THE SUNNY DAY THAT SAVED A SLICE OF HISTORY
Ballarat, a city built on gold and steeped in history, still holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. One such secret emerged in 2024 when a hidden relic from the past—the Sennitt’s ghost sign uncovered—was revealed in the heart of the city. This unexpected discovery provides a rare glimpse into Ballarat’s vibrant history and its evolving landscape.
A HIDDEN GEM AT 78 BRIDGE MALL
Nestled in the heart of Ballarat’s historic and newly developed Mall, 78 Bridge Mall has been home to a variety of traders, each leaving their mark on the streetscape over the decades. Since the early 20th century, this address has played a role in the evolution of local commerce, serving as a gathering place for generations of Ballarat residents.
Looking West down Bridge Street towards Sturt Street, Number 78 is visible albeit with a slightly different facade during the 1920’s
In 1904, G. Batchelor Stationers supplied reading and writing essentials, followed by Edgar E. Bartle’s grocery store in the 1920s. The 1930s saw Bains Smallgoods and Tea Rooms fill the space with the aroma of fine produce and warm conversation.
The mid-century introduced K. Curtain Dairy Produce in 1951 and the Ballarat Maypole Espresso in 1961, marking the start of the local café culture. The Savoy Coffee Lounge continued this trend in 1965.
Now, in 2025, Near East Kitchen takes up the mantle, bringing a modern culinary experience while honouring the legacy of those who came before.
This shopfront has seen over a century of change, but on one unexpectedly sunny day, a piece of its past re-emerged in the most remarkable way.
SOME VIEWS OF BRIDGE STREET OVER THE DECADES
Courtesy of: https://www.slv.vic.gov.au
A SUNSHINE-INSPIRED DISCOVERY
For days, Ballarat had been wrapped in its usual blanket of cool, overcast skies. But in early November 2024, the sun finally broke through, bathing the city in warmth. It was the kind of Ballarat day where you take advantage of the weather just a little longer for some much-needed light and fresh air.
For Oz, the owner of Woodside Food Co., it was the perfect opportunity to make progress on his latest venture, Near East Kitchen.
Armed with a ladder and a paint scraper, he started with the old window, three meters above the footpath, to prepare the shopfront for a fresh new sign. The glass had been painted inside and out and was rough with many layers of paint build-up over the years, so it would need to be scraped off for the new signage.
Had the weather continued like the previous few weeks, he would have started work inside instead. But the decision to take advantage of the sunshine and fresh air for this tedious job proved to be a moment of fate.
As he carefully stripped away layers of worn paint, something unexpected emerged beneath the glass. First were shapes, then letters and finally, a bear. Something far older than the layers he had just peeled away.
BRINGING THE PAST BACK TO LIGHT
Like a memory surfacing, this piece of Ballarat’s history finally revealed itself—a Sennitt’s ghost sign uncovered, an Ice Cream advertisement, hand-painted in reverse on the glass, probably around the time the Savoy Coffee Lounge opened its doors in 1965.
The Savoy had been a cornerstone of Ballarat’s café scene for decades, where conversations flowed over coffee and no doubt, plenty of Sennitt’s Ice Cream! But tough times had taken their toll. The pandemic lockdowns, followed shortly after by the redevelopment of Bridge Mall, created challenging trading conditions. Eventually, the Savoy, one of Ballarat’s longest-running and much-loved cafés, closed its doors forever.
Yet, hidden beneath decades of refurbished signs, its history remained—waiting for the right moment to be brought back into the light.
PRESERVING HISTORY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
The lost relic of Ballarat’s past was briefly visible once again. The operation of a new business in this heritage building has shifted the focus to its branding, just as previous businesses did. The sign has been carefully covered once more to protect it from the elements and preserve it for future generations.
Ultra-high-resolution photographs were taken to document the sign in stunning detail, allowing this hidden piece of Ballarat’s history to endure.
Acknowledging its historical significance, an acrylic print of the building and a smaller acrylic block showcasing the uncovered sign have been created. These pieces can be viewed at Near East Kitchen and serve as a lasting tribute to an important aspect of Ballarat’s heritage.
These images are now available to purchase as acrylic face-mounted prints, preserving the discovery in a form that can be enjoyed for generations.
What initially seemed like just another task on the never-ending to-do list of starting a new business turned into a significant historical discovery. It served as a reminder of the many layers of history concealed within the city’s buildings, often hiding in plain sight.
If Oz had decided to work indoors that day, this piece of Ballarat’s history would have turned into paint flakes vanishing forever without anyone being the wiser.
And all thanks to a rare sunny day in Ballarat.
