Ballarat

The Ballarat region was first populated by the Wadawurrung people, an Indigenous Australian people.{{cite web|title=Ballarat's Indigenous Heritage |url=http://sheducationcom.ascetinteractive.biz/uploads//SovHill%20indigenousheritage%20notes%20ss1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706144302/http://sheducationcom.ascetinteractive.biz/uploads//SovHill%20indigenousheritage%20notes%20ss1.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011 |work=Sovereign Hill Education |access-date=19 August 2010}} The first Europeans to sight the area were an August 1837 party of six men, including Thomas Livingstone Learmonth and Henry Anderson, who scaled Mount Buninyong. Some of this party set off again in January 1838, this time with others including Thomas' brother Somerville Learmonth and William Cross Yuille and his cousin Archibald Buchanan Yuille.{{Cite book |last=Withers |first=William Bramwell |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofballara00with/page/n26/mode/1up |title=The history of Ballarat, from the first pastoral settlement to the present time |publisher=F. W. Niven and co. |year=1887 |edition=2nd |location=Ballarat |pages=1–3 |language=EN}}

The Yuille cousins{{Cite news |date=1934-07-14 |title=ARCHIBALD YUILLE AND BALLARAT |work=Argus |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10963390 |access-date=2023-05-27}} arrived in 1838 and took up a {{convert|10000|acre|ha|adj=on}} sheep run at Ballarat.{{Citation |last=Hone |first=J. Ann |title=Yuille, William Cross (1819–1894) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/yuille-william-cross-4909 |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |access-date=2023-05-27 |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en}} The first houses were built near Woolshed Creek (Sebastopol) by Henry Anderson and taken over by the Yuilles.{{Cite book |last=Withers |first=William Bramwell |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofballara00with/page/n26/mode/1up |title=The history of Ballarat, from the first pastoral settlement to the present time |publisher=F. W. Niven and co. |year=1887 |edition=2nd |location=Ballarat |pages=3–5}} William Yuille established a hut on the northern edge of the swamp which would be called Yuille's Swamp, later Lake Wendouree.{{Cite web |title=Lake Wendouree |url=https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/208835 |access-date=28 May 2023 |website=Victorian Heritage Database}} Archibald Yuille named his property "Ballaarat", from the local Wathaurong Aboriginal words, balla and arat, meaning a camping or 'resting place', with the word 'balla' meaning bent elbow.{{Cite web |title=Heritage {{!}} City of Ballarat |url=https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/city/strategic-planning/heritage |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.ballarat.vic.gov.au}} Both 'Ballaarat' and 'Ballarat' were used interchangeably until the present spelling was officially adopted by the City of Ballarat in 1994, when the city amalgamated with surrounding local government areas.{{Cite web |title=Ballarat history |url=https://www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/ballarat-history |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au}}

{{further|Victorian gold rush}}

File:Ballarat 1853-54 von guerard.jpg of Ballarat's tent city in the summer of 1853–54.]]

The first publicised discovery of gold in the region was by Thomas Hiscock on 2 August 1851, in Buninyong to the south.Griffiths Peter M, "Three Times Blest A History of Buninyong 1737–1901", Ballarat Historical Society pp13 The find brought other prospectors to the area and on 19 August 1851, more gold was found at Poverty Point.{{cite news |title = Victoria |date = 5 November 1851 |work = The Courier |page = 2}} Within days, a gold rush began, bringing thousands of prospectors to the Yarrowee Valley, which became known as the Ballarat diggings. Yields were particularly high, with the first prospectors in the area extracting between half an ounceBallarat Diggings: From the Correspondent of the Geelong Advertiser. pg 2. The Argus. 13 September 1851. (which was more than the average wage of the time) and up to five ounces of alluvial gold per day. As news of the Victorian gold rush reached the world, Ballarat gained an international reputation as a particularly rich goldfield. As a result, a huge influx of immigrants occurred, including many from Ireland and China, gathering in a collection of prospecting shanty towns around the creeks and hills. Within a few months, numerous alluvial runs were established, several deep mining leads began, and the population had swelled to over 1,000 people.{{cite news |title = Victoria – Mount Alexander |date = 11 December 1852 |work =The Sydney Morning Herald|page = 2 |access-date =6 May 2012 |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12942220}}

{{wide image|Ballarat George Rowe SLNSW FL4317605.jpg|750px|Bird's-eye view of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1858, by George Rowe}}

The first post office opened on 1 November 1851, the first to open in a Victorian gold-mining settlement.{{cite web |last = Phoenix Auctions History |title = Post Office List |url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=VIC&filter=*Ballarat* |access-date = 20 March 2021}} Parts of the district were first surveyed by William Urquhart{{cite web|url=https://www.oolac.com/dictionary/en/en/tag/Ballarat|title=OOLAC – #Ballarat|work=oolac.com|access-date=22 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023053637/https://www.oolac.com/dictionary/en/en/tag/Ballarat|archive-date=23 October 2016|url-status=dead}} as early as October 1851.{{cite web|last=James|first=Ken|title=The surveying career of William Swan Urquhart, 1845–1864|url=http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/provenance/no8/SurveyingCareer1.asp|work=Public Record Office Victoria|publisher=Government of Victoria|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091027064407/http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/provenance/no8/SurveyingCareer1.asp |archive-date = 27 October 2009|url-status=dead}} By 1852 his grid plan and wide streets for land sales in the new township of West Ballarat,{{cite book |last1 = Jacobs |first1 = Wendy |last2 = Nigel |first2 = Lewis |last3 = Elizabeth |first3 = Vines |last4 = Richard |first4 = Aitken |title = Ballarat: A Guide to Buildings and Areas 1851–1940 |publisher = Jacobs Lewis Vines Architects and Conservation Planners |year = 1981 |page = 11 |isbn = 0-9593970-0-0}} built upon a plateau of basalt, contrasted markedly with the existing narrow unplanned streets, tents, and gullies of the original East Ballarat settlement. The new town's main streets of the time were named in honour of police commissioners and gold commissioners of the time, with the main street, Sturt Street, named after Evelyn Pitfield Shirley Sturt; Dana Street named after Henry Dana; Lydiard Street after his assistant; Doveton Street after Francis Crossman Doveton, Ballarat's first gold commissioner; Armstrong after David Armstrong; and Mair Street after William Mair.{{cite web |url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308213340/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ |archive-date = 8 March 2016 |title = Heritage Impact Statement – Civic Hall |access-date =14 May 2012 |date = October 2011 |work = City of Ballarat }} These officials were based at the government encampment (after which nearby Camp Street was named), which was strategically positioned on an escarpment with an optimal view over the district's diggings.

The first newspaper, The Banner, published on 11 September 1853, was one of many to be distributed during the gold-rush period. Print media played a large role in the early history of the settlement.{{cite book |last1 = Cornfield |first1 = Jason |last2 = Wickham |first2 = Dorothy |last3 = Gervasoni |first3 = Clare |title = The Eureka Encyclopedia |publisher = Ballarat Heritage Services |year = 2004 |page = 391 |isbn = 1-876478-61-6}} Ballarat attracted a sizable number of miners from the Californian 1848 gold rush, and some were known as Ballafornians.K. T-. Livingston, Richard Jordan, Gay Sweely (2001) Becoming Australians: the movement towards federation in Ballarat and the nation p.34. Wakefield Press

File:Eureka stockade battle.jpg.]]

Civil disobedience in Ballarat led to an armed civil uprising, the Eureka Rebellion (colloquially referred to as the "Eureka Stockade") which took place in Ballarat on 3 December 1854. The event, in which 22 miners were killed, is considered to be a defining moment in Australian history.

The city earned the nickname "The Golden City" in the 1850s.Perkin, Corrie [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/golden-city-of-ballarat-comes-into-the-picture/story-e6frg8n6-1225768084821 Golden city of Ballarat comes into the picture] The Australian 1 September 2009. The gold rush population peaked at almost 60,000, mostly male diggers, by 1858.{{cite news |title = Gold Rush Population Peak 1858-9-23 |date = 23 September 1858 |work = The Star |page = 2 |access-date =6 May 2012 |url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page6460448?zoomLevel=1}} However the early population was largely itinerant. As quickly as the alluvial deposits drew prospectors to Ballarat, the rate of gold extraction fluctuated and, as they were rapidly worked dry, many quickly moved to rush other fields as new findings were announced, particularly Mount Alexander in 1852, Fiery Creek{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article708233 |title=Colonial News. |newspaper=The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 November 1855 |access-date=3 June 2020 |page=3 (Supplement to the Maitland Mercury) |via=Trove }} in 1855, and Ararat in 1857. By 1859, a smaller number of permanent settlers numbering around 23,000,{{cite news |title = Summary for Europe – Introduction |date = 20 August 1860 |work = The Argus |page = 5}} many of whom had built personal wealth in gold, established a prosperous economy based around a shift to deep underground gold mining.

Confidence of the city's early citizens in the enduring future of their city is evident in the sheer scale of many of the early public buildings, generous public recreational spaces, and opulence of many of its commercial establishments and private housing. A local steam locomotive industry developed from 1854 with the Phoenix Foundry operating until 1906.{{cite book |last1=Butrims |first1=Robert |last2=Macartney |first2=David |title=The Phoenix Foundry: Locomotive Builders of Ballarat |publisher=Australian Railway History Society |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-646-90402-3}} The railway came to the town with the opening of the Geelong–Ballarat line in 1862 and Ballarat developed as a major railway town.{{cite web

|url=http://www.railgeelong.com/lineguide/geelong

|title=Rail Geelong – Geelong Line Guide

|publisher=railgeelong.com

|access-date=23 April 2008

}} As the city grew the region's original indigenous inhabitants were quickly expelled to the fringe and by 1867 few remained.

File:Dana St Ballarat Victoria c1872 63783.jpg

From the late 1860s to the early 20th century, Ballarat made a successful transition from a gold rush town to an industrial-age city. The ramshackle tents and timber buildings gradually made way for permanent buildings, many impressive structures of solid stone and brick mainly built from wealth generated by early mining.

Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh visited between 9 and 13 December 1867 and as the first royal visit, the occasion was met with great fanfare.{{cite book |last1 = Clarke |first1 = Jan |title = Speak Out Boldly: The first 125 years of the Ballarat Courier |publisher = The Courier |year = 1992 |location = Ballarat |page = 12 |isbn =978-0-646-09971-2}} The Prince Room was prepared at Craigs Royal Hotel for his stay.{{cite web |url = http://www.craigsroyal.com.au/accommodation/Video/history/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120525042154/http://www.craigsroyal.com.au/accommodation/Video/history/ |archive-date = 25 May 2012 |title = Craig's Royal Hotel – History |access-date =30 June 2012 |publisher = craigsroyal.com.au}} The city's first civic centre—Prince Alfred Hall—erected over the Yarrowee between the two municipalities, was named in his honour during his visit. The later attempt by Ballaratian Henry James O'Farrell to assassinate the Prince was met with shock and great horror from locals.

Ballarat was proclaimed a city in 1871. Gong Gong dam was built in 1877 to alleviate flooding and to provide a permanent water supply. A direct railway to Melbourne was completed in December 1889.{{cite journal

|date=March 1990

|title = Tracks Across the State

|author=Sid Brown

|journal=Newsrail

|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division)

|pages = 71–76

}} Many industries and workshops had been established as a result of manufacturing and servicing for the deep lead mining industry.

File:Sturt and lydiard streets in 1899.jpg

File:Ballarat North Workshops.jpg

Local boosters at the start of the 20th century adopted the nickname "Athens of Australia", first used to describe Ballarat by the jurist and politician Sir John Madden.THE ATHENS OF AUSTRALIA, Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11988, 3 November 1909, p. 7 [http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=PBH19091103.2.86&e=-------10--1----2-- Papers Past – Poverty Bay Herald – 3 November 1909 – "The Athens of Australia."]Douglas Pike, Geoffrey Serle: Australian dictionary of biography, Vol. 9, Melbourne University Press, 1983Frederic C. (Frederic Chambers) Spurr : Five years under the Southern Cross; experiences and impressions [http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/frederic-c-frederic-chambers-spurr/five-years-under-the-southern-cross-experiences-and-impressions-ala/page-10-five-years-under-the-southern-cross-experiences-and-impressions-ala.shtml Read the ebook Five years under the Southern Cross; experiences and impressions by Frederic C. (Frederic Chambers) Spurr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012042738/http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/frederic-c-frederic-chambers-spurr/five-years-under-the-southern-cross-experiences-and-impressions-ala/page-10-five-years-under-the-southern-cross-experiences-and-impressions-ala.shtml |date=12 October 2012 }}[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10742486 The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848–1954), Saturday 23 October 1909]. Trove.nla.gov.au (23 October 1909). Retrieved 18 August 2011. The first electricity supply was completed in 1901, and that year a bluestone power station was built at the corner of Ripon Street and Wendouree Parade with the main aim of electrifying the city's tramway network.{{cite news |first = Julia |last = Balderstone |title = SEC offers historic lake property for sale |date = 20 February 1993 |work = The Courier}} Despite such advancements, mining activity slowed at this time and Ballarat's growth all but stopped, leading to a decades-long period of decline. The Sunshine rail disaster in 1908 resulted in the death of dozens of Ballarat residents,{{Cite news |title = Terrible railway disaster |newspaper = The Age |location = Melbourne |publisher = David Syme & Co |date = 21 August 1908}} and in August 1909, a great storm lashed the city, resulting in the death of one person and the injury of seven others, as well as the destruction of numerous homes."The Ballarat Tornado" p6. The Mercury. 25 August 1909."Furious Storm at Ballarat – several houses demolished, woman crushed to death, several persons injured" p5. The West Australian. 23 August 1909.

Ballarat's significant representation in World War I resulted in heavy human loss. Around this time, it was overtaken in population by the port city of Geelong, further diminishing its provincial status.Progressive Geelong – Industrial Expansion. Development of the Harbour. The Argus, Melbourne 14 October 1921 p 8 In response, local lobbyists continually pushed the Victorian government for decentralisation, the greatest success being the Victorian Railways opening the Ballarat North Workshops in April 1917.{{cite book|author = Lee, Robert|author2=Rosemary Annable |author3=Donald Stuart Garden |title = The Railways of Victoria 1854–2004|date = 1 August 2007|publisher = Melbourne University Publishing Ltd|isbn = 978-0-522-85134-2|page = 144}} The Great Depression proved a further setback for Ballarat, with the closure of many institutions and causing the worst unemployment in the city's history, with over a thousand people in the dole queue.{{rp|38}}

The city's two municipalities, Ballarat East and West Town Councils, finally amalgamated in 1921 to form the City of Ballarat.{{rp|32}}

While deep, the depression was also brief. The interwar period proved a period of recovery for Ballarat with a number of major infrastructure projects well underway including a new sewerage system. In 1930, Ballarat Airport was established. By 1931, Ballarat's economy and population was recovering strongly with further diversification of industry, although in 1936 Geelong displaced it as the state's second largest city.Geelong Ousts Ballarat. Population Surprises. The Argus (Melbourne), 28 April 1936, p. 10. During World War II an expanded Ballarat airport was the base of the RAAF Wireless Air Gunners' School as well as the base for USAAF Liberator bomber squadrons. In 1942, Ballarat became connected to the state electricity grid by a 66,000 kV line. Prior to this, power supply was generated locally.

During World War II, Ballarat was the location of RAAF No.1 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (IAFD), completed in 1942 in the defence of Australia against a Japanese invasion and decommissioned on 29 August 1944. Usually consisting of four tanks, 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for the RAAF and the US Army Air Forces at a total cost of £900,000 ($1,800,000).{{Citation | author1 = Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Historical Section | title = Logistics units | date = 1995 | publisher = AGPS Press | isbn = 978-0-644-42798-2}}

In the post-war era, Ballarat's growth continued. In response to an acute housing shortage, significant suburban expansion occurred. An extensive Housing Commission of Victoria estate was built on the former Ballarat Common (today known as Wendouree West).{{cite web|title=Wendouree West Profile and History|url=http://www.wendoureewest.com/renewal/wendwest.htm#history|work=Wendouree West Community Renewal|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709075704/http://www.wendoureewest.com/renewal/wendwest.htm#history|archive-date=9 July 2010|url-status=dead}} The estate was originally planned to contain over 750 prefabricated houses. While planning for the estate began in 1949, main construction occurred between 1951 and 1962.

The 1950s brought a new optimism to the city. On 17 April 1952 it was announced that Lake Wendouree was to be the venue for rowing events of the 1956 Summer Olympics, and work soon began on an Olympic village in Gillies Street. A new prefabricted power terminal substation at Norman Street Ballarat North was constructed between 1951 and 1953 by the State Electricity Commission.Ballarat 'B' Power Station. Ballarat Historical Society – private collection The first Begonia Festival, a highly successful community celebration, was held in 1953. Elizabeth II visited on 8 March 1954. The Civic Centre, Prince Alfred Hall had burned down suspiciously that year; however a new Civic Hall was constructed and opened in March 1955. On 23 November 1956, the Olympic torch was carried through the city, and the following day the rowing events were held at the lake. On 2 March 1958 the Queen Mother visited Ballarat.

During the following decades, the city saw increased threats to its heritage. In 1964, the Ballarat City Council passed laws banning pillar-supported verandahs in the CBD, which threatened the removal of historic cast iron verandahs in the city. The by-law was met by staunch opposition from the National Trust, which had begun campaigning to protect some of the city's most historic buildings.{{rp|58}} By the 1970s, Ballarat began to officially recognise its substantial heritage, and the first heritage controls were recommended to ensure its preservation. With the opening of Sovereign Hill, the city made a rapid shift to become a major cultural tourist destination, visited by thousands each year.

During the 1970s, a further 300 houses were constructed at Wendouree West. Private housing in the adjacent suburb of Wendouree closely matched and eventually eclipsed this by the mid-1960s. The suburb of greater Wendouree and Wendouree West had evolved as the suburban middle-class heart of the city. Charles, Prince of Wales visited Ballarat on 28 October 1974 during which he toured Sovereign Hill, the Ballarat College of Advanced Education's new Mt Helen Campus and the White Swan Reservoir and spoke at Civic Hall.City of Ballarat Mayors Report 1974 – 1975

Ballarat played an important role in the Stolen Generation throughout the 20th century, where the Ballarat Orphanage saw Aboriginal children who had been taken from their families. The Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) was established by members of the Ballarat and district Aboriginal community in 1979. It became a co-operative to deliver health, social, welfare and community development programs to local Aboriginal people. In 2017, local Aboriginal community elder Ted Lovett was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the indigenous community and for his works in eliminating racism in sports in south-west Victoria. Karen Heap and Ted Lovett were listed on the Victoria's Aboriginal Honour Role both in part for their work at BADAC.{{Cite web|last=Whelan|first=Melanie|date=2019-11-12|title=Ted Lovett, Karen Heap hope for 'path finders' in fight for equality|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6487496/ted-lovett-karen-heap-hope-for-path-finders-in-fight-for-equality/|access-date=2021-11-15|website=The Courier|language=en-AU}}

File:View from St. Peter's Anglican Church, Ballarat.jpg

The city continued to grow at the national average throughout the late 20th century and early 21st century. In 2008 the City of Ballarat released a plan directing that growth of the city over the next 30 years is to be concentrated to the west of the city centre. The Ballarat West Growth Area Plan was approved by the city and state government in 2010, planning an extensive fringe development consisting of 14,000 new homes and up to 40,000 new residents including new activity centres and employment zones.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/57489/ballarat%20city%20council%20-%20tract%20expert%20evidence.pdf|title=Ballarat West Local Structure Plan|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723152436/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/57489/ballarat%20city%20council%20-%20tract%20expert%20evidence.pdf|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.businessballarat.com/?id=ballaratwestlocalstr |title=Ballarat West Local Structure Plan |publisher=Business Ballarat |access-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818045405/http://www.businessballarat.com/?id=ballaratwestlocalstr |archive-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse final report, published on 15 December 2017, found that 139 people made a claim of child sexual abuse to the Diocese of Ballarat between 1980 and 2015, and 21 alleged perpetrators were identified in these claims. Seventeen of the 21 alleged and convicted perpetrators were priests, which is 8.7% of the priests who ministered during this period.{{Cite web|url=https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/final_report_-_volume_16_religious_institutions_book_2.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/final_report_-_volume_16_religious_institutions_book_2.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Final Report: Volume 16, Religious institutions Book 2|last=Commonwealth of Australia|date=December 2017|website=Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse|page=106}} About 45 victims are estimated to have committed suicide.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/29/world/australia/ballarat-church-sexual-abuse-pell.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/29/world/australia/ballarat-church-sexual-abuse-pell.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=Cardinal George Pell's Hometown Breaks Its Silence About Grim Past of Sexual Abuse|date=April 2018|website=The New York Times|page=106|access-date=22 August 2018}}{{cbignore}}

File:Mount Warrenheip Victoria.jpg

File:Warrenheip from Dawson St.png

Ballarat lies at the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in Central Western Victoria. Also known as the Central Highlands, it is named so because of its elevated position and moderate hills and terrain with a lack of any alpine mountains that are situated a few hundred kilometres NE. The city lies within a mostly gently undulating section of the midland volcanic plains which stretch from Creswick in the north, to Rokewood in the south, and from Lal Lal in the south-east to Pittong in the west.

