A Place for the Kids

The Border theatre caters to all Ballarat locals and visitors in equal measure. With classical movies on Thursdays and two auditoriums for showing films, there is something for everyone. One of the most rewarding aspects of managing a small historical theatre in the heart of Ballarat is the joy that a morning out at the movies can bring. (Especially to the precious little children of the region). The thing about children at the movies is they love the entertainment but find it a little tricky to sit still for long periods. That’s why we called Landscaping Ballarat and created a brilliant outdoor area for all the little balls of energy that come to our theatre.

The outdoor area has always been here. It was first used as a break room for staff, then as a kind of neglected storage area, then as a smoking area in the 90s. When smoking was banned on the site entirely, it was officially out of uses and became an overgrown, muddy, no-go zone. It was effectively an eyesore. The decision to create an area for children to let off steam was an obvious one that had been staring us in the face for years. Each morning when the children’s films would show, what can only be described as a herd of little stamping feet would burst through the foyer. Tired parents would follow, desperately trying to stop these mini-tornadoes from breaking anything. The idea to give them a safe space to run around while the parents relax was a no-brainer.

One phone call to our landscapers and suddenly they were standing in the outdoor area, tape measure in one hand, a pictorial book of ideas in the other. It was decided that a simple space would be best. With guidance from the professionals, we decided to level out the area, lay down fresh green turf, remove any bricked edges that may cause injury, and place a lovely bench seat over to one side. The experience and knowledge that professional landscapers bring is priceless to the design phase. These guys and gals just know what would look great and be functional. Having their expertise made the whole process easy breezy.

When the landscaping team arrived to begin, it was a cathartic experience to see all the old rubbish removed. Old tables, plastic chairs from the 90s, neglected pot-plants, moss-covered pavers. It all went in one glorious day. The bare space was staggering. The area had never looked so big and open. The next day the turf was laid and the whole space came to life. It was a gorgeous, green, glowing area, and we couldn’t wait to see those first little feet frolic across the grass. The landscapers then created a small section of perfectly positioned pavers, surrounded by a small dividing line of white pebbles. The bench seat was installed on the pavers, and just like that, mums, dads, and grandparents had a place to rest.

Professional landscapers turned our dream into a reality. Now at around 11:15 any given morning, that outdoor area is teaming with life again. Young children breathe the fresh air and run all their energy out, while their grownups relax in the knowledge that nothing can be broken, and their little ones are safe. It has been one of the most popular features of our renovation thus far.