Creswick Woolen Mills
Creswick Woolen Mills is an award-winning family owned spinning mill in Creswick. Visitors can take a tour through the mill, shop in the retail outlet and feed Alpacas in the adjacent farm area.
The entire mill building is flat on a concrete floor. All of the corridors on the mill tour are wide and easy to navigate. The displays are both written and visual with imagery telling the story of the mill and the spinning processes. The fonts are large and are in both English and Mandarin. The tour is also sensory involving touching the wool through its various stages of production. All of the displays are at 1 metre or less. Broad mesh fencing gives a good view of the equipment regardless of eye height.
The retail area is well laid out with multiple level displays. There are change rooms, however, none are large enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
An accessible toilet with side and rear grab rails and a padded backrest is located off the main entrance to the building.
A cafe is located in the retail area with ample space and movable furniture.
Outside is the animal feeding area providing an up close and personal interaction with the Alpacas. Ramps take a visitor down the pens which have a concrete access path.
Eureka Centre
The Eureka Centre is situated on the historic site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade and is surrounded by the scenic Eureka Stockade Memorial Gardens. It is the home of the original Eureka Flag.
There is designated accessible parking in the main car park opposite the centre. A gently sloping concrete path leads to the centre. Entry to the foyer is through a wide self-opening door.
A ramp just beyond the reception and gift leads to the lower level.
The centre has a 140 seat theatre. The rear of the theatre can be accessed from the upper level opposite reception. Inside there is a large area for wheelchair users. The lower level gives access to the front of the theatre. Four seats either side of the theatre in the front row are removable to allow for wheelchair seating, as well as a large flat area in front of the first row of seats. The theatre is equipped with hearing augmentation.
The displays are well laid out with generous circulation space throughout the museum. The surface is a hard short nap carpet. The displays are a combination of written photographic and interactive electronic. The Eureka Flag is housed in a darkened room with bench seating along the back wall.
The centre has a cafe. It has good circulation space and movable furniture. A second ramp leads back to the upper level and the rear of the gift shop. The gift shop also has good circulation space and merchandise displays within easy reach.
There is an accessible toilet on the upper level opposite reception. It has side and rear grab rails and a padded backrest. The basin has a lever mixer tap and a large mirror.
Comment: It is a long distance from the disabled parking to the front door. Future consideration should be given to create a closer parking space.
Fika Café Ballarat
Next to Mitchell Harris Wine Bar is the Fika Cafe specialising in Australian cuisine and coffee. The entrance is level and wide. There is ample room to access the counter and a choice of seating.
There is no accessible toilet available, the nearest being at the adjacent wine bar.
Golden City Hotel Ballarat
The Golden Hotel is an historic hotel/function centre in Sturt Street. The hotel has a bar, bistro and function area. Level access is via Sturt and Dawson Streets. All areas are well laid out with easy access and a wide choice of seating. Chairs are easily removed to suit wheelchair patrons. There is an accessible toilet off the bistro area with side and rear handrails, lever basin tap and a baby change table.
The outside dining area has open ended-tables suiting wheelchair patrons.
This venue would suit disability groups or disability sporting teams.
Hop Temple
Hop Temple is a craft beer and food hall located in the laneway behind the George Hotel which also runs through to Armstrong Street. The design is open and it can be entered either through the side door or when the double doors onto the lane are open directly from the lane. An accessible toilet is located on the side wall with side and rear bars and a padded backrest.
Hydrant Food Hall Ballarat
The Hydrant Food Hall is located at 3 McKenzie Street Ballarat. This unique venue is located in an old warehouse space and retains the character of the building. Inside it is well laid out with plenty of open space for manoeuvering. It has a children’s play space against the back wall. The furniture selection provides a wide choice of seating selection for wheelchair users and parents with prams.
The cafe has a new fully accessible bathroom with left-hand transfer, side and rear handrails and a padded backrest. The hand basin has a lever mixer tap.
The front door is electrically operated with push buttons inside and outside the building.
Access to the cafe along McKenzie Street is difficult due the state is disrepair of the sidewalk. The approach is also narrow with the clearance between the power poles and the building walls being 810mm. The roadway to the sidewalk requires the negotiation of a rough bluestone curb.
