The past lives of 12 Ballarat buildings

The former grain house that's now a lavish distillery. The 19th century surgeon's quarters that's now a boutique hotel. The World War II gun cotton factory that's now a bespoke leather workshop.

Read on to find out the stories behind some of Ballarat's oldest and quirkiest buildings...

Drive Cafe

227 Grant St, Ballarat

Now: Neighbourhood cafe celebrating local produce.

Then: Corner service station.

Hydrant Food Hall

3 McKenzie St, Ballarat

Now: Family-friendly cafe tucked away down a CBD laneway.

Then: Fire sprinkler display room.

Eleanora

38A Doveton St Nth, Ballarat 

Now: Contemporary restaurant serving up beautiful, modern, seasonal food and top Australian wines.

Then: Coach house, tent repair shop and motor repair business.

Lydiard General

313 Lydiard St Nth, Ballarat

Now: Eclectic cafe with toasties named after nearby streets.

Then: General store (1900-1912), fruiterer, confectioner, newsagent and grocer.

Grainery Lane

35 Armstrong St Nth, Ballarat

Now: Lavish distillery and cocktail bar bringing back the glitz and glamour of the Ballarat's gold rush era.

Then: Historic grain house.

The Goods Shed

200 Lydiard St Nth, Ballarat

Now: Dining and entertainment hub next to the Ballarat Train Station that's home to multi-spirit distillery Itinerant Spirits, contemporary Australian restaurant Nolans plus the state-of-the-art Events Hall.

Then: Circa 1863 goods shed and key transport hub for goods bound for national and overseas export.

Hotel Vera

710 Sturt St, Ballarat

Now: Luxury hotel with seven personalised suites plus in-house intimate fine dining experience Babae.

Then: 19th century mansion and surgeon's quarters.

The Provincial Hotel

121 Lydiard St Nth, Ballarat

Now: Boutique hotel with uniquely curated rooms plus European-inspired restaurant Lola (named after spirited gold rush showgirl Lola Montez). 

Then: Circa 1909 railway hotel recognised by the National Trust.

Battista

3 Dawson St Sth, Ballarat

Now: Unique one-bedroom apartment that was featured on the ABC's Restoration Australia.

Then: 1860s Baptist church and later a restaurant and nightclub.

Ballarat Premier Apartments

2 Lyons St Sth, Ballarat

Now: Modern luxury apartments and suites.

Then: Constructed in 1901 by surgeon Dr William Cussen. Later gifted to the citizens of Ballarat in 1920 to assist with the "ongoing welfare of returned servicemen and women" (Ballarat RSL).

Wootten

Shed 1, 20 Elizabeth St, Delacombe

Now: Bespoke footwear and leather goods workshop and retail outlet.

Then: World War II gun cotton factory.

The Foundry

411 Mair St, Ballarat

Now: Bespoke homewares and clothing boutique.

Then: Circa 1855 foundry.