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Ballarat

Ballarat is a city about 110 km north-west of Melbourne in the Goldfields region of Victoria. Ballarat is most noted as a former goldmining town with excellent examples of Australian colonial architecture, and as the site of the famous miners' revolt at the Eureka Stockade in 1854. With a population of approximately 117,000 it is the third largest city in Victoria.

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Do
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Eat
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Drink
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Buy
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40 places

  1. See

    Art Gallery of Ballarat

    The gallery has a large collection of both old and modern works. It also holds the iconic Eureka Flag, flown by the miners at the Eureka Stockade in 1854.

    10AM-5PMFree

  2. Do

    Ballarat Heritage Weekend

    Annual event over a weekend in May. Locations throughout Ballarat. Events and attractions include guided tours of the city centre, and also specific historic buildings and homes, art and fashion displays, vintage car displays, market stalls featuring rare LPs and books, trades displays, theatrical performances, themed dances, and rides on the original Ballarat trams.

  3. See

    Ballarat Tramway Museum

    Western shore of Lake Wendouree. The museum operates a fleet of historic trams along 1.3 km of original track through the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The museum is open Saturdays, Sundays, public and school holidays from 12:30 till 5PM. A 20 minute ride costs $4 adults, $2 for children. There is also a free display of stationary trams and memorabilia at the depot. An 1887 horse tram operates several times per year. Trams are also available for hire.

  4. See

    Ballarat Wildlife Park

    Closed Christmas Day. Has a large display of Australian animals, birds and reptiles.

    9AM-5:30PMAdults $25, children $15

  5. Do

    Begonia Festival

    The Begonia Festival, held over the Labor Day long weekend in March, is worth attending, with activities such as a street parade held in Sturt St and horticultural displays in and around the botanical gardens of Lake Wendouree.

    10AM-5PMFree

  6. Do

    Eureka Stadium

    Mars Stadium

    Ballarat's local 5000-seat stadium; it's one of the prime venues in regional Victoria for AFL, cricket, rugby, and soccer. Though its capacity is only a little more than 5,000, it is to be upgraded to a capacity of 10,000 by 2028.

  7. See

    Kryal Castle

    A replica medieval castle situated just eight kilometres out of Ballarat on the Western Freeway. The attraction reopened in 2013 after multi-million dollar renovations.

    10AM- 4PM weekends and school holidaysAdults $35, children $22, family $99

  8. See

    Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka

    M.A.D.E

    Cnr Eureka St and Rodier St, East Ballarat. The 1854 Eureka miners' rebellion against license fees took place here. The new museum opened in May 2013, and focuses on the Eureka miners' rebellion and the changes it caused in Australian democracy. It also provides information on democracy world wide. The exhibits are interactive, and follow you through the history of the rebellion, and its outcome. They have the original Eureka stockade flag preserved and on exhibit.

    10AM-5PM dailyAdults $12, concession $8, family $35

  9. See

    Sovereign Hill

    The "Disneyland" of Victoria, it is a recreation of Ballarat during the 1850s gold rushes. Staff wear period costumes and visitors can try their hand at panning for gold.

    Every day except Christmas Day 10AM-5PM, till 5:50PM during daylight saving$41 adult, $18.70 child

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    Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

    Cnr Wendouree Parade and Carlton Street, south end of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The 170-metre-long granite wall has the names of more than 36,000 prisoners-of-war carved into it.

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    Ballarat Antique Fair

    Annual fair every March Labour Day weekend. Australia's longest running, and largest antiques and collectibles fair.

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    Ballarat Bridge Mall Farmers Market

    Bridge Mall, Ballarat. Held 1st Saturday of each month, free admission.

    9AM-1PM

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    Ballarat Lakeside Farmers Market

    Wendouree Parade, opposite the Botanical Gardens. Held 2nd and last Staurdays every month, 9AM-1PM. Free admission.

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    Ballarat Sunday Market

    Ballarat Showgrounds, cnr Howitt Street and Creswick Road, Wendouree. Run by the Rotary Club of Ballarat South. Every Sunday from 8AM-1PM, entry is by gold coin donation.

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    Blood on the Southern Cross

    An 80-minute sound and light show depicting the Eureka Uprising.

    Mon-Sat evenings and some Sundays. Times vary$35 adult, $19 child

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    Bridge Mall

    About 120 shops, cafés and restaurants in and around a former through street now closed to traffic. Free parking. Includes Big W, Coles and Woolworths. Top end of Bridge Street has several restaurants.

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    Central Square Shopping Centre

    Three-storey shopping centre with Myer, Target and several cafés/eateries.

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    George Hotel

    Popular; with front bar, dance club in the rear, and a gaming room.

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    L'espresso

    Formally a music store, this place serves some of the best coffee in town, along with quality Italian-based fare that is interesting and reasonably priced. Choose a CD from the wall to listen to, and try the housemade icecream.

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    Lake Wendouree

    A large 238-hectare lake in the centre of town. Has rowing, yacht, kayak and fishing clubs.

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    Meigas

    Authentic Spanish food that is much better than you would expect to find in a regional centre. They also have Pancho's around the corner for some great Mexican.

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    Midtown Cellars

    Hip bottleshop with a great selection of local wines and beers. Pay a corkage and drink it at the bar. Low key the best bar in Ballarat.

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    Mr. Rice

    Chinese, Thai, Malaysian. Great value with daily lunch deals. Eat in or take away. Very popular.

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    Oscar's Hotel & Cafe Bar

    Oscar's Hotel & Café Bar is a unique art deco, boutique hotel in the heart of Ballarat's CBD. Now privately owned and operated, Oscar's used to be the Criterion Hotel, a popular venue in the gold rush days.

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    Stockland Wendouree

    About 90 shops, all under cover, with plenty of free parking. Includes Coles, Woolworths and Kmart.

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    The Forge Pizzeria

    Decent, dependable pizza, served in an industrial-chic space with exposed-brick walls.

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    The Mallow

    Don't let the run-down appearance fool you: this pub has an exceptional range of craft beers. Rotating taps. Good restaurant too.

    Thu-Sun noon-11PM, Mon-Wed 4-11PM

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    The Pancake Kitchen

    The original Pancake Kitchen. All Pancake Parlours are franchises of this; original and the best.

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    The Provincial

    It has been renovated to its former glory. Directly opposite train station in an Edwardian icon.

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    Volta

    Live music in Ballarat: many popular Melbourne bands make the trip to perform here. Cover charge can vary depending on the band.

    Thu 8-11PM, Fri Sat 8PM-4AM, Sun 10PM-2:30AM