Geologically, the area consists of alluvial sediment and volcanic flows originating from now-extinct volcanoes such as nearby Buninyong (750m, 2460 ft) and Warrenheip (746m, 2446 ft), which are the area's tallest peaks. As a result, the basin contains large areas of fertile agricultural soil.City of Ballarat (Maps, Population & Location – http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/Global/Maps/index.aspx) {{Dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Ballarat itself is situated on an alluvial basin of the Yarrowee catchment and its tributary creeks, penetrated by sub-ranges of schists composed of granites and quartz. Along with the visible river and creeks, the catchment basin has numerous active and inactive aquifers and natural wetlands, which are used for urban water supply, agriculture and recreation.

There are numerous densely forested areas around Ballarat; however due to historic wood milling and land clearing there remain no old-growth forests. The major natural bodies of water are in the west and include the former shallow swamps of Lake Wendouree which is central to the city's western suburbs and beyond Winter's Swamp and the large Lake Burrumbeet wetland complex. Almost all of the other numerous bodies of water have been created artificially and include several reservoirs, the largest being the White Swan Reservoir and smaller suburban lakes such as Lake Esmond.

The contiguous urban area of Ballarat covers approximately {{convert|90|km2|0|abbr=on}} of the local government area's {{convert|740|km2|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/550102/bps_c151_clause_21_04_final.pdf |title = Ballarat Planning Scheme – Land Use |access-date = 14 May 2012 |date = 18 March 2010 |work = City of Ballarat |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120420101928/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/550102/bps_c151_clause_21_04_final.pdf |archive-date = 20 April 2012 |url-status = dead}} Approximately 90% of the urban area's land use is residential and suburban. From the city centre this area extends approximately {{convert|6|km|0|abbr=off}} north to the hills around Invermay, approximately {{convert|7.5|km|1|abbr=on}} east to Leigh Creek in the foothills of Mount Warrenheip, approximately {{convert|7|km|0|abbr=on}} west along the plains to Lucas and approximately {{convert|8.5|km|1|abbr=on}} south along the Yarrowee River and Canadian Creek valley to the fringe of Buninyong. The central city is situated low in the valley of the Yarrowee River and surrounded by hills such that the city skyline is visible only from the hills and the lower lying inner eastern suburbs. The reach of the Yarrowee River toward Ballarat Central becomes a stormwater drain and is completely covered over as it flows under the CBD.

{{see also|Ballarat Central}}

File:Australia Victoria Ballarat City location map.svg

The city is home to nationally significant heritage structures. These include the Ballarat Botanical Gardens (established 1857),{{cite web|url=http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_register/search_the_register/ballarat_botanic_gardens|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323074402/http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_register/search_the_register/ballarat_botanic_gardens|title= BALLARAT BOTANIC GARDENS |work=National Trust of Australia (Victoria)Nattrust.com.au.|archive-date=23 March 2012}} with the greatest concentration of public statuary,{{cite web|url=http://www.cometolifeballarat.com/visit/experience-ballarat/lakes,-parks-and-gardens/ballarat-botanical-gardens.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325193004/http://www.cometolifeballarat.com/visit/experience-ballarat/lakes%2C-parks-and-gardens/ballarat-botanical-gardens.aspx |archive-date=25 March 2012 |title=Balarat Public Gardens |url-status=dead }} the official Prime Ministers Avenue, the longest running lyric theatre building (Her Majesty's Theatre, established 1875),Her Maj: A History of Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat by Peter Freund with Val Sarah {{ISBN|978-0-9757483-1-2}}. the first municipal observatory, established 1886,[http://observatory.ballarat.net/ Ballaarat Astronomical Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724201611/http://observatory.ballarat.net/ |date=24 July 2011 }}. Observatory.ballarat.net. Retrieved 18 August 2011. and the earliest and longest war memorial avenue (the Avenue of Honour, established between 1917 and 1919).[http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1 Monuments and Memorials within Australia associated with World War One]. Monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 18 August 2011.

Ballarat is a primarily low-rise city. The City of Ballarat defines two Major Activity Centres within the urban area – the Central Business District (CBD) and Wendouree with a high concentration of business, retail and community function based primarily on the Melbourne 2030 planning model and a further 11 neighbourhood activity centres.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/991206/ballarat_c151_panel_report.pdf|title=Ballarat Panel Report|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317222144/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/991206/ballarat_c151_panel_report.pdf|archive-date=17 March 2017|url-status=dead}} The tallest building in urban Ballarat is the seven-storey Henry Bolte wing of the Ballarat Base Hospital (1994). Beyond the central area, urban Ballarat extends into several suburban areas with a mixture of housing styles. Predominant styles are 19th-century villas, Victorian terraces,{{cite web|url=http://www.australianterrace.com/terraced-houses-in/victoria/ballarat/|title=Ballarat|work=Australian Terrace Houses|access-date=22 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529172500/http://www.australianterrace.com/terraced-houses-in/victoria/ballarat/|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=dead}} Federation homes and Georgian red brick homes. Settlement patterns around Ballarat consist of small villages and country towns, some with less than a few thousand people.

The central business district (located in Ballarat Central) is a large mixed-use office and retail district bounded to the north by railway lines, to the west by Drummond Street, to the south to Grant Street and to the east by Princes Street and spanning the floodplain of the Yarrowee River. Lydiard, Sturt Streets, Armstrong, Doveton, Dana Street and Bridge Street (known as Bridge Mall) along with the historic centre of East Ballarat—Main Street and Bakery Hill have retained stands of commercial and civic buildings of state and national heritage significance.

The inner established suburbs were initially laid out around the key mining areas and include Ballarat East, Bakery Hill, Golden Point, Soldiers Hill, Black Hill, Brown Hill, Eureka, Canadian, Mount Pleasant, Redan, Sebastopol and Newington.

The post gold rush era has seen a boom in expansion, extending the conurbation north, south and west. To the west, Ballarat has expanded West to Lucas, Alfredton, Delacombe To The North West Wendouree, Wendouree West and Miners Rest To the north it has expanded to Ballarat North, Invermay Park,{{cite web|url=http://profile.id.com.au/ballarat/about?WebID=130|title=About the profile areas – Ballarat North – Invermay Park – profile.id|work=id.com.au|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-date=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024022919/http://profile.id.com.au/ballarat/about?WebID=130|url-status=dead}} Invermay, Victoria{{cite web|url=http://www.whereis.com/vic/invermay-3352|title=Map of Invermay, VIC 3352 – Whereis®|work=whereis.com}} Invermay and Nerrina; to the east to Warrenheip and south to Sebastopol, Mount Clear and Mount Helen with the urban area encroaching the large town of Buninyong.

Wendouree is currently the only major suburban activity centre with a large indoor shopping mall—Stockland Shopping Centre (expanded in 2007{{cite web|url=http://www.stockland.com.au/assets/shopping-centres_vic/DEV24467_WEN_FlashTower.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706112544/http://www.stockland.com.au/assets/shopping-centres_vic/DEV24467_WEN_FlashTower.pdf|title=STOCKLAND WENDOUREE SHOPPING CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT|archive-date=6 July 2011}}) and also has a number of surrounding retail parks including a strip shopping centre along Howitt Street including the large retail chain Harvey Norman. Elsewhere are small suburban hubs with supermarkets such as IGA (supermarkets) and small stretches of shopfronts.

Unlike Melbourne, Ballarat does not have a defined urban growth boundary.{{cite web|url=http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/melbourne2030online/content/policies_initiatives/02a_policy21.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040205194600/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/melbourne2030online/content/policies_initiatives/02a_policy21.html|title= Establish an urban growth boundary to set clear limits to metropolitan Melbourne's outward development|archive-date=5 February 2004}} This has put continuing pressure on the city council to approve development applications for subdivisions outside of the city fringe. In response to lobbying by landholders, the Ballarat West Growth Area Plan, a major greenfield land development plan, was prepared and has approved by the city and state government to allow for planned fringe communities consisting of 14,000 new homes and up to 40,000 new residents, effectively doubling the city's urban area by extending the urban sprawl from Sebastopol, Delacombe and Alfredton west toward Bonshaw, Smythes Creek and Cardigan with a new suburb to be known as Lucas to be created.Henderson, Fiona [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-west-suburb-to-be-named-lucas/2071841.aspx Ballarat west suburb to be named Lucas] The Courier 10 February 2011. New activity centres have been developed at Delacombe and Alfredton.

File:Lydiard Street South.JPG

Ballarat is renowned for its Victorian architectural heritage. In 2003 Ballarat was the first of two Australian cities to be registered as a member of the International League of Historical Cities and in 2006 hosted the 10th World League of Historical Cities Congress.[http://www.leaguehistoricalcities-ballarat.com/ League of Historical Cities Conference 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415194813/http://www.leaguehistoricalcities-ballarat.com/ |date=15 April 2011 }}. Leaguehistoricalcities-ballarat.com. Retrieved 18 August 2011. The city's history is a major focus of the Collaborative Research Centre in Australian History, part of Federation University Australia, and is located at old Ballarat Gaol.

The legacy of the wealth generated during Ballarat's gold boom is still visible in a large number of fine stone buildings in and around the city, especially in the Lydiard Street area. This precinct contains some of Victoria's finest examples of Victorian era buildings, many of which are on the Victorian Heritage Register or classified by the National Trust of Australia. Notable civic buildings include the Town Hall (1870–72), the former Post Office (1864), the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery (1887), the Mechanics' Institute (1860, 1869), the Queen Victoria Wards of the Ballarat Base Hospital (1890s) and the Ballarat railway station (1862, 1877, 1888). Other historic buildings include the Provincial Hotel (1909), Reid's Coffee Palace (1886), Craig's Royal Hotel (1862–1890) and Her Majesty's Theatre (1875), the oldest intact and operating lyric theatre in Australia and Ballarat Fire Station (1864, 1911) one of Victoria's oldest fire fighting structures{{cite news|title=The Tower|work=Royal Auto|date=May 2010|page=7|author=Brown, Jenny|publisher=RACV Public Affairs}} and the Jewish synagogue (1861) the oldest surviving synagogue on the Australian mainland.[http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/admin/file/content2/c7/ballarat_synagogue.pdf Heritage Victoria – Ballarat Synagogue] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018082843/http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/admin/file/content2/c7/ballarat_synagogue.pdf |date=18 October 2009 }}. (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2011.

