BALLARAT SALEYARDS OFFICE (FORMER)

The former Ballarat Saleyards (Central Victorian Livestock Exchange), 1020 Latrobe Street, Delacombe, has significance as the longest running and one of the best known and largest Corporation Sale Yards in Victoria, having opened in 1864. Today, the site is reflective of several redevelopment programs resulting in extensive changes to the sheep and cattle pens and fencing and paving - initially between 1882 and 1886, and particularly in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Despite these 20 th Century developments the lineal arrangement of drafting and selling yards and pens are still reflective of 19th century practice.

Significant elements include:

Non-significant elements include:

The Ballarat Saleyards (former) is of local historic, representative, aesthetic, social and associative significance to the City of Ballarat.

The former Ballarat Saleyards, 1020 Latrobe Street, Delacombe, is historically significant as the longest running Corporation Sale Yards in Victoria. Built in 1863 having been laid out by Mr Baird, Town Clerk of the Ballarat Council, and constructed by Messrs. Flanagan and Brazenor (for the cattle yards) and Mr McKenzie (for the sheep pens), the yards were officially opened in February 1864. Since this time, the saleyards have become a regional and state focus for the buying and selling of cattle, sheep and pigs which has manifested in substantial redevelopment programs between 1882 and 1886, and particularly in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. (Criterion A)

The Administration Building, Selling Pavilion and areas of bluestone pitcher paving, and associated features are representative of the working arrangements necessary for overseeing and selling stock, which has largely remained unchanged since the early development of stockyards in Victoria. (Criterion D)

The Administration Building is aesthetically significant as a substantially intact example of Federation design associated with saleyards operations. The building is also one of the earliest, substantially built and more intact examples of saleyards Administration buildings in Victoria. (Criterion E)

The Ballarat Saleyards is socially significant as they are valued as a centre for agricultural business between farmers, stock agents and others associated with the livestock industry, a practice that continued on the site for almost 150 years. The saleyards also have associations with a range of 19th and 20th century stock and station agents in Ballarat, including Norman McLeod and Co., Hepburn and Leonard, Powers, Rutherford and Co., Ettorshank Eaglestone and Co., Crawford Dowling Pty Ltd., and Dugald Smith and Co. (Criterion G)

The saleyards have particular associations with William Brazenor (1832-1916), cattle yards inspector, architect and publican of the nearby Cattle Yards Hotel. Brazenor was responsible for the earliest construction of the cattle pens in 1863 and from this time he retained a longstanding association with the yards (this is now reflected in an adjacent street being named after him). One of his largest contracts as an architect was the redesign and re-erection of the cattle and sheep yards between 1882 and 1886, a consequence of the considerable demands on the yards and the laying out of a branch railway line for the yards (also to his design). With Samuel Valentine (an early cattle inspector of the Ballarat saleyards), Brazenor invented a sheep and merchandise railway wagon that appears to have been specifically designed for the redeveloped saleyards as well as for sheep and merchandise transportation throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. (Criteria H).