Visitors Book

'Mary Anne and Richard,
Thanks for the great three days we've spent in your house. We've really enjoyed Ballarat and have been very comfortable. Modern Masterpieces: wonderful! Sovereign Hill: fantastic! Botanical Gardens and Lake: just beautiful! Craigs Hotel High Tea: standout! You live in a lovely area which we intend to return to soon.'

'Toasty warm,cosy and welcoming. A haven. Thank you for all your thoughtful touches and good coffee.'
 
'Had a wonderful time. Loved the peace and quiet. We were never disturbed and after just two days feel recharged. Fantastic.'
 
'We loved the warm,cosy peaceful B & B. The bed was too comfortable to leave.
 Very highly recommended.   Thank you for a rewarding experience in Ballarat.'
 
'Beautiful little hideaway from the outside world.Who thought it would be possible
to relax with a two year old. Yummy soft bed. Thank you so much-we will be back.'
 
'Thank you Mary Anne and Richard-our second stay here-just as lovely as the first.'
 
'All too brief but a beautiful stay.  Charming attention to detail. A luxury step back in time.'
 
'Thank you Mary Anne -we had a lovely time at Silver Birch. Thank you for having the fire on when we arrived. We will recommend to our friends for a lovely overnight escape.'

Australian Modern Masterpieces

Wednesday, 5 October 2011 -Sunday, 27 November 2011, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Potter Gallery
Admission: Adult $12, Concession $8, Child and Student Free

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This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see 60 of the most important 20^th century Australian paintings including 40 works from collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It provides a unique insight into the history of Australian modern art from the 1920s to the 1970s, recognizing the extraordinary ability of Australian artists and the pivotal role they played in capturing the lives and moments of Australians in recent times.

It includes prominent pieces by Margaret Olley, Margaret Preston, Arthur Boyd, John Brack, Grace Cossington Smith, William Dobell, Donald Friend and Sidney Nolan, John Olsen and Brett Whiteley among others.

These works have been carefully chosen from the collection of the AGNSW to enable visitors to explore the work of certain artists in depth, while presenting overall a survey of what was happening in Australian art during a critical 75 year period of our country's history.

To complement the works on tour from Sydney are 20 paintings from the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat and one further work from the Newcastle Region Art Gallery.
The earliest work in the show was painted by a 23 year old Australian art student in 1915, the year of the military disaster at Gallipoli, considered by many to be the true birth of an Australian sense of nationhood.

The exhibition concludes with the work of men and women who were students during or just after the Second World War. Nearly all these artists have passed away within the last 25 years. Jeffrey Smart, Yvonne Audette and John Olsen excluded, the work displayed in this exhibition represents a recently closed chapter in Australian art.

Coming up in Ballarat

With many events coming up in Ballarat there's no better time than now to book in for a luxurious escape at The Silver Birch Bed & Breakfast!



Heritage Weekend
Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 May

This year, the Ballarat Heritage Weekend takes us back to the discoveries and inventions which shaped our future.Come and explore this year's feature collections located within some of our most significant heritage venues and learn the mystery of Australia's forgotten genius - Henry Sutton; an outstanding intellect from Ballarat who once shared the world stage of inventors with Thomas Edison.
Our heritage will come to life with a full program of collections, demonstrations, free guided tours and activities for people of all ages to see and do at this annual event.

For more information on upcoming events in Ballarat see: http://www.visitballarat.com.au/travel-info.aspx

Listing with The National Trust

We are very proud to share the news that the Silver Birch Bed & Breakfast, which is situated within our 1912 Edwardian home, has been listed as part of the National Trust Heritage Accomodation Registry (one of only two such locations in the Ballarat Region!) See this link for more information: http://www.nattrust.com.au/heritage_accommodation/central_victoria/silver_birch_ballarat

To celebrate, and link the past with today, we have included some historical photos of the house and surrounds which were passed on to us from the previous owners. We hope they bring to life the rich history of our home which you will experience when you come to stay!

Our Cottage Garden

Welcome to the Silver Birch Bed & Breakfast

Silver Birch B & B is situated in historic Soldiers Hill, a short distance from Ballarat's city centre. Charming, comfortable and inviting, our bed and breakfast is really a 'home away from home'.

Our accomodation is fully self-contained with it's own private entrance leading in from the garden. Once inside you will find a sumptuous queen size bed, large flat screen television, DVD and CD player, and a cosy gas fire. The second interconnecting bedroom contains two single antique cast iron beds, television and heater.

           You are invited to unwind in the deep claw foot bath or enjoy the double shower in the delightful ensuite. Full breakfast provisions, including bacon, free range country eggs, juice, cereal, freshly baked bread and an assortment of fruit preserves await you in your very own kitchenette. You may also enjoy a glass of wine or a freshly brewed coffee under the spreading silver birch whilst enjoying the burgeoning cottage garden surrounds.

  

                  We offer flexible check in and check out times, allowing you the chance to fully enjoy your stay, and enabling you to leave at your own leisure. We hope that 'little extras' we provide, such as the welcoming scent of fresh flowers, chocolates, and our collection of magazines, books, CD's and DVD's, will ensure that your stay with us is one to remember.

                      For booking enquiries please call Mary Anne on 5331 3907, or 0402 314 047. Alternatively email us at mafrancis30@hotmail.com.


                     We look forward to welcoming you as our guests.


                                               http://www.silverbirch-bb.com.au/