Local Attractions
Take a trip to Ballarat in Victoria's Goldfields and discover rich history and heritage and a friendly, cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Ballarat is Victoria's largest inland city and is famous as the site of the world's largest deposit of alluvial gold. The legacy of the gold rush is evident in the majestic architecture and wide tree-lined streets of the town today. Admire the city's Victorian and Edwardian architecture, parks, gardens, statues and churches by following the visitor information centre's self-guided Heritage Walk.
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Attractions
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Dining and Eating Out (1)
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Golden City Hotel - Ballarat The Golden City Hotel was built in 1856 and originally named the Adelphi Hotel. Since its first opening the hotel has seen many changes including the transformation to a cafe-bar in December 1996.
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Entertainment (1)
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Her Majesty's Theatre Her Majesty's is one of Australia's most historic theatres, and one of the busiest performing arts centres in regional Victoria. It opened in 1875 and is the oldest purpose-built theatre building in Australia to have been continuously used as a live theatre venue. The building is a fascinating mix of old and new, with a beautifully renovated 959 seat, double-balconied auditorium which offers both comfort and elegance, while boasting state of the art lighting, sound and safety equipment.
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Galleries, Museums and Collections (3)
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Art Gallery of Ballarat The Art Gallery of Ballarat is Australia's oldest regional gallery with a remarkably comprehensive collection of Australian art.
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Blood on the Southern Cross The Eureka Stockade of 1854 was a defining moment in the development of democracy in Australia.
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Gold Museum The Gold Museum extends Sovereign Hill's story of Ballarat - a majestic provincial city built on the wealth derived from the great Australian goldrushes of the 1850s.
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Historical Sites and Heritage Locations (2)
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Sovereign Hill Step back in time and experience Australia's exciting goldrush days at Sovereign Hill. Set on a former goldmining site, this award winning outdoor museum recreates in fascinating detail the hustle and bustle of life in the 1850s. There is so much to do and see.
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The Eureka Centre and Stockade Gardens At the beautifully designed Eureka Centre commemorating the events of the 1854 Eureka Stockade, visitors can experience the tensions and the drama of December 1854 when Ballarat's diggers took up arms against a corrupt and unjust goldfields administration. After years of oppression, the bloody battle that followed led to the birth of true democracy in Australia.
Events
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Exhibitions and Shows (3)
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9th Annual Scale Modelling Exhibition & Swap'N'Sell The Modellers Of Ballarat will be holding their 9th Annual Scale Modelling Exhibition incorporating a Swap'N'Sell at a larger venue, the Caro Convention Centre, at the University of Ballarat, University Drive, Mt Helen Campus, Ballarat on Sunday 18th April 2010.
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Ballarat Brides Ballarat Brides brings wedding suppliers from all over Western Victoria together under one roof for the benefit of brides planning their wedding day.
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Queen - the Unseen Archive This world first exhibition will be staged exclusively in Australia at the Art Gallery of Ballarat in association with Proud Galleries London and will be a celebration of the life of Freddie Mercury and one of the greatest rock bands in history, Queen.
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Festivals and Celebrations (3)
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Ballarat International Foto Biennale The Ballarat Foto Biennale [BIFB] which grew out of two similar events as the Daylesford Foto Biennale in 2005 and 2007, will again present a huge program of photographic events over multiple venues throughout Ballarat in 2011.
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Royal South Street Competitions The Grand National Eisteddfod is the largest and longest running in Australasia. Featuring over 10,000 competitors annually in sixteen different disciplines of performing arts which expand across the categories of music, dance, speech, calisthenics and drama.
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Taste, Ballarat Food & Wine Expo A fabulous event showcasing the wonderful array of gourmet food & wine from the Goldfields and across central Victoria.
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Markets (1)
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Ballarat Lakeside Farmers Market Sample and buy from over 50 specialist boutique stalls featuring organic fruit, herbs and vegetables, deli style foods including smoked bacon, salami's and olive oil, quality coffee and fine wine, free range poultry, sweets and licorice, just to name a few.
