Crafts Council Ballarat

04/06/2026

📣 Please Note: Our annual exhibition will not be held over the King's Birthday weekend this year.

Visitors who have attended our annual exhibition over the King's Birthday weekend in previous years may notice something different this year.

Our much-loved annual exhibition has been moved from its traditional King's Birthday weekend date and will instead be held in September 2026.

This change follows a very busy period for The Craft Cottage, with our recent Creative Connections exhibition and the Begonia Festival occurring close together. Moving the exhibition to spring will give us more time to prepare and, we hope, allow more visitors to enjoy the exhibition in the warmer months.

We know many people look forward to the exhibition each year and we are excited about the opportunities a September event will bring.

The Craft Cottage will still be open over the King's Birthday long weekend, so please call in and browse our wonderful range of locally handmade work.

We'll share more details about the September exhibition in the coming months.

03/06/2026

🍂 Winter has arrived at The Craft Cottage 🍂

Our winter trading hours are now in effect.

❄️ Open Saturdays & Sundays
🕙 10am–4pm

We will also be open:
📅 Monday 8 June for the King's Birthday long weekend
📅 Thursday to Monday during the school holidays (28 June – 12 July)

If you're looking for locally handmade gifts, textiles, pottery, woodwork, jewellery and more, we'd love to see you.

The gardens are looking beautiful in their autumn colours, making winter a lovely time to visit.

📍 The Craft Cottage, Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Please share with friends and visitors who may be exploring Ballarat and the region this winter.

21/05/2026

Who was Adam Lindsay Gordon?

Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833–1870) was a poet, horseman and one of Australia’s most distinctive 19th-century literary figures — with strong historical connections to Ballarat.

Many locals walk past The Gordon building in Bath Lane without realising the connection with Adam Lindsay Gordon and Ballarat’s colonial history.

The Adam Lindsay Gordon Craft Cottage in the Gardens continues that connection — bringing together local heritage, creativity, and community in a peaceful historic setting.

“Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone;
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own.”
— Adam Lindsay Gordon, Ye Wearie Wayfarer

🔗 Read more of Gordon’s poetry:
https://gutenberg.net.au/pages/gordon.html

📍 Adam Lindsay Gordon Craft Cottage
🕰 Open Thursday–Monday, 10am–4pm

21/05/2026

Enjoying the Ballarat Heritage Festival this weekend? If you’re visiting the gardens, pop into the cottage and discover its connection to Adam Lindsay Gordon and Ballarat’s heritage.

10/05/2026

As Creative Connections comes to a close, we would like to thank everyone who visited the exhibition and supported the work of Ballarat Crafts Council members over the past month.

A special thank you to Chris Grant and Liz C***s for their work in organising the exhibition, and to all exhibitors and volunteers who helped bring it together.

It was wonderful to see such a diverse range of handmade work shared in the heart of Ballarat.

The Ballarat Crafts Council Craft Cottage at the Adam Lindsay Gordon Cottage will move to winter opening hours from the beginning of June and will be open on weekends until the end of August.

We will also be open:
• Monday 8 June for the King’s Birthday long weekend
• Daily from 29 June – 12 July during the school holidays (Thursday to Monday as usual)

Thank you again for your continued support of local makers and handmade work.

06/05/2026

Final week
Creative Connections continues at Art Space Ballarat for just a few more days, showcasing handmade work by members of the Ballarat Crafts Council.

As part of the inaugural Ballarat Craft and Design Week 2026, it’s a great time to explore the work of artists and makers across the city.

You’ll find us next door to the Ballarat Mining Exchange — why not visit both while you’re in the area.

📍 Art Space Ballarat
14 Lydiard St North, Ballarat
🕰 Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm

14/04/2026

As the weather turns more autumnal, it’s a lovely time to explore indoor spaces and discover something new.

Creative Connections continues at Art Space Ballarat, showcasing handmade work by members of the Ballarat Crafts Council across a wide range of craft forms.

📍 Art Space Ballarat
14 Lydiard St North, Ballarat
🕰 Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm

07/04/2026

Have you popped into Art Space to meet the Crafts Council Ballarat members exhibiting their work in 'Creative Connections' ?

The exhibition highlights not only individual craftsmanship, but the collective strength of a long-standing volunteer arts community. At its core, Creative Connections celebrates shared knowledge, collaboration and the enduring role of handmade practice within Ballarat’s cultural landscape.

A fantastic opportunity to learn more about the Crafts Council and discover the diversity of practice of their members.

02/04/2026

01/04/2026

Creative Connections is now open.

Visit Art Space Ballarat to explore a vibrant exhibition of handmade work by members of the Ballarat Crafts Council, featuring a wide range of craft forms including textiles, ceramics, timber, jewellery, prints and more.

While the building is currently undergoing some exterior renovations, we are very much open and welcoming visitors inside.

📍 Art Space Ballarat
14 Lydiard St North, Ballarat
🕰 Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm
Also Easter Monday 10am - 4pm

We look forward to seeing you.