designed long poster coloured by Girrabanya Children’s Centre — cut by Catherine King MP, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Vickers Street Community Hub.

View more details and photo on the City of Ballarat website.