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Sporting Events (1)
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20th Ballarat Autumn Day Ride Very popular fully supported bicycle tours of 30, 60 or 100 kilometres. Suitable for all levels of ability. Set routes, 60 & 100 rides start and finish at Pleasant St Primary School. 30 route starts and finishes in Snake Valley Lunch in Snake Valley. Approx 800 - 1000 riders. Prior registrations or on the day. Early entry prizes.
Tours
Visitor Information
Our Local Highlights
- Sovereign Hill: Sovereign Hill brings to life the gold fever that gripped Ballarat in its first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851. By day, there is real gold to be found in Sovereign Hill's Red Hill Gully Creek and gold pans are provided! You can even see $50,000 worth of molten gold poured into a gleaming bar.
For the brave hearted, the Red Hill Mine offers an underground adventure in to the dark and dangerous world of deep lead mining. There is also a fully-guided tour of the Gold Mine and a train ride to the surface!
On Main Street there are working shops, hotels and a theatre - all based on original Ballarat businesses. Visitors are able to watch goldfields tradespeople in action and take a ride around the township in a coach or open carriage.
Visit Sovereign Hill's Gold Museum to marvel at a multi-million dollar collection of alluvial gold, nuggets and coins.
Ballarat: Insipred by Gold is a magnificent exhibition which tells the story of Ballarat's fabulous golden history, from the discovery of gold through to the goldrush era and the subsequent emergence of the grand city of Ballarat.
At night, witness Blood on the Southern Cross, a dramatic sound and light spectacular presenting the story of the 1854 Eureka Rebellion on Ballarat's goldfields.
Visitors can easily lose themselves for a day or two in this award winning outdoor museum. Great value overnight packages are available and include entry to Sovereign Hill, accommodation at the Sovereign Hill Lodge and Blood on the Southern Cross.
- Blood on the Southern Cross: By day, visitors can can immerse themselves in the excitement of Ballarat's goldrush days at Sovereign Hill. By night, Blood on the Southern Cross is a 'must see'. This spectacular sound and light show tells the dramatic story of the 1854 Eureka Uprising by Ballarat's miners against unjust and corrupt colonial rulers.
The show is set across Sovereign Hill's 64-acre site. Under the stars, on moonlit diggings, audiences are surrounded by the action and, ultimately, caught in the crossfire as the battle rages.
The sound and light show underwent a $2 million facelift in 2003 and as a result is more spectacular than ever before. A new script reveals more of the central characters. The tension between charismatic rebel leader, Peter Lalor, and his powerful and ambitious opponent, Gold Commissioner Robert Rede, is electrifying.
This new production features state-of-the-art lighting and special effects in an automated production. Peter Lalor is larger than life on an aquascreen. Images of trapeze artists and acrobats fly across a huge circus tent. The Eureka Hotel bursts into flame, and rain falls in a blinding storm. A runaway wagon careers towards the audience, crashing in a ball of fire.
Blood on the Southern Cross runs for 90 minutes, seven nights a week. Special packages are available and include entry to Sovereign Hill by day, dinner at one of Sovereign Hill's 19th century hotels, Blood on the Southern Cross and accommodation at the Sovereign Hill Lodge. Bookings are essential.
- Ballarat Wildlife Park: Ballarat Wildlife Park is set on 16 hectares of natural bushland, a picturesque and tranquil backdrop for a diverse collection of Australian wildlife. Visitors can experience the excitement of close contact with a selection of Australia's most loved animals.
Feeding the free roaming kangaroos is one of the many highlights and visitors can purchase food to feed them.
A walk through the reptile house is most exciting. The star attraction here is 'Gator', a 24 year old, 14 foot Saltwater crocodile. The weekly crocodile feed has been drawing visitors to the park for years.
A main public guided tour runs everyday at 11am and takes approximately one hour. The tour includes koala and wombat photo sessions, kangaroo feeding and a walk through the reptile house. These exciting guided tours are taken by friendly, expert staff.
Other services include an all weather BBQ area, children's playground or Cafe Brolga for light refreshments.
The Park also offers a wildlife souvenir shop with a large variety of gift and souvenir lines.
Open daily from 9am. The Park welcomes all visitors, whether an individual traveller or an organised group. Ballarat Wildlife Park guarantees a wildlife experience full of surprises.
