levels were exploited, and several mines worked at depths exceeding 600 metres. Ballaarat East municipality and township (1857-1921) After the creation of Ballaarat Municipality in 1855 and Ballaarat Road District (covering the surrounding rural area) in 1856 Ballarat East gained municipal government with the creation of Ballaarat East Municipality in 1857 (note that until 1994, local government names were spelled 'Ballaarat', whereas the urban settlement and place names have always been spelled 'Ballarat'). Ballaarat East Municipality was created as a result of the findings of the commission appointed in 1855 to investigate the grievances of the rebellious miners. In 1859 the newly formed Council acquired land in what was to become the Barkly Street civic area and on 26 December 1861 the foundation stone was laid for the Ballaarat East Town Hall, which was built in a Renaissance Revival architecture style and set in formal gardens. It was completed the following year, along with the Ballarat East Free Library next door and the Ballarat East Fire Station, a new headquarters for the fire brigade (formed in 1856) was erected a few years later, in 1864. East Ballaarat Municipal Council was redesignated as a borough in 1863 and proclaimed a Town in 1872, but was absorbed by Ballaarat City Council in 1921. Ballaarat City Council was in turn amalgamated in 1994 with Ballarat Shire, part of Bungaree Shire, part of Buninyong Shire, part of Grenville Shire, part of Ripon Shire and Sebastopol Borough to form Ballarat City (note the amended spelling of 'Ballarat' for the newly formed Council). Heritage infrastructure Remnants of the old town still remain, despite much destruction. In 1927 the Ballarat Teachers College moved to the old town hall, however during the great depression the building was mostly unused and was finally demolished in 1946. This was despite years of speculation of its use, finally being used as a girls' school. The gates to the hall's gardens still stand at 41 Barkly Street. Old Ballarat East Post Office, which opened on 1 December 1857, was replaced by the Bakery Hill office in 1992. The old post office building is situated at 21 Main Road. Old Ballarat East railway station was built in the 1860s shortly after Ballarat West's station, which still dominates the landscape. The old eastern station became an important junction for branch lines before it closed in the 1960s. Subsequently, the station and its platforms were