File:VictorianBuilding0003.jpg

File:BallaratEastFireBrigade.jpg, the oldest continually operating fire station in the Southern Hemisphere, and the site of the first operational telephone, made by Henry Sutton.]]

Restoration of historic buildings is encouraged including a low interest council Heritage Loans Scheme.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/heritage/help--advice-for-owners-of-heritage-places-in-ballarat/heritage-restoration-loan.aspx |title=Heritage Restoration Loan |publisher=Ballarat.vic.gov.au |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022015246/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/heritage/help--advice-for-owners-of-heritage-places-in-ballarat/heritage-restoration-loan.aspx |archive-date=22 October 2010}} and the prevention of demolition by neglect discouraged by council policies.[http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-city-council-plan-to-preserve-heritage/1813142.aspx Ballarat City Council Plan to Preserve Heritage] by Marcus Power for The Courier. 26 April 2010. Since the 1970s,{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/building-and-planning/statutory-planning/heritage-protection.aspx |title=Heritage Protection |publisher=Ballarat.vic.gov.au |date=1 June 2010 |access-date=18 August 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100324070646/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/building-and-planning/statutory-planning/heritage-protection.aspx |archive-date = 24 March 2010|url-status=dead}} the local council has become increasingly aware of the economic and social value of heritage preservation.[http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/strategy/pubs/economics-value-ballarat.pdf The Economics of Heritage – The value of heritage to the City of Ballarat] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317064908/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/strategy/pubs/economics-value-ballarat.pdf |date=17 March 2011 }} from environment.gov.au This is in stark contrast to the 1950s and 60s when Ballarat followed Melbourne in encouraging the removal of Victorian buildings, verandahs in particular. Recent restoration projects funded by the Ballarat include the reconstruction of significant cast iron lace verandahs including the Mining Exchange, Art Gallery (2007), Mechanics institute (2005–){{cite press release|url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/955cbeae7df9460dca256c8c00152d2b/d9871d74f940d93cca2570b100826472!OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111195400/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/955cbeae7df9460dca256c8c00152d2b/d9871d74f940d93cca2570b100826472%21OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2012 |title=Ballaarat Mechanics Institute to get $1.5 Million Restoration |publisher=Legislation.vic.gov.au |date=4 November 2005 |access-date=18 August 2010 }} on Lydiard Street and in 2010 the restoration of the Town Hall and the long neglected Unicorn Hotel façade on Sturt Street.[http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/restoration-work-to-start-at-unicorn-hotel-after-permits-approved/1471127.aspx Restoration work to start at Unicorn Hotel after permits approved] by Marcus Power for The Courier. 27 March 2009.

Ballarat Citizens for Thoughtful Development formed in 1998 and was incorporated as Ballarat Heritage Watch in 2005 to ensure that the city's architectural heritage is given due consideration in the planning process.{{cite web|url=http://ballaratheritagewatch.wordpress.com/ |title=Ballarat Heritage Watch |publisher=Ballaratheritagewatch.wordpress.com |access-date=18 August 2010}}

The Ballarat Botanical Gardens (established in 1858) are recognised as the finest example of a regional botanical gardens in Australia and are home to many heritage listed exotic tree species and feature a modern glasshouse and horticultural centre and the Prime Ministers Avenue which features bronze busts of every past Australian Prime Minister.

Ballarat is notable for its very wide boulevards. The main street is Sturt Street with over {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=off}} of central gardens known as the Sturt Street Gardens featuring bandstands, fountains, statues, monuments, memorials and lampposts. Ballarat is home to the largest of a collection of Avenues of Honour in Victoria. The {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=off|adj=mid|-long}} Ballarat Avenue of Honour consists of a total of approximately 4,000 trees, mostly deciduous which in many parts arch completely over the road. Each tree has a bronze plaque dedicated to a soldier from the Ballarat region who enlisted during World War I. The Avenue of Honour and the Arch of Victory are on the Victorian Heritage Register and are seen by approximately 20,000 visitors each year.

The city also has the greatest concentration of public statuary in any Australian city with many parks and streets featuring sculptures and statues dating from the 1860s to the present. Some of the other notable memorials located in the Sturt Street Gardens in the middle of Ballarat's main boulevard include a bandstand situated in the heart of the city that was funded and built by the City of Ballarat Band in 1913 as a tribute to the bandsmen of the {{RMS|Titanic}}, a fountain dedicated to the early explorers Burke and Wills, and those dedicated to monarchs and those who have played pivotal roles in the development of the city and its rich social fabric. These include, Robert Burns, Peter Lalor, Sir Albert Coates, Harold "Pompey" Elliott, William Dunstan, King George V, Queen Victoria and more.

Ballarat has an extensive array of significant war memorials, the most recent of which is the Australian Ex Prisoner of War Memorial. The most prominent memorial in the city is the Ballarat Victory Arch that spans the old Western Highway on the Western approaches of the city. The archway serves as the focal point for the Avenue of Honour. Other significant individual monuments located along Sturt Street include those dedicated to the Boer War (1899–1901), the World War II (1939–1945) cenotaph, and Vietnam (1962–1972) (located adjacent to the Arch of Victory).

Ballarat has a moderate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb){{cite journal|doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007|title=Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification|year=2007|last1=Peel|first1=M. C.|last2=Finlayson|first2=B. L.|last3=McMahon|first3=T. A.|journal=Hydrology and Earth System Sciences|volume=11|issue=5|pages=1633–1644|bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P|doi-access=free}}{{cite book|last = Linacre|first = Edward|author2=Geerts, Bart|title = Climates and Weather Explained|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mkZa1KLHCAQC&pg=PA379|year = 1997|publisher = Routledge|location = London|isbn = 978-0-415-12519-2|page = 379}} with four distinct seasons. Its elevation, ranging between {{convert|400|and|630|m|ft|abbr=off}} above sea level, causes its mean monthly temperatures to tend to be on average {{convert|3|to|5|C-change|sigfig=1}} below those of Melbourne, especially in winter.{{Cite news |last=Forsberg |first=Claudia |date=2023-08-05 |title=Does Ballarat deserve its reputation as the coldest city in Victoria? The answer is complex |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-06/ballarat-coldest-city-in-victoria/102682414 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208031429/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-06/ballarat-coldest-city-in-victoria/102682414 |archive-date=2024-02-08 |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The mean daily maximum temperature for January is {{convert|25.1|°C|0|abbr=on}},{{cite web|title = Monthly Climate Statistics: Ballarat Aerodrome|publisher = Australian Bureau of Meteorology |date = 23 January 2013|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_089002_All.shtml|access-date = 23 January 2013}} while the mean minimum is {{convert|10.9|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In July, the mean maximum is {{convert|10.0|°C|0|abbr=on}}; average July minimum is {{convert|3.2|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Ballarat has 55.2 clear days annually, with the grand majority in summer and early autumn. Ballarat has very rainy winters.

The city has a reputation for unpredictable and extreme weather, ranging from snowfall to intense heatwaves.{{Cite web|last=Gliddon|first=Greg|date=2018-12-31|title=2018 was a year of weather extremes across Ballarat|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5830924/2018-was-a-year-of-weather-extremes-across-ballarat/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=The Courier|language=en-AU}} Perhaps the most infamous feature of Ballarat's climate is the chilly winter, often accentuated by driving winds.{{Cite web|date=2014-11-05|title=You know you're from Ballarat when... you're annoyed at others complaining about the weather|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2675995/you-know-youre-from-ballarat-when-youre-annoyed-at-others-complaining-about-the-weather/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=The Courier|language=en-AU}} In 2023, a journalist for ABC Ballarat wrote that Ballarat "is notorious for its frosty winters and the near year-round puffer jacket uniform of its residents". When measured by mean temperatures, Ballarat is the coldest city in Victoria.{{Cite web |last=Forsberg |first=Claudia |date=6 August 2023 |title=Does Ballarat deserve its reputation as coldest city in Victoria? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-06/ballarat-coldest-city-in-victoria/102682414 |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=ABC News}}

File:Oaks and fog along Lake Wendouree.jpg is common on autumn and winter mornings but usually dissipates by mid-morning.]]

