Ballarat is Victoria's third largest city, located just over an hour by road or rail west of Melbourne.

Ballarat has enjoyed a rich and prosperous heritage thanks to the Gold Rush which began in 1851. News that the Ballarat region was home to the richest alluvial goldfield in the world resulted in a population explosion as people came from all over the world seeking fortune. By 1855, Ballarat had grown to a city with a population of 100,000 people. Impressive public and private buildings sprung up which were financed from the wealth generated by the diggings.

These days, long after the gold has run out, the city retains much of its rich gold heritage in the form of opulent buildings, fountains, and tourist attractions which celebrate the city's history. Notable buildings include Ballarat's Town Hall (built between 1870 and 1872), Her Majesty's Theatre (1875) and Craig's Hotel which was built in several stages between 1853 and 1891.

Step back in time to Ballarat's gold mining days at Sovereign Hill which is a recreated gold township of the 1850s where you can experience life in that era. The Eureka Centre is situated close to the site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade Rebellion where miners and officials engaged in a bloody battle over miner's rights.

An important asset to Ballarat is Lake Wendouree, a man-made lake covering 200 hectares, located a couple of kilometres west of the town centre. The lake hosted rowing events during the 1956 Olympic Games, commemorated by the Olympic Rings monument at the south-western corner of the lake. The lake's reed beds and islands are an important oasis for bird life, although the current drought has caused much of the lake to dry up (2006 - 2009). The Botanical Gardens are situated near the western side of the lake and feature a floral conservatory, fernery, lawns and an avenue of bronze busts of all the Australian prime ministers. A vintage electric tramway operates along Wendouree Parade between the Botanical Gardens and lake foreshore.

Around 10 kilometres south of Ballarat's city centre is the small township of Buninyong. It lays claim to being Victoria's first inland town and has an interesting collection of historic buildings including the old library (built in 1861) and the stunning Italianate-styled town hall and court house. To the east of town is Mount Buninyong - an extinct volcano rising to a height of 745 metres that offers superb views from several walking tracks around the summit.

	Ballarat Bird World See the colours of Australian bird life with over one kilometre of walkways, a free flight aviary and outdoor tree top deck area
	Ballarat Wildlife Park Experience close contact with koalas, kangaroos, emus and other native animals
	Kryal Castle Experience the glory of bygone days at this Medieval castle with re-enactments, shows and displays
	Sovereign Hill History comes to life in this recreated gold township of the 1850s with regular demonstrations, street theatre performances, gold panning, mine tours, shopping experiences of the era and the dramatic Blood on the Southern Cross sound and light show

	Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Art and architecture meet at Australia's oldest and largest regional art gallery
	Ballarat Vintage Tramway An authentic tramway museum allowing visitors to view photographs, memorabilia and the museum's fleet of rolling stock
	Eureka Centre Museum commemorating the Eureka Rebellion in 1854 and the ideals and sacrifices of those who lived and worked on Ballarat's goldfields
	Gold Museum Houses collections of gold nuggets, ornaments and coins, plus a gift shop specialising in the sale of gold nuggets, jewellery and fine giftware
	Her Majesty's Theatre Dating back to 1875, it is one of Australia's most historic theatres and is now a professionally equipped and staffed performing arts centre
	Kirrit Barreet An Aboriginal art and cultural centre exhibiting local and regional contemporary and traditional artwork and artefacts with educational talks

Central Square Ballarat In the heart of Ballarat with over 40 retailers and a food court

	Ballarat Botanic Gardens 40 hectares of gardens, located on the western shore of Lake Wendouree, featuring marble statues, mature trees and colourful bedding displays
	Ballarat - Skipton Rail Trail A 54 kilometre trail which goes through native grasslands, historical gold mining sites and across a trestle bridge near Newtown
	Enfield State Park Located 25 kms south of Ballarat, this park is home to a large number of plant and animal species as well as many gold mining relics from last century
	Great Dividing Trail The 92 km "Wallaby Track" section of this walking trail starts at Mount Buninyong on the city's outskirts, then continues to the Ballarat station and onto Creswick and Daylesford

	Ballarat Begonia Festival Festival celebrating Ballarat's world renowned begonias with their vibrant colours and magnificent blooms, with an outstanding display at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens
	SpringFest A springtime festival with market stalls around Lake Wendouree and exhibition events

	Ballarat Tourism Directory A city guide to Ballarat covering history, attractions, dining, events and entertainment
	Visit Ballarat Ballarat's official tourism guide featuring accommodation, things to do, food & wine, events and touring information

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