The Ballarat Arts Centre (a converted pub), a new independent venture in North Shields, recently hosted a songwriter’s symposium which was a great success (according to all participants). Hopefully this will become a regular event – once a month maybe. The next one is on Friday 18th October (though I won’t be there, unfortunately, as we’re off to China that very day).

Ballarat, by the way, is an old Australian gold rush town about 65 miles North West of Melbourne (see pic above). The name is derived from the aborigine meaning ‘safe place’. It has an interesting history: The Eureka Rebellion began in Ballarat – the only armed rebellion in Australian history, the Battle of Eureka Stockade, which took place in 1854. In response to the event the first male suffrage in Australia was instituted – thus Eureka has been seen by some as the home of Australian democracy. The gold rush also gave rise to other cultural legacies – the rebellion’s flag has become a national symbol. Apart from an acclaimed botanical garden, large art gallery and many statues of notable prime ministers, Ballarat also has the longest running lyric theatre building, Her Majesty’s, built in 1875.

Why a pub in North Shields should be named after this place is not known (by the songwriters anyway) but maybe a former resident of Ballarat returned home and bought the place. In fact, several people have commented the pub had a pretty bad reputation years ago, being one of the nearest public houses to the ship yards. Now, however, its a really pleasant place to be – light and spacious. I wish them success.

For more information on this, please drop an email to karen@artofindustry.co.uk 

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