Ballarat

Ballarat is located at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range on the Yarrowee River in the Central Highlands of Victoria, and is approximately 105km west-north-west of Melbourne. Ballarat is the 3rd largest populated for an inland city in Australia.

Ballarat is the most significant gold rush boomtown in Australia, which saw the Victorian gold rush of the 1850's transform Ballarat from a small sheep station to a major settlement. Migrants from across the world rushed to the district in search of gold. The city earned the nickname "The Golden City". Unlike many other gold boom towns, the Ballarat fields provided sustained high gold yields for many decades, which is evident today in the city's rich architecture.

From the late 1860s to the early 1900's, Ballarat evolved from a gold rush town to an industrial-age city. Impressive structures of solid stone and brick replaced the ramshackle tents and timber buildings. Ballarat is most notable for the award-winning open-air museum known as Sovereign Hill.

On 3 December 1854 the only armed rebellion in Australian history began in Ballarat, called The Eureka Rebellion. The event, in which 22 miners were killed, is considered to be a defining moment in Australian history. Eureka is interpreted by some as the origin of democracy in Australia. The Eureka Flag became a national symbol of the rebellion and is kept at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka in Ballarat.

Ballarat is known for its history, culture and its well-preserved Victorian era heritage.

Ballarat is the main retail economy in the region with several key retail districts including a pedestrian mall comprising over 100 traders.

Ballarat has a significant music scene with a number of established music venues, a popular filming location, and a lively and well established theatrical community.

Transport

Ballarat is served by an extensive public bus service operated by CDC Ballarat. Numerous private companies service suburban, intercity and interstate routes with coach services. Ballarat railway station is a major regional terminal for coach services. V/Line operates direct services to regional Victorian locations including Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Mildura, Nhill, Ouyen, Halls Gap, Daylesford, Maryborough as well as the South Australian cities of Adelaide and Mount Gambier.

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