▁The ▁first ▁Mechan ics ' ▁Institute ▁in ▁Ball an ▁was ▁built ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 1 , ▁with ▁the ▁current ▁Mechan ics ' ▁Institute ▁built ▁on ▁land ▁purchased ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 1 , ▁although ▁the ▁fa ç ade ▁was ▁demol ished ▁and ▁re built ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 2 . ▁The ▁building ▁houses ▁the ▁library ▁for ▁the ▁town ▁and ▁a ▁hall . ▁ ▁St ▁Paul ’ s ▁Pres by ter ian ▁Church ▁in ▁Ball an ▁was ▁officially ▁opened ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 8 6 6 . ▁ ▁Ball an ▁Mag istr ates ' ▁Court ▁closed ▁on ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 5 ▁November ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁a ▁Spr inter ▁train ▁trav elling ▁to ▁Ball ar at ▁was ▁der a iled ▁between ▁Ball an ▁and ▁Gordon , ▁inj uring ▁ 6 1 ▁people ▁when ▁it ▁hit ▁a ▁station ary ▁vehicle ▁on ▁a ▁country ▁railway ▁crossing . ▁ ▁Health ▁service ▁▁ ▁Ball an ▁District ▁Health ▁& ▁Care : ▁Loc ated ▁at ▁ 3 3 ▁C owie ▁Street , ▁Ball an ▁District ▁Health ▁& ▁Care ▁is ▁a ▁community - owned , ▁registered ▁char ity , ▁with ▁ 1 7 0 + ▁staff ▁members ▁and ▁ 7 0 + ▁volunte ers , ▁providing ▁health care ▁and ▁well be ing ▁services ▁for ▁Ball an ▁and ▁surrounding ▁districts . ▁ ▁Transport ▁The ▁Western ▁Fre ew ay ▁by pass es ▁the ▁town , ▁but ▁is ▁located ▁nearby ▁and ▁connect s ▁Ball an ▁to ▁Melbourne ▁in