1. Site of Ballarat's old haymarket (Doveton/Market/Armstrong/Mair block)

This has long been a public and central meeting place - situated at the junction of roads, and a few minutes from rail transport and Ballarat's key cultural and civic institutions.

2. The Civic Hall, 300 Mair St built 1953-1956

Multi-purpose venue, with monumental presence. Steel frame, local Selkirks bricks. Main Hall holds c. 1600, Site of many balls, concerts, events. Closed 2002, Various development plans since.

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3. Civic Hall foundation stone

The foundation stone to the left of the entrance records that the architects in association were Gordon Murphy (Melbourne theatre specialist) and HL & LJ Coburn (Ballarat father and son).

4. Statue of playwright William Shakespeare by Andor Meszaros

Statue added in 1960 depicts Shakespeare receiving applause after a performance. Hungarian visitor Karoly Nagy was so impressed he organised a replica for Budapest unveiled 2003.

5. Statue of Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott by Stanley Hammond

The Centenary of Gold celebrations in the early 1950s gave a renewed push to plans for a new Civic Hall so it is fitting that plinths of both Scott & Shakespeare statues record Gold Rush links.

6. Ginkgo trees planted by Sir Paul and Lady Hasluck 1972

The trees are of the ancient Ginkgo biloba species. One was moved, another replaced during 2017 landscaping works.

7. Lower Hall entrance, Doveton St

The architects made clever use of the fall of the ground to build the foyer of the Lower Hall under the stage of the Main Hall. The Lower Hall provided spaces to complement those of Main Hall.

8. View of fly tower, Doveton St

The tall tower like structure at the northern end of the hall is the Fly Tower. This is the part of the building designed to store and launch the sets for large scale theatrical productions.

9. Ballarat Library upper story offices, Market St

The relationship with the Civic Hall was considered during the design of the Ballarat Library built 1993-1994, The upper story offices echoes the brickwork of the Civic Hall.

10. Mural, Civic Hall/Library Car Park, off Market St

A colourful public art mural created on the back wall of the carpark. The mural was painted in 2013 by local youth working alongside professional artist Pauline O'Shannessy-Dowling.

11. View to railway precinct, cnr Market & Armstrong St

The proximity to the Provincial Hotel and Ballarat Railway Station beyond it is evident from this corner of the site.

12. GovHub development

The eastern side of the hall is earkmarked for a major government office building (GovHub) which will see the removal of much of the Lower Hall, the above ground carpark and 1990s skate park.

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13. Regent Cinema, Lydiard St Nth

The cinema's interior was rebuilt in 1943 to the design of Cowper, Murphy & Appleford after a major fire attributed to visiting American soldiers. In later years Murphy was co-architect Civic Hall

14. Mair to Sturt Block, Lydiard St Nth, east side

This block is now one of the most treasured in Ballarat encompassing Victorian era architectural gems. However records show that in the 1940s this was one precinct considered for the new civic hall.

15. Former offices of The Ballarat Courier, 24-26 Sturt St

Civic Hall architect HL Coburn was well known in Western Victoria for his commercial, residential and civic work. He remodelled the facade of this Victorian building in an art deco style in 1947.

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16. Site of Alfred Hall, Cnr Curtis & Grenville Sts, demolished 1956

Site of a predecessor of the Civic Hall, constructed in 1867 on the boundaries of East & West Ballarat for Ballarat's first royal visitor and formally closed on the day the Civic Hall opened.

17. Site of Coliseum, Little Bridge Street (vicinity Ballarat Senior Citizen's Centre)

Another very large hall (capacity up to 10,000) owned by the South Street Society and used for social & civic events. It burnt down in 1936 providing impetus for the building of a new public hall.

18. Former Patersons furniture store, 35-37 Sturt

This store for the Patersons' chain commissioned 1938 is another example of HL Coburn's commercial work. Deco features seen in this building include use of cement render, glass bricks, window eyebrows

19. Her Majesty's Theatre ("Her Maj"),17 Lydiard St South

Historic theatre first opened in 1875. The history of the Civic Hall intersected with that of "Her Maj" from 1990 - 2002 as the City of Ballarat combined management of the two facilities.

20. Ballarat Town Hall, 225 Sturt St

At one stage there were plans to extend the historic Ballarat Town Hall to accommodate a new Civic Hall. The eventual Civic Hall design was innovative in separating hall facilities/Council offices.

21. Block Arcade, 321 Sturt St

The Sturt Street entrance was remodelled by HL Coburn in 1937. Look up to the first floor to get the best view of this work, the stylised parapet and lettering.

22. State Government Offices, Cnr Mair & Doveton Streets

To the west of the Civic Hall is another public building - the State Government Offices opened in 1981 and known as "The Glass House" because of its distinctive glass curtain wall design.