Temperatures can dip below freezing from May to September, however, a low of 0-2 °C is more common - widespread frosts and fog are a regular sight. Snowfall typically falls on nearby Mount Buninyong and Mount Warrenheip several times a year, but in the urban area only once or twice, particularly during heavy winters. Snow has been known to fall heavily with several centimetres accumulating even in the CBD. Heavy snow seasons occurred in 1900–1902 and 1905–1907 (with record falls in 1906), and moderate snow seasons were recorded during the 1940s and 1980s. Snowfalls in the urban area have occurred in recent years: November 2006 (light),{{cite news|date=15 November 2006|title=Fires rage and snow's falling|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/fires-rage-and-snows-falling/2006/11/15/1163266590381.html}} July 2007 (heavy),{{cite news|last=Burgess|first=Matthew|date=8 July 2008|title=Snow falls as cold snap hits state|work=The Age|location=Melbourne, Australia|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/snow-falls-as-cold-snap-hits-state-20080708-38d2.html}}{{cite web|title=Ballarat snowfall – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2010/10/18/3041397.htm|access-date=18 August 2010|work=ABC News}} June 2008 (light),{{cite web|date=8 July 2008|title=Snow falls in Ballarat – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2008/07/08/2297589.htm|access-date=18 August 2010|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} August 2008 (light),{{cite web|last=Watt|first=Jarrod|date=11 August 2008|title=Sunday snow in Ballarat – ABC Ballarat|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2008/08/11/2331555.htm|access-date=18 August 2010|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} August 2014 (moderate){{cite web|date=1 August 2014|title=Snow falls in Ballarat City Centre – The Courier newspaper|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2457772/snow-falls-in-ballarat-city-centre/?cs=62|access-date=1 August 2014|publisher=The Courier Ballarat}} and June 2016 (light),{{cite web|date=24 June 2016|title=Ballarat snow is a hazy shade of winter – The Courier newspaper|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3990306/ballarat-snow-is-a-hazy-shade-of-winter/?cs=62|access-date=24 June 2016|publisher=The Courier Ballarat}} July 2017 (light), June 2018 (moderate), May 2019 (light),{{Cite web|last=Gliddon|first=Greg|date=2019-05-29|title=Autumn snow falls in Ballarat as part of 'one in 20-year event'|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6188057/autumn-snow-falls-in-ballarat-as-part-of-one-in-20-year-event/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=The Courier|language=en-AU}} and August and September 2020 (light and heavy).{{Cite web|date=2020-09-25|title='Massive flakes of snow' fall in Victoria as temperatures drop to record-breaking levels|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-25/snow-falls-victoria-spring-cold-weather-record-ballarat/12705416|access-date=2021-02-04|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}File:Sturt street snow scene 1905.jpgThe mean annual rainfall is {{convert|693|mm|in|abbr=off}}, with August being the wettest month ({{convert|75|mm|in|disp=or|abbr=on}}). There are an average of 198 rain-free days per year. Like much of Australia, Ballarat experiences cyclical drought and heavy rainfall. Flooding of the Yarrowee catchment occurs occasionally. In 1869 a serious flood of the Yarrowee River put most of the lower section of the business district including Bridge and Grenville streets under water and caused the loss of two lives.The Great Flood of Ballarat. pg 6. The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser. 23 October 1869. Prolonged drought (an average annual rainfall with falls averaging as low as {{convert|400|mm|0|abbr=on}} per year since 2001) caused Lake Wendouree to dry up completely for the first time in its history between 2006 and 2007. More recently higher rainfall levels have been recorded including {{convert|95.0|mm|2|abbr=on}} in the 24 hours to 9 am on 14 January 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201101/html/IDCJDW3005.201101.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322054555/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201101/html/IDCJDW3005.201101.shtml|title=Ballarat, Victoria January 2011 Daily Weather Observations|work= Commonwealth of Australia 2011, Bureau of Meteorology|archive-date=22 March 2011}} ending a four-day period of flooding rains across much of Victoria and Tasmania,Millar, Paul and Sexton, Reid [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/national/national/general/victoria-and-tasmania-struggle-with-heavy-rain/2047201.aspx Victoria and Tasmania struggle with heavy rain] The Courier 14 January 2011.[http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-region-floods-as-record-rains-fall/2047512.aspx Ballarat region floods as record rains fall] The Courier 14 January 2011.Williams, Erin [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-region-floods-as-record-rains-fall/2048186.aspx Ballarat region floods as record rains fall] The Courier 15 January 2011. and contributing to the wettest January on record, with a total of {{convert|206.0|mm|2|abbr=on}} of rain for the month.Rayner, Meg [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/wettest-january-ever-in-ballarat/2053606.aspx Wettest January ever in Ballarat] The Courier 20 January 2011.

The city's mean daily wind run is 470 km,{{Cite web|title=Climate statistics for Australian locations|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_089002_All.shtml|access-date=2021-02-04|website=www.bom.gov.au}} almost twice that of Melbourne, making it one of the windiest cities in Australia. This in turn causes warm summers to feel substantially cooler and near-freezing winter days to have a far below zero wind chill.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-09|title=Ballarat's freezing morning: 'feels like' temperature drops to -6.5|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6785729/ballarats-freezing-morning-feels-like-temperature-drops-to-65/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=The Courier|language=en-AU}}

Ballarat's highest maximum recorded temperature was {{convert|44.1|°C|0|abbr=on}} on 7 February 2009 during the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave.{{cite web|author1=Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology |title=The exceptional January–February 2009 heatwave in southeastern Australia |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs17d.pdf |date=February 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913022711/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs17d.pdf |archive-date=13 September 2016 |access-date=23 September 2016 }} The lowest recorded minimum was {{convert|-6.0|°C|0|abbr=on}} on 21 July 1982.[http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3221984/citys-coldest-morning/?cs=62 The Courier], 2015

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed =

|location = Ballarat Aerodrome, elev. {{convert|435|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 means, extremes 1951–present)

|Jan record high C = 42.0

|Feb record high C = 44.1

|Mar record high C = 37.9

|Apr record high C = 32.2

|May record high C = 26.1

|Jun record high C = 21.6

|Jul record high C = 19.1

|Aug record high C = 23.0

|Sep record high C = 27.9

|Oct record high C = 33.4

|Nov record high C = 37.3

|Dec record high C = 43.5

| year record high C = 44.1

|Jan record low C = 0.7

|Feb record low C = -1.4

|Mar record low C = -0.6

|Apr record low C = -4.1

|May record low C = -4.5

|Jun record low C = -4.6

|Jul record low C = -6.0

|Aug record low C = -5.0

|Sep record low C = -4.6

|Oct record low C = -3.6

|Nov record low C = -1.0

|Dec record low C = -1.0

| year record low C = -6.0

|Jan high C = 26.2

|Feb high C = 25.7

|Mar high C = 22.9

|Apr high C = 18.4

|May high C = 14.2

|Jun high C = 11.3

|Jul high C = 10.5

|Aug high C = 11.8

|Sep high C = 14.1

|Oct high C = 17.3

|Nov high C = 20.5

|Dec high C = 23.4

| year high C = 18.0

|Jan low C = 11.6

|Feb low C = 11.6

|Mar low C = 9.9

|Apr low C = 7.0

|May low C = 5.1

|Jun low C = 3.6

|Jul low C = 3.0

|Aug low C = 3.1

|Sep low C = 4.4

|Oct low C = 5.9

|Nov low C = 8.0

|Dec low C = 9.4

| year low C = 6.9

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 45.1

|Feb rain mm = 39.5

|Mar rain mm = 31.5

|Apr rain mm = 42.4

|May rain mm = 50.4

|Jun rain mm = 60.2

|Jul rain mm = 61.4

|Aug rain mm = 66.5

|Sep rain mm = 69.2

|Oct rain mm = 53.8

|Nov rain mm = 54.5

|Dec rain mm = 46.2

|year rain mm = 620.9

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm

| Jan rain days = 7.7

| Feb rain days = 6.9

| Mar rain days = 8.5

| Apr rain days = 11.7

| May rain days = 15.8

| Jun rain days = 18.2

| Jul rain days = 19.9

| Aug rain days = 18.6

| Sep rain days = 16.8

| Oct rain days = 14.5

| Nov rain days = 11.7

| Dec rain days = 10.4

| year rain days = 160.7

| humidity colour = green

| time day =3 P.M.

| Jan afthumidity = 43

| Feb afthumidity = 43

| Mar afthumidity = 46

| Apr afthumidity = 54

| May afthumidity = 67

| Jun afthumidity = 77

| Jul afthumidity = 75

| Aug afthumidity = 71

| Sep afthumidity = 65

| Oct afthumidity = 58

| Nov afthumidity = 55

| Dec afthumidity = 47

| year afthumidity = 58

| Jan dew point C =9.0

| Feb dew point C =9.2

| Mar dew point C =7.8

| Apr dew point C =6.7

| May dew point C =6.9

| Jun dew point C =6.2

| Jul dew point C =5.2

| Aug dew point C =5.1

| Sep dew point C =5.9

| Oct dew point C =6.4

| Nov dew point C =7.8

| Dec dew point C =8.1

| year dew point C = 7.0

|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Dew point at 3 P.M.){{cite web

| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_089002_All.shtml

| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations- BALLARAT AERODROME

| date = 8 July 2024}}{{cite web

|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=089002&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations (normals: 1991–2020)|access-date =29 November 2020 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_089002_All.shtml|title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Ballarat Aerodrome (all data)|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=5 January 2022}}

| date = 5 January 2022

}}

File:BallaratTownCommon.jpg

While there are no national parks in Ballarat's proximity, Ballarat is bordered by extensive bushland to the north, south and south west and sensitive wetlands to the east. The most central park to the city is the 130 ha Victoria Park, with a plethora of ovals and fields, playgrounds, walking tracks and quiet roads. There are a number of nearby state parks and large reserves including the Enfield State Park,{{cite web|url=http://www.creswick.net/things_to_do/bush_walking|title=Creswick, Bush Walking, Scenery, History, Landcare|first=UBC Web|last=Design|work=creswick.net}} Creswick Regional Park, Mount Warrenheip Flora Reserve, Mount Buninyong Reserve and Lake Burrumbeet park. There are also smaller parks, like Black Hill, Victoria Park, Pioneer Park and Yarowee Reserve, located within walking distance of the city centre.

Ballarat is unique in Australia—and internationally—for having retained much of its commons land, which can be used by any resident of Ballarat. Ballarat Town Common, Ballarat West Town Common and Ballarat Common are located to the west of the city. Ballarat Town Common can be accessed via Howe Street in Miners Rest and is used by dog walkers and ramblers, especially because of its open grass fields and native wetland. Ballarat West Town Common is presently farmed on by licensed farmers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/soilhealth/soils_resource_details.php?resource_id=4093|title=Ballarat West Town Common : Landscape plan and future management|first=Wicks, A. (Landscape and Architectural Services Section, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands|last=Victoria)|website=www.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au}} The commons were reduced in size during the 20th century for property development.{{Cite web |date=2 July 1952 |title=Victoria Government Gazette |url=http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1952/V/general/534.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009072423/http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1952/V/general/534.pdf |archive-date=2015-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Victoria Government Gazette}}

The region is home to a large koala population with protected areas established in the city's outer southern and eastern settlements.Williams, Erin. (3 August 2010) [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/vcat-knocks-back-mt-helen-subdivision-due-to-koalas/1902027.aspx VCAT knocks back Mt Helen subdivision – Local News – News – General]. The Courier. Retrieved 18 August 2011.[http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/57443/ballarat%20koala%20plan%20of%20management%20-%20information%20brochure.pdf Implementing the Ballarat Koala Plan of Management through the Ballarat Planning Scheme] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121161808/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/57443/ballarat%20koala%20plan%20of%20management%20-%20information%20brochure.pdf |date=21 November 2010 }}. (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2011.

