It is hard to believe that Christmas is upon us again. Where did the year go? This blog post will take us back to Christmas in Ballarat in 1901; a significant year in the history of Australia.
The year opened with the federation of Australia’s states on 1 January, with Edmund Barton becoming Australia’s first Prime Minister. This was soon followed by the death of Queen Victoria on 22 January. Australians were also still serving in the Boer War in South Africa, including many who had enlisted from Ballarat and surrounding districts. Ending this momentous year, Christmas 1901 was an opportunity for the Ballarat community to celebrate and reflect on the passing year and embrace the promise of the new century.
The Ballarat Star reported that Christmas Day in Ballarat “…on the whole was observed in the spirit in which it was handed down to us and services were held in all the churches”. (1) It was reported that Catholic services at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Alipius Church in Ballarat East, and churches of other Christian religious denominations, attracted large attendances at their Christmas services. (2)
As remains the tradition followed by many people today, Christmas Day in 1901 was a day for family gatherings, opening presents and catching up with friends. Christmas lunch usually consisted of a hot meal of pork, lamb or beef with trimmings followed by plum pudding where children had to find a coin that had been inserted into the pudding. (3)
After the formalities of Christmas Day, Boxing Day was the day for relaxation, with picnicking proving especially popular. As The Ballarat Star informs us, “…picnic parties were in evidence in every direction with vehicles making their way out to Burrumbeet, Buninyong, Gong Gong, Learmonth, Lal Lal and all the other picnic grounds. Lake Wendouree was visited by an enormous crowd, and the tram car services was insufficient to accommodate the number of passengers”. (4)
At the Ballarat East Gardens large crowds gathered over the Christmas period to view the splendid flower arrangements created by the Curator of the grounds, Mr. J. Edwards. (5)
The reason picnics were so popular during the time was that before 1935 Australian workers did not enjoy the benefit of Annual Leave. Workers only received single public holidays, consequently at Christmas time, most Ballarat citizens did not travel far for their holiday. (6)
There were also special events held on Boxing Day. The Ballarat Cricket Club put on a program of well attended cycling races. (7) The Buninyong Turf Club and the Miners Turf Club presented race meetings on Boxing Day, too. The Ballarat Courier reported that the Miners Turf Club race meeting held at its Redan course was a huge success, with many people in attendance including a large number of visitors from Melbourne. (8)
Many businesses decorated their window displays to mark the festive season. Prominent displays were presented by John Snow’s department store, which was in the building now occupied by Myer. Other businesses included Frasers photo studio and Florists Kingsbury and Co, which, according to the Ballarat Star, all had a viewing. Kingsbury's in Armstrong Street were noted for their window displays at Christmas. (9)
The Ballarat Star reported that holidaymakers were fortunate with the weather conditions they experienced on Boxing Day 1901. It was extremely warm with the temperature reaching 34 degrees. Cooler conditions prevailed in the evening, which brought many people onto the streets for walks and to look at the window displays. (10)
Christmas in Ballarat 1901 was a simple time which offered events and attractions which people responded to. But going on a picnic seemed to be what most people in 1901 enjoyed doing for their Christmas holiday.
On behalf of the staff at BRHAE and the Eureka Centre I would like to wish everyone season's greetings and that 2025 is a year filled with much successful research.
Simon Jacks
Australiana Research Librarian
Footnotes
(1) The Ballarat Star 27 December 1901. P.2
(2) The Ballarat Star 27 December 1901. P.5
(3) Doug Bradby, 'Merry Christmas from Historic Ballarat', Seriously History Press, Ballarat, Victoria, 2023.
(4) The Ballarat Star 27 December 1901. P.2
(5) The Ballarat Star 24 December 1901. P.6
(6) Bradby
(7) The Ballarat Star 24 December1901. P. 6
(8) The Ballarat Courier 28 December 1901. P.2
(9) The Ballarat Star 20 December 1901. P. 3
(10) The Ballarat Star 27 December 1901. P.2
Online sources:
Christmas Eve in Ballarat 1901. Ballarat Star 25 December 1901. P.6
25 Dec 1901 - CHRISTMAS EVE. - Trove
Christmas activities at John Snow and Co Ballarat Star 20 December 1901.p.3
20 Dec 1901 - CHRISTMAS ATTRACTIONS. - Trove
Boxing Day at the Lake and Gardens. Ballarat Star 27 December 1901. P.1
27 Dec 1901 - THE LAKE AND GARDENS - Trove
