existence. In 2012, following a Lotterywest grant, local business South West Machining Centre and a team of volunteers and a Rail Heritage Consultant undertook its preservation works. The engine was completely disassembled and more than 550 volunteer hours were recorded. In February 2016 Ballarat was moved to its present site on the Busselton foreshore and the remaining work was carried out on it in situ. When the City of Busselton planned to have the old railway station repurposed as the Visitor Centre, it decided to include a verandah area for the engine. This then became an enclosed area and eventually a large enclosed room also used as an exhibition space and function venue. Restoration was completed in March 2017 and since that time Ballaarat has been on public display along with information, artefacts and images on the region’s timber industry. 2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the building of Busselton’s Ballaarat Steam Engine and the City of Busselton has plans to mark the milestone with a special exhibition in 2021 showcasing its history and stories surrounding its 150 years. Ballaarat as a live steam model The Ballaarat was modelled as a 5 gauge working live steam model, by Luker. The model runs on coal or anthracite and has a fully functioning steam boiler (2L capacity) which runs at 90Psi steam pressure. A construction series dedicated to describing the building of the Ballaarat model was featured in Model Engineer, aimed at the beginner who wants to get into the Model Engineering hobby. See also WAGR G class G233 Leschenault Lady References External links Busselton Individual locomotives of Australia Railway locomotives introduced in 1871 Ballaarat 0-4-0 locomotives 3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of Australia