Air quality in Ballarat is generally good,{{cite web|url=http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/Publications.NSF/515bc2fde7bf93f44a2565b6001ee896/83b1f49d9d53c2d0ca256dc700218012/$FILE/936.pdf |title=Airborne particle monitoring at Ballarat, 2 Feb to Sept 03 |access-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313175439/http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/publications.nsf/515bc2fde7bf93f44a2565b6001ee896/83b1f49d9d53c2d0ca256dc700218012/%24FILE/936.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2011 }} however dust is sometimes an issue in the summer months[http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/media.nsf/ad5006bdf5dcd5c84a256695000c4619/601aee450aac2fd6ca256e1f0082904f?OpenDocument Ballarat's Air Quality good despite drought dust] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117102321/http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/media.nsf/ad5006bdf5dcd5c84a256695000c4619/601aee450aac2fd6ca256e1f0082904f?OpenDocument |date=17 January 2012 }} 21 January 2004. and woodsmoke from fireplaces contributes to reductions in visibility in the winter months.{{cite web|url=http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/Publications.NSF/PubDocsLU/1111?OpenDocument |title=Air monitoring at Ballarat August 2005 to August 2006 |publisher=Epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au |access-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227081110/http://epanote2.epa.vic.gov.au/EPA/publications.nsf/PubDocsLU/1111?OpenDocument |archive-date=27 February 2011 }} Ballarat's waterways have historically been affected by heavy pollution from both mining and industry.{{cite web|last=Quinlan |first=Kim |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/news-features/yarrowee-dont-call-it-a-creek/526254.aspx |title=Yarrowee: Don't call it a creek. – Local News – News – News Features |publisher=The Courier |date=11 April 2002 |access-date=18 August 2010}}

The Ballarat Environment Network formed in 1993 to provide a voice for environmental and nature conservation issues in Ballarat and its surroundings.{{cite web|url=http://www.ben.org.au |title=Offline |publisher=BEN |access-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701205733/http://ben.org.au/ |archive-date=1 July 2010}} Another large lobby group for sustainability in the city is the Ballarat Renewable Energy And Zero Emissions (BREAZE) formed in 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.breaze.org.au/ |title=Welcome to BREAZE |publisher=Breaze.org.au |access-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808150244/http://www.breaze.org.au/ |archive-date=8 August 2010 |url-status=dead }} The City of Ballarat released an Environment Sustainability Strategy for the city in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/66766/city%20of%20ballarat%20environment%20sustainability%20strategy.pdf |title=Ballarat Sustainability Strategy |access-date=12 November 2013 |date=1 September 2007 |publisher=City of Ballarat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112121123/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/66766/city%20of%20ballarat%20environment%20sustainability%20strategy.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2013 }}

Many parts of urban Ballarat have been affected by the introduction of exotic species, particularly introduced flora. Common gorse is one such problem which has prompted the formation of an official Ballarat Region Gorse Task Force in 1999 to control.{{cite web |url = http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2001/publications/theme-reports/biodiversity/biodiversity04-2a.html#cs18 |title = Biodiversity, Australia State of the Environment Report 2001 (Theme Report): Biodiversity issues and challenges (part 2) |access-date = 12 November 2013 |date = 13 December 2010 |publisher = Environment Victoria}} European rabbits{{cite news |title = Rabbit numbers on the rise across Ballarat region |date = 5 January 2012 |publisher = Fairfax |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/rabbit-numbers-on-the-rise-across-ballarat-region/2411329.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date = 12 November 2013}} and red foxes{{cite news |first = Gav |last = McGrath |title = Foxes in plague numbers across Ballarat district |date = 19 June 2013 |publisher = Fairfax |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1581083/foxes-in-plague-numbers-across-ballarat-district/ |work = The Courier |access-date = 12 November 2013}} cause significant environmental damage in the region's agriculture areas.

The economy of Ballarat is driven by all three economic sectors, though contemporary Ballarat has emerged as a primarily service economy with its main industry being the service industry and its key areas of business including tourism, hospitality, retail, professional services, government administration and education. Secondary sector including manufacturing, which had grown in the 20th century remains an important sector. The city's historic primary sector roots including mining and agriculture continue to play a role, though one that has declined since the 20th century. Industries emerging this century include information technology service sector and renewable energy.

As a major service centre for the populous goldfields region, Ballarat has large sectors of employment in business including retail, professional services and trades as well as state and federal government branch offices for public services and health care and non-government service organisations. Collectively these industries employ more than half of the city's workforce and generate the bulk of the city's economic activity.

Ballarat is the main retail economy in the region. The city has several key retail districts including a pedestrian mall known as Bridge Mall comprising over 100 traders. There are also indoor shopping malls including Central Square Shopping Centre and Stockland Wendouree. better known as Wendouree Village, with a large number of specialty stores. Major department stores include Myer, Target, Big W, Kmart, Harvey Norman and Harris Scarfe.Harris Scarfe Ballarat store opens. The Courier.

15 June 2011. Additionally each of the major supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths, IGA and Aldi) are represented. Servicing the financial sector are branches of the big four Australian retail banks (National Australia Bank, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac) along with Bendigo & Adelaide Bank and St George Bank and a number of smaller independent financial services firms.

Federation University Australia exports education through a large international students program and throughout Australia through distance education programs.

In recent years, a large technology park, the Ballarat Technology Park with communications centre has been established, with tenants including IBM and employing over 1,400 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmv.vic.gov.au/NewsIBMexpansionbrings300jobstoBallarat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406064658/http://www.mmv.vic.gov.au/NewsIBMexpansionbrings300jobstoBallarat|archive-date=6 April 2011 |title=Multimedia Victoria – IBM expansion brings 300 jobs to Ballarat |publisher=Mmv.vic.gov.au |date=4 December 2009 |access-date=18 August 2010}}

Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) is located on the north-west fringe of Ballarat, adjacent to the Ballarat Airport, existing rail infrastructure and the Ballarat Western Link Road.{{Cite web|url=https://www.development.vic.gov.au/projects/ballarat-west-employment-zone?page=overview|title=Ballarat West Employment Zone|date=7 November 2019}} Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) will become the engine room for jobs and economic growth in Ballarat over the next 20 years. The project involves the development of surplus Crown Land for industrial, wholesale, logistics, construction, commercial and residential uses, encouraging employment growth in Ballarat and the surrounding region. BWEZ will also include a freight hub, secure infrastructure and access to road, rail and ports. Businesses located un BWEZ include CHS Broadbent, Westlab Pty Ltd, Agrimac, Milestone Benchtops, Kane Transport and Office Vision.

File:Sovereign Hill (4278666452).jpg

Ballarat attracts 2.2 million visitors a year[http://tourismexcellence.com.au/images/stories/pdf/module5/BallaratVisitorServices.pdf City of Ballarat Visitor Services] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216155217/http://tourismexcellence.com.au/images/stories/pdf/module5/BallaratVisitorServices.pdf |date=16 February 2011 }}. (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2011. and the tourism and hospitality industry is a A$480 million a year sector which accounts for around 15% of Ballarat's economy and employs around 2,870 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarattouristassociation.asn.au/ |title=Ballarat Tourist Association |publisher=Ballarat Tourist Association |access-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401080313/http://www.ballarattouristassociation.asn.au/ |archive-date=1 April 2010 }} Tourism in Ballarat is promoted by Ballarat Regional Tourism.{{cite web|title=Ballarat Regional Tourism comes of age|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/about-council/communications-and-publications/media-releases/january-2011/ballarat-regional-tourism-comes-of-age-.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319172832/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/about-council/communications-and-publications/media-releases/january-2011/ballarat-regional-tourism-comes-of-age-.aspx|archive-date=19 March 2012}}

A significant heritage tourism industry has grown substantially in Ballarat since the 1960s. Ballarat is most notable for the award-winning open-air museum known as Sovereign Hill, a recreated 1850s gold mining settlement opened in 1970. Sovereign Hill is Ballarat's biggest tourism drawcard and is consistently rated among the best outdoor museums in the world and continues to expand. Sovereign Hill accounts for over half a million of Ballarat's visitors and $40 million in tourism revenue.[http://www.businessballarat.com/?id=sovereignhil Business Ballarat – Sovereign Hill] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325193018/http://www.businessballarat.com/?id=sovereignhil |date=25 March 2012 }}

Several businesses and attractions have capitalised on Ballarat's gold mining history. They include Kryal Castle (1972), "Gold Rush Mini Golf" (2002) featuring the "Big Miner" (2006) one of Australia's big things (although the original proposal appeared larger and for the miner to hold the Eureka Flag){{cite web|url=http://www.goldrushgolf.com.au/uploads/GoldrushEditorial_4_web.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218003049/http://www.goldrushgolf.com.au/uploads/GoldrushEditorial_4_web.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2011}} at Ballarat's eastern entrance.

Other tourist attractions include the Eureka Centre; The Gold Museum, Ballarat;{{cite web|url=http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/gold-museum-ballarat/|title=sovereignhill – Ballarat Attraction, Museum|work=sovereignhill.com.au}} Ballarat Botanic gardens and Lake Wendouree; the Ballarat Tramway Museum and Ballarat Wildlife Park. A large number of Ballarat hotels, motels and restaurants service the tourism industry. The Ballarat Tourist Association is an industry based non-profit, membership organisation representing the city's tourism industry.

Ballarat hosts a number of annual festivals with historical and cultural focus including the Ballarat Begonia Festival, Ballarat Heritage Weekend and Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5895858/why-there-is-more-to-the-rockabilly-festival-than-dancing-dress-and-rock-beats/|title=Why there is more to the rockabilly festival than dancing, dress and rock beats|date=9 February 2019}}

According to the 2021 Australian Census, manufacturing is Ballarat's sixth largest employment sector, accounting for 7% of all workers.{{Cite web |title=2021 Ballarat, Census Community Profiles {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/2003 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.abs.gov.au}}

Ballarat attracts investment from several international manufacturers. The Australian headquarters of Mars, Incorporated was established in Ballarat in 1979 with the main Ballarat factory producing popular confectionery including Mars bars,Sobey, Emily [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/mars-celebrates-30-years-in-ballarat/1688226.aspx Mars celebrates 30 years in Ballarat] The Courier. 24 November 2009. Snickers and M&M's for the Australian market as well as expanding in 2013 to produce Maltesers.[http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/6146-nothing-pleases-like-maltesers-made-in-ballarat.html Nothing pleases like Maltesers made in Ballarat] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524175132/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/6146-nothing-pleases-like-maltesers-made-in-ballarat.html |date=24 May 2013 }}. 28 February 2013 From the Victorian Premier, and Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade McCain Foods Limited Australian headquarters was established in Ballarat in 1970 and the company continues to expand its operations.[http://www.mccain.com.au/our-company_about-mccain_company-history.aspx Company History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110133016/http://mccain.com.au/our-company_about-mccain_company-history.aspx |date=10 January 2012 }} from mccain.com.au The Ballarat North Workshops is a major manufacturer of public transportation products with current investment from Alstom.[http://tandlnews.com.au/2010/08/31/article/XTrapolis-train-manufacturing-under-way-in-Ballarat/HQBRJFWKRB.html X'trapolis Train Manufacturing Under Way in Ballarat]. Tandlnews.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421095020/http://tandlnews.com.au/2010/08/31/article/XTrapolis-train-manufacturing-under-way-in-Ballarat/HQBRJFWKRB.html |date=21 April 2012 }}

