Guided Tours of Historic Ballina Manor 

Historicly popular, this tour goes for half an hour and provides a wonderful insight into the life and transformations of Ballina Manor, it’s history and background. Throughout the tour your guide will take you back in time, explaining the significance of this Heritage Listed building and Norton Street, which are still a valuable part of Ballina’s historical charm. Together with stories of relevant personages, factors that were major influences in those early days and how Ballina Manor was saved from approved demolition, you will see the results of the meticulous restoration including exquisite period antiques.

Heritage Listed for future generations to enjoy, we welcome everyone to experience this truly rare and unique example of Ballina's History.

During the tour you will see

·                 The magnificent original College dining room, which dates from 1925.

·                 The internal & external architecture which at the time was the best available.

·                 The many period antiques throughout the building.

·                 The extensive photo display showing the transformations of Ballina Manor.

·                 The wooden two storey staircase.

·                 Any of the available 12 bedrooms.

·                 And much more.

“Motivational & inspiring ... a real journey into the history of Ballina Manor."

Historic Tours are a great activity for your conference delegates. If you are planning a conference, ask reception how you can include this in your event plan.

 Free Admission and Historical Brochures

Tour Starts: Every hour

Opening Times:  7 Days a week / 10:00am to 5:00pm (Including Public Holidays)

Address: 25 Norton Street, Ballina NSW 2478

Group Bookings and Refreshments Available.

 To Book a Guided Tour of Historic Ballina Manor contact Reception on: 02 66815888 or email info@ballinamanor.com.au   

Guided tours of Ballina Manor are a must when visiting Ballina. 

An insight into Ballina Manor's History

Following the First World War and with Ballina's population nearing 4000, the Methodist Church purchased land in Cherry Street and later in Crane Street, Ballina for the erection of a Church and Parsonage.

In 1921 Rev.F.McGowan wrote "*The most forward movement and one most urgently needed is the proposed establishment of a Girls College in Ballina. Plans were prepared for a late Edwardian building in Crane Street, Ballina, and a prospectus launched in 1923 when Rev.Hedley Parr, a man of dynamic personality, organised a concert party tour of the North Coast district for 3 months and solicited many for the venture".

Hence the dream of the North Coast Girls College was born and built in 1924/25. It was established on the site of the first Methodist church built in Ballina. (This building survives and was relocated to Cherry Street where the brick Methodist church was also established). It was officially opened by Mrs Earle Page, wife of the late Sir Earle Page (Federal Member of Parliament and the leader of the Country Party) on 16th September 1925. Little is recorded locally of the day-to-day history of the college. The college's own records, however suggests that its objectives were to;

"...combine facilities for the best education of Protestant girls, with the cultivation in them of graces of Christian character and womanhood. It will provide mental and moral equipment for life's larger duties. Whether of home, business, social or professional life, amid all the comforts and security of a home, where everything conduces to the real end of education, enlightenment, refined, true and worthy views of life, and of their duty to God, to themselves and to others".

The college's prospectus also provides important insights into the reasons the college was established in Ballina. This it seens had much to do with the learning environment of the locality than to service the needs of the immediate community. The prospectus clearly indicated the benefits of the school's seaside environment.

"The College is situated at Ballina, a rising town at the mouth of the Richmond River. Ballina is noted for its beautiful scenery and the mildness if its tempreture. Thousands of visitors come here each year to recuperate, and go away feeling that its climate has brought back health of mind and body".

The seaside climate, it was believed in this era, enhanced learning.

Despite its appeal to all "Protestant girls" locals did attend the college, as secondary education in the district was limited. Moreover, its establishment occured in a period of optimism following the end of the Great War, its solid architecture reflecting this as well "the latest ideas of college architecture".

"The rooms are lofty and well ventilated, and there is ample accommodation for sleeping out of doors. Electric light and hot and cold water services have been installed, and the sanitation is on the latest model".

Regretfully, the North Coast College only remained operational as a school until 1930. It is recorded that the, "school closed due to difficulties in administration". It has been later interpreted that these difficulties were due to the 1930's "great depression", that prohibited families from affording the luxury of a boarding (seaside) college education.

The building then became a guesthouse, known as the North Coast Guesthome. During and after the Second World War, its use changed to a boarding house and then later in the 1960's to flats.

A conversion in the 1970's saw a further reduction in grandeur when the building was converted to 16 flats with much use of gyprock and fibro and closing in of all verandahs. The name of "Sunnyhaven" was given to the building.

In 1999 the building was auctioned (on behalf of the estate of Mr Laundry) and Ballina Shire Council had given in principle approval for demolition of the building to enable the land to be used for new unit development.

However, it was not to be. The property was purchased by Jeff Champion (a former Mayor of Lismore) and his wife, Diana, who had a dream for the old North Coast Girls College. Ten months later, with much hard work, untold amounts of money and project managed by Jeff Champion himself, Ballina Manor became a reality.

On 4th March 2000, approximately 75 years after its original opening, Mr Don Page, State Member for Ballina, and grandson of the late Mrs Earle Page, officially opened Ballina Manor. In attendance were 6 of the original students from the North Coast Girls College (now in their late 80's), Mayors from Ballina and Lismore, 1920's cars from the Northern Rivers Car Club and some 1400 people who came to inspect the property.

The Manor building is an important historic building not only given its associated history as the Methodist Ladies College, but as a building it demonstrates aesthetic merit. Designed by architect Frederick J. Board, the building demonstrates features characteristic of his work. These include its predominate brick fabric, timber detailing and archway features.

It has been noted that Norton Street was Ballina's first, "main street" and thoroughfare, linking North Creek and the main arm of the Richmond River. This History is significant to its heritage significance, as are a number of important elements of the street today. Of the buildings along Norton Street some of its remaining historic timber houses are amongst the oldest on Ballina Island. All the historic timber houses remaining in Norton Street reflect its changing historic use, and, not least, are important axamples of north coast vernacular timber architecture.

The most well known of these is Brundah, currently listed on the State Heritage Register as an important example of north coast architecture / domestic housing.

Other significant buildings and features along Norton Street include Ballina Manor, its wide street and grass verges, Meldrum Park, the Norfolk Island pines and the palms that surround the Anglican Church. The Manor, as is discussed earlier, was established in 1925 as a Girl's College. The wide street setting established in response to the humid climate of the north coast, enabling the breeze to circulate the street and ventilate buildings. This innovation was adopted by the British as a result of its colonial experience in India. The street's grass verges clearly reflecting the era before curb and guttering and Meldrum Park bounds the area that housed the old wharf and where the river baths were located. THe majestic Norfolk Island pines are the product of an early street beautification project by Ballina Municipal Council following WW1.

Together these elements reflect Norton Street's late ninteenth century history as well as its earlier twentieth century history, which are significant to the history of the development of Ballina Township.

Ballina Manor was saved from approved demolition, then meticulously restored, furnished with exquisite antiques and Heritage Listed for future generations to enjoy. We welcome you to come and experience this truly rare and unique example of Ballina's History.

Guided Tours of Ballina Manor are a must when visiting Ballina.

We loved restoring Ballina Manor and we hope you enjoy your time here.

Kind regards,

Jeff and Diana Champion

*Re.One Hundred Years of Methodism Ballina Methodist Church

Information Sources;  

North Coast Girl's College, Interim Prospectus, Northern Star, 1925, BSC Records, courtesy of Ballina Manor.

Hall, Glen, The Port of Richmond River, Northern Star Print, 1983.

Jeans, The Open Air Museum: The Cultural Landscape, Allen & Unwin, 1980.

Murray, Cliff, Across Three Bridges, Northern Star Print, 1983.