Final designs released

We’re improving accessibility, safety and connectivity for all public transport users, while considering the heritage of Ballarat Station.

The final designs for the new accessible pedestrian overpass, lifts, stairs and upgraded northern entrance are now available.

Earlier this year we released the early concept designs for the project. Over 4 weeks, we asked the community to share their insights via our survey, receiving over 730 responses.

We heard that the community wants a more unique overpass design that better reflects the heritage of the station precinct. We also heard that less imposing block-shaped structures for the lift and stairwells would be preferred, and that the views in the heritage precinct are important to the community.

The final designs address this community feedback and similar feedback from Heritage Victoria and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect.

Construction will start in early 2025 and be complete in 2026.

Thank you to everyone who filled in the survey to help shape the final designs.

View the final design and register for an information session

Learn about how we’ve updated the overpass, lifts and stairwell designs in response to the range of feedback.

You can also ask a question and find out about upcoming community information sessions at our online engagement hub.

Visit Engage Victoria.

Our online engagement hub will be open for questions until 11.59pm, Monday 27 January 2025.

The architectural evolution of Ballarat Station

During our design review process, the team considered the 160-year evolution of the Ballarat Station precinct.

This began with the original 1860s building north of the rail line, followed by the addition of the clock tower and southern station building in 1889, then the building upgrades of 2003.

Most recently, the multideck car park opened in 2019 and the new bus interchange in 2021.

The additions over time have created an architectural tapestry of styles, materials, patterns, geometry and building methods at Ballarat Station, which the project team has integrated and celebrated in the final designs.

How you helped shape the final designs

In June 2024, we asked for your insights on some features of the concept designs via a community survey. Your feedback helped inform aspects of the final designs for the project.

Read the full engagement report.

The revised overpass design

The community told us they wanted a unique overpass design that better reflects the heritage of the station precinct, with the least possible impact on the views of the existing heritage buildings.

We’ve listened and we have:

• reduced the height of the overpass by half a metre
• created ‘belvedere’ balconies with glass balustrades in both lift landings
• changed the overpass materials and colour palette to include high-quality, perforated metallic silver-grey aluminium with undulating curves for the external cladding and warm mid-grey for the internal steel trusses.

Benefits of the revised design

The updated overpass designs are unique to Ballarat Station and provide:

• never-before-seen, elevated views of the clock tower and train hall from the overpass and ‘belvedere’ viewing areas. These views also enhance visual connectivity, safety and comfort for station users
• weather protection through the unique pattern of perforations in the overpass cladding material, with larger holes from eye level down for visibility and smaller holes in the upper sections that are more exposed to weather.
• resistance to discolouration from dust and dirt due to the changed colour palette
• an appropriate response to heritage place, with minimal 'bulk'

Celebrating heritage in the overpass design

The trusses (large metal beams that support bridges) reference the historic trusses in the train hall roof. Known as Pratt trusses, they combine vertical and diagonal geometry.

Reducing the height of the external cladding at the top of the overpass by half a metre minimises the visual impact of the overpass to better feature clock tower views when looking from the east and to show more sky when looking from inside the train hall.

The undulating curves of the overpass cladding reference the heritage ironwork around the station platform canopies.

The updated northern station entrance

The northern station entrance design responds to community feedback, accessibility and heritage considerations.

The revised design features:

• bluestone tiles on the new stairs in reference to the nearby historic bluestone garden beds and other bluestone in the station precinct
• a newly designed automatic swing door made of wood with glass sections, creating a heritage look and symmetry with nearby heritage doors
• the landscaping selected by the community, a mix of native ground level plants and native ground flowering plants.

The revised northern stairwell and lift shaft design

The community told us they would like the design to look less modern and have less of a block-shaped form. Some people said they thought the white colour was too stark.

We’ve listened and we have:

• opened up the stairwell and reduced the size of the lift shaft
• revised the colour scheme, replacing bright white with a combination of warm mid-grey and soft off-white
• updated the landscaping to combine native ground level plants and native ground flowering plants.

Benefits of the revised design

The open stairwell demonstrates safety and heritage considerations working together, and:

• provides enhanced visual connectivity across the precinct
• reduces the mass of the structure and breaks up the block form
• has generous roof canopies to provide sun and rain protection.