Ballarat also has a large number of home-grown companies producing textiles, general industrial engineering, food products, brick and tiles, building components, prefabricated housing components and automotive components. Brewing was once a large-scale operation, with many large businesses including the public company Phoenix Brewery, and although large-scale brewing has ceased, the city retains a substantial microbrewery industry.{{cite web|url=http://www.business.vic.gov.au/busvicwr/_assets/main/lib60053/beer%20lovers'%20guide%20to%20victoria's%20microbreweries.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003212406/http://www.business.vic.gov.au/busvicwr/_assets/main/lib60053/beer%20lovers%27%20guide%20to%20victoria%27s%20microbreweries.pdf |title=The Beer Lovers Guide to Victoria's microbreweries 4th edition |archive-date=3 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}

File:The "Welcome Nugget" Replica.jpg", found at Ballarat, the second-largest gold nugget discovered in recorded history]]

Though historically an important sector, the production of Ballarat's primary sector declined for many decades, recovering only marginally since 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf |title=Ballarat rural land use strategy |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182004/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead }} Where historically the mining industry supported tens of thousands of workers or the majority of the population, today agriculture dominates the sector, though collectively both industries employ less than thousand people or just over 2% of the City of Ballarat's total workforce.Ballarat Rural Land Use Strategy pg.31 http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182004/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }}

Ballarat rose to prominence as a goldrush boomtown, though gold no longer plays a pivotal role in the economy of the city. Nevertheless, deep underground mining continues to the present date with a single main mine operating. There are still thought to be large, undiscovered gold reserves in the Ballarat region, with investigations being made by local and national companies.{{cite news |last=Dobbin |first=Marika |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/miners-still-search-for-a-cart-of-gold-20100219-oly6.html |title=Miners still search for a cart of gold |work=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=20 February 2010 |access-date=31 January 2015}} Lihir Gold invested in Ballarat Goldfields in 2006,[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/10/17/1160850931304.html Lihir Gold to buy Ballarat for $350m] by Jamie Freed for The Age. 18 October 2006. however it downscaled its operations in 2009 due to the expense of extraction[http://www.theage.com.au/business/200-jobs-lost-as-lihir-gold-quits-ballarat-20090721-ds31.html 200 jobs lost as Lihir Gold quits Ballarat] by Mathew Murphy for The Age. 22 July 2009. before selling its stake in 2010 to Castlemaine Goldfields.{{cite web|url=http://www.topnews.in/lihir-gold-sells-ballarat-mine-castlemaine-2255447 |title=Lihir Gold sells Ballarat mine to Castlemaine | TopNews |publisher=Topnews.in |access-date=18 August 2010}} Along with gold, lignite (coal), kaolin (clay) and iron ore have also been mined in the Ballarat region and nearby Lal Lal however many of the resource deposits have since been exhausted. An active quarrying industry with large enterprises including Boral Limited{{cite web|url=http://www.boral.com.au/asphalt/new_ballarat_asphalt_plant.asp|title=Boral opens new state-of-the-art asphalt plant in Ballarat, Victoria|work=boral.com.au|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624014413/http://www.boral.com.au/asphalt/new_ballarat_asphalt_plant.asp|archive-date=24 June 2017|url-status=dead}} extracts and manufactures building materials from the Ballarat region, including clays, aggregates, cements, asphalts.

Approximately half ({{convert|38000|ha|disp=or}}) of the municipality's area is rural with optimal conditions for agriculture including rich volcanic soils and climate. This area is used primarily for agriculture and animal husbandry and generates more than $37 million in commodities.as at 2006 from http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182004/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }} The region supports an active potato growing industry that has supplied local food manufacturers including McCain, though more recently has been threatened by cheaper imports.{{cite news |last=McGrath |first=Gavin |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2066774/mccain-foods-potato-growers-fixing-strained-relationship/ |title=McCain Foods, potato growers fixing 'strained relationship' |work=The Courier |location=Ballarat |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=4 February 2014 |access-date=31 January 2015}} Other large crops include grains, vegetables, grapes and berries. Cattle and poultry stocks, including sheep, cows and pigs, support an active local meat and dairy industry. The Ballarat Livestock Selling Centre is the largest cattle exchange in regional Victoria.{{cite web |url=http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/cattle/ballarat-cattle-market-improves-in-tough-conditions/1447826.aspx |title=Ballarat cattle market improves in tough conditions – State News – Livestock – Cattle – Stock & Land |publisher=Sl.farmonline.com.au |date=2 March 2009 |access-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706104558/http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/cattle/ballarat-cattle-market-improves-in-tough-conditions/1447826.aspx |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society formed in 1856{{cite web |url = http://ballaratshow.org.au/about_us |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101009202316/http://ballaratshow.org.au/about_us |url-status = dead |archive-date = 9 October 2010 |title = About Us |access-date = 9 May 2012 |work = Ballarat Agricultural Society |publisher = ballaratshow.org.au }} and has run the Ballarat Show annually since 1859.According to the Agricultural Society's website, the showgrounds site has been relocated since its inaugural year, it was relocated to Lake Wendouree in 1861 before the current site at Creswick Road was used from 1934

A$7.5 millionas at 2002 http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923182004/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/470869/rlus%20strategy_pb%20final.pdf |date=23 September 2015 }} forestry industry is active in nearby state forests as well as on a small scale in the urban area along the Canadian Valley around the suburbs of Mt Clear and Mt Helen areas with pine plantations and sawmill operations.{{cite web |url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/57458/explanatory%20report.pdf |title = Ballarat Planning Scheme Amendment C95 Explanatory Report |access-date = 9 May 2012 |work = City of Ballarat |publisher = ballarat.vic.gov.au |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120224125101/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/57458/explanatory%20report.pdf |archive-date = 24 February 2012 |url-status = dead }}

File:Waubra Wind Farm.jpg

The Ballarat region has a rapidly growing renewable energy industry, in particular due to its abundant wind energy, attracting significant investment and generating revenue for local landholders and local councils. The region is also a source of bountiful geothermal energy,{{cite news |first = Erin |last = Williams |title = Ballarat region named a geothermal hotspot |date = 14 July 2010 |publisher = Fairfax |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-region-named-a-geothermal-hotspot/1884480.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date =9 May 2012}} solar power and biomass{{cite news |first = Margaret |last = Burin |title = Biomass not sexy, but more viable than wind farms: bioenergy expert |date = 20 October 2010 |publisher = abc.net.au |url = http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/10/20/3043264.htm |work = ABC |access-date =9 May 2012}}{{cite web |url = http://www.chaf.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=134&Itemid=57 |title = Central Highlands Bioenergy Scoping Study and Biomass Audit |access-date = 9 May 2012 |work = Central Highlands Agribusiness Forum |publisher = chaf.org.au |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120324120058/http://www.chaf.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=134&Itemid=57 |archive-date = 24 March 2012 |url-status = dead}} although to date, only its wind, solar and hydroelectricity has been harvested commercially. All local commercially produced electricity is sent to the National Electricity Market.

Wind energy is generated by local wind farms. The largest, Waubra Wind Farm, completed in 2009, is capable of producing enough electricity to power a city 3 to 4 times the size of Ballarat.{{cite web|url=http://www.breaze.org.au/resources/documents/doc_view/356-ballarat-energy-use-a-emissions|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110302082508/http://www.breaze.org.au/resources/documents/doc_view/356-ballarat-energy-use-a-emissions|title = Ballarat's Energy Use and Emissions – Stats & Facts.|work = Breaze.org.au|archive-date=2 March 2011}} Other significant nearby wind farms include Mount Mercer, completed 2014, which produces enough energy to power 100,000 homes, equivalent to Ballarat's population.{{cite web|url=http://mtmercerwindfarm.com.au/project-info/about-the-project-html |title=Mount Mercer Wind Farm – About the Project |access-date=9 May 2012 |work=Mount Mercer Wind Farm Website |publisher=mtmercerwindfarm.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723161402/http://mtmercerwindfarm.com.au/project-info/about-the-project-html |archive-date=23 July 2012 }}{{cite news |first = Cameron |last = Houston |title = Victorian community goes it alone on wind farm |date = 13 April 2007 |publisher = Fairfax |url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ballarat-wind-farm-approved/2007/04/12/1175971264400.html |work = The Age |access-date =9 May 2012}} The first community-owned wind farm in Australia, the Hepburn Wind Project at Leonards Hill, completed in 2011, produces the equivalent amount of electricity used by the town of Daylesford.{{cite news|title = Victorian community goes it alone on wind farm |date = 25 July 2008 |publisher = abc.net.au |url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/25/2314235.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080730005502/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/25/2314235.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = 30 July 2008 |work = ABC News |access-date =9 May 2012}}

Hydroelectricity is generated at White Swan reservoir micro hydro plant established in 2008 and producing the equivalent electricity needs of around 370 homes.{{cite web |url = http://www.chw.net.au/SUPER_PIPE/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=176 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110305154550/http://www.chw.net.au/SUPER_PIPE/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=176 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 5 March 2011 |title = Mini Hydro – Goldfields Superpipe Ballarat Link |access-date =25 April 2012 |publisher = Central Highlands Water}} Ballarat Solar Park, opened in 2009 at the Airport site in Mitchell Park, is Victoria's first ground-mounted, flat-plate and grid-connected photovoltaic farm. Built by Sharp Corporation for Origin Energy, it is {{convert|14993|sqm|abbr=on}} and generates the equivalent electricity needs of around 150 homes.{{cite news|first = Kim|last = Stephens |title = Solar park goes public |date = 27 November 2009 |publisher = Fairfax |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/solar-park-goes-public/1690422.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date =9 May 2012}}

File:Ballarat St Peters Anglican Church.JPG

Ballarat is the 4th largest inland city in Australia, and the 3rd largest Victorian city behind Melbourne and Geelong. According to the 2021 census, there were 111,973 people in Ballarat, a moderate increase from 105,471 in June 2018.{{cite web |date=27 March 2019 |title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2020–21: Population Estimates by Significant Urban Area, 2008 to 2018 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18 |access-date=25 October 2019 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. This follows annual growth of 1.78% since June 2013 (slightly faster than the national rate of 1.56% during the same period).

