Oceania : Australasia : Australia : Victoria : Goldfields : Ballarat

Ballarat

Ballarat [1] [2] is a city of 84,000 people, about 110 km (65 miles) north-west of Melbourne in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Australia. Drive time from Melbourne is about 80-90 minutes. Ballarat is most noted as a former goldmining town and the site of the famous miners' strike at the Eureka Stockade, the event celebrating its 150th anniversary in late November - early December 2004.

Travel to Ballarat, visa requirements

By car

Ballarat is an easy 90 minute drive from Melbourne on the Western Freeway (M8). Alternatively, from Geelong take the southern section of the A300; from Bendigo and Castlemaine take the northern section of the same highway.

By train

Frequent V/Line trains run from Southern Cross Station (known as Spencer Street Station until December 2005) in Melbourne. The trip takes approx 1 hour an 20 minutes and Ballarat Station is located in the centre of the city.

Get around

The Ballarat Visitor Information Centre, a short walk from the Station, operates a friendly visitor shuttle bus. This service links to the main tourist attractions as well as to Buninyong Township.

Ballarat attractions and sightseeing

Visitor Information Centre, 39 Sturt Street (cnr Albert St).

Sovereign Hill [3], Magpie St. Every day except Christmas Day 10am-5pm, till 5:50pm during daylight saving. The “DisneyLand” of Victoria, it is a recreated 1850s goldmining town where staff wear period costumes and visitors can try their hand at panning for gold. $29 adult, $14 child.
- Blood on the Southern Cross. M-Sa evenings and some Sundays. Times vary. An 80-minute sound and light show depicting the Eureka Uprising. $35 adult, $19 child.
- Gold Museum. Every day except Christmas Day 9:30am-5:20pm. Sovereign Hill ticket gives entry to the museum as well.

Eureka Stockade Centre [4], cnr Eureka St and Rodier St, East Ballarat. Every day 9 am-4:30 pm except Christmas Day. Last entry 4 pm. The 1854 Eureka miners’ rebellion against license fees took place here. The stockade was formerly home to a rather rundown wooden shed with a diorama and recorded explanation, but in recent years it’s been totally modernized and the site now hosts a large multimedia exhibition on the Stockade. $8 adult, $4 child.

Ballarat Botanical Gardens [5]

Ballarat Wildlife Park [6]

Lake Wendouree.

Kryal Castle is a medieval castle situated just eight kilometres out of Ballarat on the Western Freeway. It has got royal accomodation, restaurant, re - enactments and an interesting history. [7]

City tours

Shopping, Ballarat souvenirs

Good restaurants and cheap meals

Ballarat nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

George Hotel, 27 Lydiard St Nth (between Sturt St and Mair St). Bunkroom $30, singles from $50 (tariffs include light breakfast). Nightclub may cause noise in the rooms till 4am F-Sa nights.