The lift shaft:

• has been reduced by half a metre in height and almost 1m in depth, minimising the visual impact of the lift shaft while maintaining the required lift dimensions
• provides new views of the precinct from the lift from a floor to ceiling glass panel on the bus interchange side and glass sections on the platform side.

Celebrating heritage in the stairwell design

Outriggers are structures that support the stairwell roof canopies.

Our outrigger design references the heritage architecture of the metal and wood supports of the platform canopies and ceilings inside the station.

The vertical balustrade rails are a contemporary take on the existing balustrades of the heritage pedestrian overpass inside the train hall.

Heritage Victoria

The station precinct is included in the Victorian Heritage Register and the Ballarat Station Upgrade works are subject to approval by Heritage Victoria.

Heritage Victoria supports the need for Ballarat Station users to have equitable access in the station and for the project design to achieve compliance under the relevant accessibility legislation.

On 20 September 2024, Heritage Victoria issued the Ballarat Station Upgrade project a permit with conditions. These conditions included a required revision to the design of the overpass, lift and stairs to respond more appropriately to the heritage values of the station and reduce physical and visual impacts.

Heritage Victoria requested better integration between engineering and architecture to ensure the new overpass provides a sympathetic and contemporary addition to the station.

Our team has worked closely with Heritage Victoria and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect to revise the designs to meet the conditions. Heritage Victoria has endorsed the revised final designs and formally closed the design permit conditions.

Project benefits

The accessible pedestrian overpass, lifts, stairs and improved access at the northern entrance provide a range of benefits:

• improved accessibility for people with disability and those with luggage or a pram
• no reduction in usable space on the station platforms
• improved connectivity between the station platforms and other destinations in the station precinct
• improved lighting on some areas of the platforms
• limited impacts to existing heritage-listed station structures
• improved station navigation for people who are blind or have low vision
• unique designs that complement the existing architecture and heritage value of the station and provide never-before-seen views of the precinct for the community to enjoy
• complements other recent investment and upgrades to the Ballarat Station precinct
• minimal disruption to commuters and nearby businesses during construction due to off-site construction of the overpass and lifts
• avoids major service relocation and disruption to utilities, signalling and telecommunications equipment.

Accessibility and safety features

Accessibility and safety considerations remain at the core of the Ballarat Station Upgrade.

Our team has further collaborated with accessibility experts at V/Line and the Department of Transport and Planning. This work is focused on ensuring the project designs meet accessibility guidelines and legislation in areas such as lighting, pathways and queuing areas.

Several accessibility and safety features have been improved in the final design including:

• windows in the lift doors and back wall allow people to see in and out of the lift, so they always know where it is. The glass has been positioned so people in a wheelchair or on a mobility scooter can also see in and out
• people waiting for the lift on the belvedere viewing areas can see and be seen from the station platforms and the bus interchange
• an increase in the size of the buttons and the braille on the lift panels, and improved signage that is bigger and easier to read
• improved visibility of tactile installations around the lift, stairs and upgraded northern entrance. These changes are the result of a study undertaken to ensure high levels of contrast on the floor, with no shadows or patterns.

Getting ready for construction

We’re starting site establishment and early works in January 2025 to ensure we meet the construction milestones for this important accessibility upgrade.

Site establishment mid January 2025

We’ll set up our fenced site offices, workforce parking and laydown area at Ebden Street Reserve.

At Ballarat Station, we’ll fence off our project works areas to ensure the safety of the community and our crews.

Early works late January 2025

We’ll close some on-street parking in Lydiard Street North to make way for the temporary relocation of bus bays from the interchange at the station. Local Ballarat bus network operations will move into Lydiard Street North until construction is complete in 2026.

Major construction will start soon after these preliminary works are complete.

Support the station precinct traders during construction

The businesses in the Ballarat Station precinct and surrounding streets will be operating as usual during construction, with no changes to their access. The project team will work closely with local businesses through construction.

Timeline

2023

• Site investigations and planning works

Mid 2024

• Concept designs released
• Community engagement

Late 2024

• Final designs released
• Further community engagement

2025

• Major construction

2026

• Pedestrian overpass opens
• Major construction complete

* Timeline subject to change.