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 plating up all day breakfast and toasties.

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.

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).