The home of Ballarat’s famed Eureka Flag was broken into overnight, with windows smashed and the gift shop sustaining damage.
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Police are currently investigating a break in at the Eureka Centre, which happened at 3.00am Saturday morning. The outside of the building was damaged, while the Eureka Pool next door was also vandalised.
In a statement, City of Ballarat CEO Justine Linley said the Eureka Flag and important stockade artifacts at the centre were not impacted.
“We take the protection of the Eureka Flag and all historic items that we are now the custodians of at the Eureka Centre very seriously,” she said.
Victoria Police have been in attendance overnight and again this morning and we’ve been able to confirm that none of the historic items are damaged or missing.
- City of Ballarat CEO Justine Linley
“CCTV footage at the site should give us some indication as to just what has occurred. It’s disappointing to see such blatant disrespect for important community assets.”
The Eureka Centre had reopened on Saturday afternoon.
Formerly know as the Museum for Australian Democracy at Eureka (MADE), the centre had faced months of uncertainty around its future, with City of Ballarat formally taking over the building during the Easter weekend.
In February, City of Ballarat’s council voted to disband the board and roll back funding for the centre, which was being subsidised $1 million per year by council. As a result of the change, the centre no longer has museum status.
Museum for Australian Democracy at Eureka chief executive officer Rebecca Macfarling told The Courier that two windows had been smashed.
She said historic Eureka Flag which remains onsite at the Eureka Centre was never under any threat, because of stringent security measures.
“You can break into the building but the flag remains safe, the security around the flag is strong with double doors, so there was never any risk on the flag,” Ms Macfarling said.