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    Home » Travel

    A visit to historic gold mining town Ballarat, Australia

    Published 10 March 2013 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

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    Continuing on our wonderful trip in Australia we leave Eastern Victoria and head towards the Western District to the country town of Ballarat, just over an hour's drive north of Melbourne. This large country town is well worth a visit as it has much to offer with attractions from Sovereign Hill (a museum of the early gold mining days of Ballarat) to the Ballarat Art Gallery. Ballarat is well-known historically for the Eureka Stockade ~ the rebellion of gold miners against British colonial soldiers over fees and to the finding of one of the largest gold nuggets in Australia - the "Welcome" nugget.

    “To see the world your simple trick,
    Is but to take a walking stick,
    Assume an air of pleasure,
    And tell the people near and far,
    You stroll about because you are,
    A Gentleman of Leisure.”

    from : The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay

    Caravan Park Self contained cabin
    Caravan Park Self contained cabin

    Self Contained Caravan Parks

    Our first choice of travel in country Australia is to rent a car and stay at caravan parks which are widespread throughout the country. Our preference is to stay in park model self-contained cabins available with kitchen facilities and hopefully the park has a pool if travelling in the heat of summer. We find this type of accommodation more relaxing, a great way to meet the “locals” and the parks are usually centrally located for ease of travel and further exploration.

    Gold Exchange & Shop, Ballarat
    Gold Exchange & Shop, Lydiard Street, Ballarat

    Ballarat Heritage Buildings

    Our first tour of the day was to stroll down one of the main streets from the railway station via the Gold Mining Exchange  and shop and spend time in the Ballarat Art Gallery which had a special art display Eamon O'Toole "Big Boy Toys" of  full-size motor sport plastic sculptures and a permanent display on the second floor. Definitely worth a visit.

    Australian favourite artist, Sir Hans Heysen, Ballarat Art Gallery, Victoria
    Art by an Australian favourite artist, Sir Hans Heysen, Ballarat Art Gallery, Victoria

    Further down we passed many other historic heritage buildings and the (current) University of  Ballarat. It's wonderful to see many of these historic buildings built in the 1800's have been well maintained and are in current use, including one of the oldest, The George Hotel (circa 1854).

    George Hotel - one of Ballarat's first buildings
    George Hotel - one of Ballarat's first buildings

    Being a larger “country” town there is a wide choice of shopping from Bridge to Central Square Mall as well as many other attractions you may wish to visit. Most are centrally located in the “downtown” area and easy walking distance.

    Other Attractions Nearby

    The Botanical Gardens which houses Adam Lindsay Gordon's cottage and the magnificent annual Begonia festival in March each year. The gardens also house the historic trams and tramway museum. Across the street is Lake Wendouree which several years ago was bone dry (during the recent drought) but is now brimming with water and bird life including black swans. All great ways to spent time with family and friends perhaps while having an ice cream.

    Ballarat Botanical Gardens pool
    Ballarat Botanical Gardens and pool

    Take Time for a Road Trip to

    • Pyrenees Wine Growing area
    • Grampians and Halls Gap - National Park
    • Daylesford - Hepburn Springs and area
    • Bendigo - another old gold mining town
    Ballarat Tram (near Botanical Garden entrance)
    Tram (near Botanical Garden entrance)

    Notes

    • Emergency services in Australia is 0 0 0  (and not  9 1 1 as in North America)
    • There is easy access to Ballarat from:
    1. Tullamarine International Airport direct shuttle bus
    2. V Rail train from Southern Cross Train station (downtown Melbourne) to Lydiard Street, Ballarat
    3. Rental cars from Tullamarine airport, Melbourne
    ballarat train station
    Victoria Railways - Ballarat train station building

    There are many food options from fine dining to cafes but we had a little difficulty buying a simple regular coffee (not latte, espresso or cappuccino) and here is our solution ~ order the following and check if it suits your taste :

    1. “a long black coffee,
    2. with one shot of coffee (or two if you prefer stronger coffee) and
    3. milk on the side (hot or cold)”

    Ballarat is definitely another pleasant, larger "country" town to visit and enjoy the many unique sites and friendly "Aussies".

    Links & References

    • There is still gold in the Ballarat hills – large nugget found January 2013
    • The history of the Eureka Stockade
    • More information of the Eureka Stockade
    • Who is Adam Lindsay Gordon
    • Art Gallery of Ballarat - admission by donation
    • Annual Begonia Festival
    • Annual Antique Fair
    • The "Welcome"  gold nugget
    • Central Ballarat statistics (2011)
    • Biography of Sir W.E. Hans Heysen (1877 - 1968)
    • The Cedars - home and studio of Sir Hans Heysen

    More permanent displays from the Ballarat Art Gallery

    Ballarat Art Gallery display
    Nicholas Chevalier "Parker River waterfall, Cape Otway" 1862
    Elegant Credenza - permanent display
    Elegant Credenza - permanent display
    Grahame King "The Shearer"
    Grahame King "The Shearer"

    Featured Image : Alfred Williams  "Gathering the Herd, Isle of Skye" 1876

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    Hi, I'm Liz! I have been a happy gardener all my life. My goal on this blog is to share tips and resources to help you learn how to garden too. Passionate about all things "healthy". Life long learner and asker of "how".

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