Ballarat

At Ballarat VRI we offer a range of services. In addition, your normal VRI Membership facilities include:

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• Large main hall
• Gymnasium 
• Billiards and Snooker tables and equipment for use
• Competitive Indoor Bias Bowls teams
• Social dancing in the main hall
• Casual / regular hall hire
• all the benefits of the VRI

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For details on how to become involved or hall hire, please email vri@vri.org.au

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Gymnasium

Messenger Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ballarat History

Ballarat Branch of the VRI was formed in 1916, with the main building opening in 1926, with the bottom or "Messenger Hall" opening in 1959.

The "Messenger Hall" was named after the Secretary Bert Messenger who served as Secretary for Ballarat from 1958 to 1967. The funding from the building came solely from the selling of tobacco and sweets from cupboards manned by Ballarat VRI members, installed at Ballarat North Railway Workshops. Of course you had to sell a lot of tobacco and sweets to have the  building erected, but should also remember that in those days all workers were members of the VRI and in excess of 800 workers worked at the shops so tobacco and sweets were very easy to get rid of.

 

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