30th Anniversary of the Opening of The Ballance House

On the 13th June 1991, The Ballance House, Glenavy was formally opened as a visitor attraction in the Lisburn council area. Thirty years hence, on 4 September 2021, a lovely Ulster sunny afternoon, the Ulster New Zealand Trust celebrated that Anniversary with volunteers, members and guests.

A major part of the day was the official re-opening of a newly developed Exhibition, ‘Half a World Away from Here, the New Zealand Story’. Designed and researched by Mr Brian Mackey, former Curator of the Irish Linen Centre Lisburn Museum, he explains that the Exhibition “presents a remarkably interesting and compelling story about Ulster people in New Zealand that deserves to be better known about and understood. It is hoped this new Exhibition will contribute to the Trust’s ambition to achieve that purpose by attracting and engaging new audiences at the Ballance House.

Anniversary Programme and Acknowledgement (opens as a pdf)

Congratulatory letters to the Ulster New Zealand Trust for the 30th Anniversary of the Opening of The Ballance House

Mr Paul Hewitt, Chairman of the Board of UNZT Directors at the podium

Shannon Austin, the NZ Deputy High Commissioner to the UK with Brian Mackey, Exhibition Designer

Shannon Austin, the NZ Deputy High Commissioner to the UK at the podium

Deputy High Commissioner opening the House with Jack Ballance Wallace, descendant of Premier John Ballance

Paul Hewitt, Shannon Austin, LCCC Mayor & Mayoress, Brian McKnight Patron UNZT, Jack Wallace

Shannon Austin, Paul Hewitt, Jack Wallace, LCCC Mayor Alderman Stephen Martin, Prof Sinclair Stockman NZ Hon Consul for NI

UNZT volunteers, from left: Olive Campbell, Maeve Campbell, Valerie Starrett, Sandra Dorman, Hilary Moore

LCCC Mayor Alderman Stephen Martin pictured with Shannon Austin, Freddie Hall UNZT and Mr Jack Ballance

30th Anniversary Event

30th Anniversary of the Opening of The Ballance House

ULSTER NEW ZEALAND TRUST AT THE BALLANCE HOUSE