2011
South Street celebrates 120 years of competition with the launch of an exhibition chronicling its many highlights at Sovereign Hill’s Gold Museum. Featuring a unique collection of historic items from the Royal South Street Society archives, the exhibition is seen by over 100,000 visitors.
Past winners and alumni become South Street Ambassadors including Amy Harris, Brooke Lockett, Jonathan Welch, Gemma Bromley and Anthony Callea.
2013
South Street showcases its extraordinary history at the Mining Exchange during Heritage Weekend.
Digitising of the Society’s archival collection to preserve its unique history begins under the auspices of the Historic Sub-Committee and images are gathered by Australian Geographic for a feature on Eisteddfods.
A report is released by Ballarat Regional Tourism showing the economic impact of South Street to the city is around $14.1 million. It’s impact on our young aspiring stars is incalculable.
2014
South Street establishes a Board of management to ensure the future of the Society as one of the nation’s most prestigious Eisteddfods.
The Commonwealth Bank agrees to support the 2014 Competitions.
2015
Girton Grammar’s Junior School Performance Choir wins the 2015 Royal South Street Eisteddfod.
“This year their performance has been lauded by internationally acclaimed opera star, Suzanne Johnston, and Douglas Heywood, OAM, as one of the finest children’s choirs they have heard in a very long time.”
Headmaster, Matthew Maruff.
Her Majesty’s Theatre celebrates 140 years, opening in 1875 as the Academy of Music. After re-modelling in 1898, the theatre was relaunched as her Majesty’s Theatre in recognition of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
The Graceful Girl Competition and the Herald Sun Aria both mark their 90th birthday.
Planning begins for Royal South Street 125 and Les Holloway and the Historical Committee begin work on 125 Years of South Street History.
2016
125 years of Pure Performance Gold events and activities commence. Our ‘Share Your Royal South Street Story’ project begins to capture the stories and triumphs of the thousands of people who have been involved in Royal South Street.
PPT becomes RSSS 125 naming rights sponsor.
The Royal South Street Society is announced the winner of the Special Events and Attractions Category as part of the 2016 Ballarat Business Excellence Awards.
The success of these competitions is really remarkable. It would seem as if Ballarat was the only city in the colonies where such competitions could live and flourish with continually increasing success. Competitors appear to come from all parts of the colony, which is a fact of considerable significance. If the secretary and committee of the South Street Debating Society only received adequate support to enable them to extend their scheme … the movement would soon bid fair to become one of national importance.
George Peake, Musical Adjudicator, Ballarat Courier, 8 Sept 1898.
2016 – Mi Sound
To celebrate our 125th anniversary, Royal South Street introduced Mi Sound as a new competition category.
Mi Sound has been designed for those studying VCE-VET Music Industry Skills programs and provides a genuine industry experience and opportunity to perform in a live venue, with feedback from well-known industry adjudicators.
The inaugral event was sponsored by Ballarat Region Tourism and held between September 5th-7th at the Miner’s Tavern. The intention was for this to become a permanent part of Royal South Street’s annual Eisteddfod program.