- Ballarat Fine Art Gallery: The Ballarat Fine Art Gallery is located at 40 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat. Parking is available in Lydiard Street or Camp Street with access to the Gallery available from either entrance.
Opening hours: 9:00am - 5.00pm every day (except Christmas Day).
- Ballarat Tramway Museum: The Ballarat Vintage Tramway is operated by the Ballarat Tramway Museum Inc., formed to keep alive the tramway experience that has otherwise disappeared from the streets of Ballarat. The Museum's members are volunteers from all walks of life. They spend their own time operating and maintaining the tramway.
The 1.3 kilometre track is located in the Botanical Gardens, on the western shore of Lake Wendouree. It was part of the former tramway system which commenced running in 1887 as a horse tramway. The horse tramway was taken over by another company which extended and electrified the routes in 1905. The lines were closed during 1971.
The Museum is one of a couple of purely volunteer group in the world operating tramcars in a public road and over a section of original track.
At the depot there is a museum display of photographs and tramway memorabilia for visitors. The tramcar fleet and workshops area can also be inspected.
The rolling stock includes Ballarat Horse Tram No. 1 and ten tramcars which initially ran in Melbourne between 1913 and 1951, plus two acquired directly from Melbourne by the Museum in 1975.
The Museum is an Accredited Museum within the Museum Accreditation Program managed by Museums Australia (Victoria)
Hours of Operation
The trams run on Saturday, Sunday, Public and School Holidays throughout the year from 11.00am until approx 5.00pm.
- The Tangled Maze: Great family fun at The Tangled Maze. An unusual Botanical Maze bursting with flowers. 1000's of climbers and twiners form two metre high walls. Mystery Trails, Puzzles and New Daisy Maze. Try or challenging game of Mini Golf on our beautifully landscaped 18 hole course. Enjoy a liesurley game of Bocce or Giant Chess. Bring a picnic and take in the fabulous views or enjoy our tasty meals in our cosy Cafe. Browse in Mistydowns Nursery, it is well stocked with heritage roses, peonies, and unusual perennials. Group bookings, Schools, Clubs and Parties, enquire for our discount rates. Great fun for everyone
- Australian Jet Adventures: Australian Jet Adventures is Victoria's premier aerial adventure experience offering the ultimate in adventure flights. From world class aerobatics aircraft to a flight in a fighter jet, there's and experience to suit everyone. Complete with aerobatics and air combat manoeuvres from mild to wild.
Flights from just $395 makes this the most affordable ultimate high G, high speed military style flying available.
- Her Majesty's Theatre: Her Majesty's is one of Australia's most historic theatres, and is Ballarat's focus for the performing arts. Enjoy a selection of professional touring and local productions in the elegant and comfortable auditorium, which boasts state of the art lighting and sound equipment. Pre-order interval drinks in the gracious Long Room Bar. Tours of the theatre can be arranged for groups, and the auditorium is usually open for casual visitors.
Elegant Victorian Theatre
Excellent local musicals
Quality Professional touring shows
Tours for groups
- The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: Between the Boer War at the turn of the last century and the Korean War in the 1950's, 34,737 Australian servicemen and women were incarcerated in Prisoner-of War (POW) camps. Many suffered inhumane and atrocious treatment from their captors. to this day there is no Memorial in Australia such as this dedicated to these Australians or any recognition of their pain and suffering endured in the service of our nation.
The motto of these brave prisoners was "When you go home, tell them of us and say that we gave our tomorrow for your today"
A memorial has been built in the Botanical Gardens in Ballarat.
The monument has been designed by well known sculptor Peter Blizzard with the intention to provide ex-prisoners of war, their descendants, visitors and future generations with a reflective experience where they can pay homage to those who endured so much.
The POW monuments' design uses the basic idea of a journey through and an experience of time and place. The start of the pathway is long and straight heading off into the shape of railway sleepers, a reference to the Burma Railway. Running parallel to the pathway is a polished black granite wall, 130m long etched with the names of all the Australian POW's. Standing in a reflective pool are huge basalt obelisks up to 4.5m high will the names of the POW camps. The columns are out of reach and across the water symbolizing that all the POW camps were away from Australian shores. Further on there is another wall with the words Lest we Forget engraved, allowing for an area of contemplation and reflection after the "journey".