Bricks that have stood on Scott Parade since 1935 are lined up for a second life, this time in a new apartment and commercial development on Haymes Paint’s former factory site in Ballarat East.
Haymes Paint holds a planning permit for a mixed-use redevelopment across the block bounded by Davies Street, Scott Parade, Peel Street North, and Ebden Street. The permit covers 63 apartments and townhouses, commercial spaces, and a rooftop gym. The company has lodged an application with the City of Ballarat to amend that permit, with a key change focused on reuse of the site’s existing masonry.
According to Haymes Paint director Matt Haymes, the amended application proposes removing the former factory’s brick walls and reusing the bricks in construction on the same site. Notes added to the architectural plans state that currently retained brick walls are rebuilt to the same profile using salvaged bricks where possible, or closely matching bricks.
For mason contractors, that type of requirement turns salvage into a scope item, not a feel-good add-on. It puts crew time and sequencing on the front end, including careful dismantling, sorting, and staging so brick stays clean and usable. It also raises the bar on mockups and profile control, since the drawings call for rebuilt walls that match what exists today.
The 6,550-square-metre site spans 18 separate titles and sits near Ballarat Train Station and Eastern Oval. Plans describe a four-storey project with ground-floor commercial tenancies along Scott Parade and part of Davies Street, additional commercial space at first-floor level along Davies Street, and apartments overlooking Ebden Street, Peel Street North, and Scott Parade. Public open space, including a playspace, outdoor dining, and recreation areas, is shown on the first floor at the center of the development, along with 131 car parks for residents and staff.
Plans for the redevelopment first surfaced in 2018 with a $35.7 million price tag. Haymes Paint celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2025 and recently opened a new $25 million manufacturing plant and research and development hub, The David Haymes Centre of Excellence.
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