BALLARAT – THE AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER GUIDE

n. A charming hideaway filled with gold-rush history, eclectic cafés and blossoming gardens. adj. Defined by a mix of countless antiques, arty venues and Melbournesque cool. v. To bring new-age funk to old-world charm.   when to go With sunny summers and chilly winters, Ballarat is best during the happy medium of autumn or spring. The latter is also when the annual festival, Ballarat in Bloom, is held – with impressive gardens, markets and gourmet delights. who you’ll find here The curious, the creative and collectors – Ballarat is full of funky shops, craft stores and little treasures. Families and...

AT's guide to the best cheap accommodation for summer and Christmas holidays Ballarat Why do we rate it? Ballarat has a glittering past. Where is it? 117km north-west of Melbourne, Ballarat is a 1hr 30min drive on the Western Freeway. Where to stay Go for something with a little character – Alexandra House is a heritage-listed property built in 1908. The amenities are all this century but step back in time in the restored billiard room. At Sovereign Hill, heritage double rooms offer a slice of the luxurious gold-rush lifestyle, while the Canadian barracks and dormitories are more akin to...

Imagine yourself on an antique horse drawn carriage exploring the ghostly secrets of Australia’s most haunted city. Or maybe you’d rather enjoy high tea delights at the Heritage on Lydiard and a feast at Craig’s Royal Hotel, just like Mark Twain did when he visited Australia in 1891. By Anna Hager Venture to Victoria’s city of Ballarat where you can experience all the above and more, during the city’s annual heritage festival from  May 8-9, 2010. You will have the chance to indulge in all things vintage with nearly 100 activities and events planned for the weekend. This is an...

The whole month of September will be given over to this marathon photography event in Ballarat, designed to showcase the world’s best and the new kids on the block, writes Flora King. When a month of highly concentrated photography exhibition and celebration is not nearly enough, look no further than the Ballarat International Foto Bienalle, being held from 4 September to 4 October 2009. The BIFB was actually born in Daylesford, classic Victorian Spa Country and in 2005 it received rave reviews and was considered at the time to be a moderately successful venture. The following instalment, two years later...

  More than one reason to visit Ballarat A BAD good fun ride On Sunday May 4 this year, Ballarat, one of Australia’s largest inland cities situated west-northwest of Melbourne, is hosting its biggest annual recreational event, The Ballarat Autumn Day Ride. The BAD Ride is open for everyone to enter, young and old, with a choice of 50, 75 or 100km routes, as well as a 6km route suited for families. The ride starts in the centre of Ballarat and goes through quiet country roads, a perfect way to discover Ballarat’s beautiful countryside dressed in autumn colours. The event...

A Hotel Review of the newly refurbished Craig's Royal Hotel in Ballarat, Victoria, home of the Eureka Stockade, By Peter Robinson.  Ballarat’s bloody rebellion on the Eureka Lead 152 years ago was a defining moment in Australia’s political history – yet for more than 100 years the tattered symbol of the moment lay hidden in a dusty museum cupboard. That symbol is the flag under which the gold miners of 1854 swore an oath that, many say, initiated the final movement to democracy in Australia. Also buried by time and circumstance is Bakery Hill, meeting-place for many thousands of disgruntled...