Eureka Centre

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Kryal Castle

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Kryal Castle is set on the side of Mt Warrenheip just before Ballarat on the Western Freeway from Melbourne.

In front of the castle are 2 designated disabled parking bays. To the right of the bays is the main entrance which 6 steps leading to the drawbridge over the moat and the main entry. This entry is only suitable for ambulant visitors.

To the left, beyond the car park wall, are double gates that give level access to the castle grounds. These gates are available on request or by prior arrangement.

Once inside the grounds the surface is paved stone throughout. The surface is relatively smooth making it navigable by wheelchair users or visitors using mobility devices.

All buildings and exhibits have wide level doorways with good manoeuvering room internally. The one exception is the story of Kryal Castle exhibit that has a 150mm step onto the veranda in front of the door.

The Tournament Area has good accessible viewing around its perimeter. Only the lower level of the grandstand is accessible. It is accessed from the side opposite the entry gates.

Ramped access to the Ale House and the Village shop is from outside the Blacksmith workshop.

The Knights Tower and Throne Room, the Wizards Workroom, and the Dungeons and Torture Museum are all multi-level buildings. Only the ground floor of each of these buildings are accessible. Workshops are all conducted on the ground floor level.

The Maze is not accessible to wheelchair users due to the narrow pathways and the tight corners within the maze.

The Abbey Tavern, which is the main function room has level entry. Internally the layout is spacious and the venue has wheelchair access to the dance floor.

Two styles of accommodation are available at Kryal Castle: group style and suites. The group accommodation is serviced by communal bathroom facilities which include a fill roll-in shower and accessible toilet.

A portable shower chair is available. The group accommodation features and twin room with a queen bed and bunks. The entry is wide and level that is suitable for a school group or a family.

The suites do not feature an accessible bathroom but do have a wide double entry door and a wide door into the bathroom. The suites are large giving good manoeuvering room around the bed. There is space under the bed for a hoist. The access to the accommodation, at each end, is via a steep ramp.




Lake View Hotel

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The historic Lake View Hotel was opened in 1875 and is now a contemporary venue on the edge of Lake Wendouree. Entry is through the wide main door. Both the bar and Bistro area are spacious with room to move through both spaces easily. All of the tables have movable chairs giving a good choice of dining locations.

There is an accessible toilet facility with side and rear handrails and a padded backrest.

Alfresco dining is available on the footpath overlooking the lake. The outside area in front of the hotel is only accessible by stairs.

Mars Stadium

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Mars Stadium is Ballarat’s premium sports oval and is located at Wendouree. It has recently undergone a $15million upgrade to the western stand. The stadium adjoins the North Ballarat Sports Club. Designated disabled parking is available in the sports club car park.

There are a variety of seating options available to patrons with a disability. In front of the sports club is a raised section that caters for wheelchair patrons and single accompanying guest. There is a full row in front of those seats for other members of larger groups to sit together. Those seats are elevated and access is gained either through the sports club, with a ramp from the car park, or through the entry gate adjacent to the sports club and a ramp immediately to the right inside the gate.

Accessible toilets are available inside the gate and within the sports club. The portable “Marvaloo” adult changing facility will be permanently located inside the gate to service the stadium’s major events.

On the eastern side of the ground, in front of the grass hill is a series of ground level designed accessible seating locations. They are located between groups of four fixed seats and would suit family and groups of friends. These seats are open seating with no shelter from the weather or shade.

The new western stand has a series of designated disability seating locations that are raised with ramp access from the back of the stand. Each location has two companion seats. Disabled toilet facilities are available at the western stand.




Mitchell Harris Wine Bar Ballarat

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The Mitchell Harris Wine Bar is located at 38 Doveton Street. The wine bar has level access from the street and an accessible toilet at the rear of the main bar area. At the time of our visit, all of the furniture in the bar was “high top”. A new low table section is being added which will be more suitable to wheelchair users. The lower function area is accessed via the side lane or a set of stairs at the rear of the main bar. A new accessible toilet is planned for the lower function area. The curbside dining area is accessible.

Overwrought Gallery

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Overwrought Gallery is located on the Midland Highway in Blampied. Its garden art is a unique wrought iron metalwork collection, including unique gates, metal wall art, outdoor garden furniture and benches, laser cut privacy and garden screens, garden art and sculpture. It has both a garden and shop display area. Entry is through a wide doorway. The shop is well laid out with clear space throughout. The outdoor garden is flat and the paths are a fine hard-packed crushed rock. There is clear space between all of the exhibits. There is a toilet facility with a wide door and wide internal space. The toilet seat is 38cms high and there are no handrails. The toilet is a peninsula type.

There are picnic tables on the terrace outside the showroom and in the garden, with one open side allowing wheelchair users to sit forward facing at the tables.