The recently accelerated growth rate has been attributed by demographers to increased commuter activity arising from surging house and land prices in Melbourne coupled with public transport improvements between Ballarat and Melbourne.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

Most of the city's population can trace their ancestry to Anglo-Celtic descent, and 16.3% of the population are born overseas.{{Cite web |title=2021 Ballarat, Census All persons QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/2003 |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.abs.gov.au}} These include people from England (2.1%), India (1.6%), New Zealand (0.9%), China (0.6%), and the Philippines (0.6%). 8.2% speak a language other than English. 18.8% of the population is over the age of 65. The median age in Ballarat is 38 years.

Ballarat's ethnic make up is partly the result of the mid 19th Century gold rush, where people of Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and East Asian descent emigrated here in the hope of landing a fortune.

The median income of the local government area of Ballarat in 2019-2010 was $A50,767.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=Personal Income in Australia, 2015-16 to 2019-20 {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/personal-income-australia/latest-release |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.abs.gov.au |language=en}} According to the 2021 Census, Ballarat's working population include Professionals (22.8%), Community and Personal Service Workers (13.8%), Technicians and Trades Workers (13.8%), Clerical and Administrative Workers (12.3%), and Managers (11.2%). The unemployment rate in 2021 was 4.8%.

21.9% of the population have completed further education after high school.

According to the 2017 Victorian Population Health Survey, Ballarat is home to the fifth largest community of LGBTIQA+ people by LGA in the State.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=The health and wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer population in Victoria |url=https://vahi.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-12/The-health-and-wellbeing-of-the-LGBTIQ-population-in-Victoria.pdf }}

Christianity is the most common religion in Ballarat. Catholics (21.3%), Anglicans (7.9%) and the Uniting Church (4.7%) were the largest Christian denominations. 47.6% stated they had no religion and a further 5.9% did not answer the question.

File:Ballarat Masonic Complex.JPG|Ballarat Masonic Complex

File:Ballarat Synagogue 001.JPG|Ballarat Synagogue

File:Ballarat Anglican Cathedral 001.JPG|Christ the King Anglican cathedral

File:Ballarat Pleasant St Uniting Church.JPG|Pleasant St Uniting Church

File:Ballarat East Roman Catholic Church 002.JPG|St Alipius Roman Catholic church

File:Ballarat Former Baptist Church.jpg|Baptist Church

File:Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia - panoramio (2).jpg

Council Chamber in Ballarat Town Hall, Sturt Street, is the seat of local government for the City of Ballarat. The council was created in 1994 as an amalgamation of a number of other municipalities in the region. The city is made up of 3 wards, each represented by three councillors elected once every four years by postal voting. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100927050448/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Government/BallaratProfile.html Victorian Electoral Commission profile for Ballarat], vec.vic.gov.au The Mayor of Ballarat, currently Des Hudson, is elected from these councillors by their colleagues for a one-year term. The Town Hall and annexe contains some council offices, however the council's administrative headquarters are located at the council owned Phoenix Building and the leased Gordon Buildings on the opposite side of Bath Lane.{{cite web |url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/529820/11-11-03_business_case_overview.pdf |title = Business Case for Council Office Accommodation on Civic Hall Site |access-date = 11 June 2012 |date = 3 November 2011 |publisher = City of Ballarat |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120421230820/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/529820/11-11-03_business_case_overview.pdf |archive-date = 21 April 2012 |url-status = dead}}

In state politics, Ballarat is located in the Legislative Assembly districts of Eureka and Wendouree, with both of these seats currently held by the Australian Labor Party.{{cite web

|url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/electorateswing.html

|title=State Election 2006 Results: Electorate swings

|work=Victorian Electoral Commission website

|access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071130000929/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/electorateswing.html |archive-date = 30 November 2007}} In federal politics, Ballarat is located in a single House of Representatives division—the Division of Ballarat. The Division of Ballarat has been a safe Australian Labor Party seat since 2001,{{cite web|url=http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/website/HouseSeatsWon-13745-NAT.htm |title=Seats won in the 2007 Federal Election |work=Australian Electoral Commission website |access-date=16 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and was the seat of the second Prime Minister of Australia, Alfred Deakin.

Law enforcement is overseen from regional police headquarters at the law complex in Dana Street with a single local police station operating in Buninyong. Due to an increase in crime rates and population, two additional local police stations were proposed in 2011 one each for the suburbs of North Ballarat and Sebastopol.{{cite web|last=McIlroy |first=Tom |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/557065/state-budget-new-police-stations-for-ballarat/ |title=State budget: New police stations for Ballarat |publisher=The Courier |date=3 May 2011 |access-date=25 March 2013}} Justice is conducted locally overseen through branches of the Supreme, County, Magistrates and Children's Court of Victoria which operate out of the Ballarat courts Complex adjacent police headquarters in Dana Street.{{cite web |url=http://www.accesstojustice.gov.au/Pages/ResourceDetails.aspx?ResourceId=1139 |title=Access to Justice |publisher=Access to Justice |date=29 September 2011 |access-date=25 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418061906/http://www.accesstojustice.gov.au/Pages/ResourceDetails.aspx?ResourceId=1139 |archive-date=18 April 2013 }} Corrections, at least in the longer term are no longer handled locally since the closure of the Ballarat Gaol in 1965. Offenders can be detained in 25 available cells at the police complex though are commonly transferred to nearby Corrections Victoria facilities such as the Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat.{{cite web|last=Nolan |first=Pat |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/63553/overcrowding-sees-prisoners-relocated-to-ballarat/ |title=Overcrowding sees prisoners relocated to Ballarat |publisher=The Courier |date=20 April 2012 |access-date=25 March 2013}}

Public safety and emergency services are provided by several state funded organisations including local volunteer based organisations. Storms and flooding are handled by the State Emergency Service (SES) Mid West Region Headquarters at Wendouree. Bushfires are handled by the Country Fire Authority District 15 Headquarters and Grampians Region Headquarters at Wendouree{{cite web|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/locations/locations.htm|title=Locations: CFA has a State Headquarters and 9 Area Headquarters across Victoria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330022346/http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/locations/locations.htm|archive-date=30 March 2009}} and urban structure fires are handled by multiple urban fire brigades operating at fire stations including the Ballarat Fire Brigade at Barkly Street Ballarat East, Ballarat City Fire Brigade at Sturt Street Ballarat Central and suburban stations including Wendouree and Sebastopol. Medical emergency and paramedic services are provided through Ambulance Victoria and include the Rural Ambulance Victoria, St. John Ambulance and Ballarat Base Hospital ambulance services.{{cite web|last=Greive |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/62123/ambulance-concerns-after-ballarat-hospital-limits-reached/ |title=Ambulance concerns after Ballarat hospital limits reached |publisher=The Courier |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=25 March 2013}} City of Ballarat is responsible for coordinating the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC) which prepares the Municipal Emergency Management Plan which is actioned in conjunction with local police.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/emergency-management.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211133958/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/emergency-management.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 December 2010 |title=Emergency Management |publisher=Ballarat.vic.gov.au |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=25 March 2013 }}

Ballarat has two local newspapers, one owned by Australian Community Media and one a private equity. The Courier is a daily and The Ballarat Times News Group is a free weekly. The latter is distributed across most of the city on Thursday and contains news of community events, advertisements for local businesses, and a classifieds section. Ballarat was the hub of Australian Community Media's Victoria production and manufacturing with all printed material for the state coming from the Wendouree print site until it closed in September 2020.

File:Radio house ballarat.jpg

Local radio stations include 3BA, Power FM and several community radio stations. There is also a Ballarat branch of ABC Local Radio's national network.

• 102.3 FM – 3BA (local "classic hits" commercial radio station)
• 103.1 FM – Power FM 103.1 FM (local "top-40" commercial radio station)
• 99.9 FM – Voice FM 99.9 – formerly known as 3BBB (local community radio station)
• 107.9 FM – ABC Ballarat (government-funded local news, current affairs, light entertainment and talkback)
• 103.9 FM – Good News Radio 103.9 (Christian community-based radio station)

Television station BTV Channel 6 Ballarat commenced transmission of test patterns on 17 March 1962. Today Ballarat is serviced by numerous "free to air" High Definition and Standard Definition Digital television services. Two television broadcasting stations are located in the city, including WIN, WIN HD, 9Life, 9Go! and 9Gem (sub-licensees of the Nine Network) and Seven, 7HD, 7two, 7mate, 7Bravo and 7flix (Seven Network owned and operated). These two stations broadcast relayed services throughout regional Victoria. The city also receives 10, 10 HD, 10 Peach Comedy, 10 Bold Drama, Nickelodeon and Sky News Regional (Network 10 owned and operated) which is based in Bendigo but operates a local office.

Ballarat television maintains a similar schedule to the national television network but maintains local commercials and regional news programming.

• WIN previously presented a 30-minute local WIN News bulletin from its studios in the city, where WIN News bulletins for Albury, Bendigo, Gippsland, Shepparton and Mildura were also broadcast. In 2015, the Ballarat studios closed with production of the regional Victorian news bulletins being relocated to Wollongong in New South Wales, where they now originate from.Knox, David (27 October 2015) [https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/10/win-tv-cuts-jobs-in-ballarat-relocating-news-to-wollongong.html WIN TV cuts jobs in Ballarat, relocating news to Wollongong], TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 January 2020. WIN retains reporters and camera crews for its Ballarat bulletin in the city.
• Southern Cross 10, airs short local news updates like Seven throughout the day, broadcast from its Hobart studios.
• Seven airs short local news and weather updates throughout the day, broadcast from its Canberra studios with an office in the city.

In addition to commercial television services, Ballarat receives Government funded ABC (ABC TV, ABC Family, ABC Kids, ABC Entertains, ABC News) and SBS (SBS TV, SBS Viceland, SBS World Movies, SBS WorldWatch, SBS Food and NITV) television services.

On 5 May 2011, analog television transmissions ceased in most areas of regional Victoria and some border regions including Ballarat and surrounding areas. All local free-to-air television services are now broadcasting in digital transmission only. This was done as part of the federal government's plan for digital terrestrial television in Australia, where all analogue transmission systems are gradually turned off and replaced with modern DVB-T transmission systems.

Subscription television services are provided by Neighbourhood Cable, Foxtel and SelecTV.

{{Main|Education in Ballarat}}

File:University of Ballarat SMB Campus Lydiard Street Sth.jpg's SMB campus is set among heritage buildings, including the former School of Mines and Industry (left).]]

File:Ballarat mechanics institute.jpg

Ballarat has two universities, Federation University and a campus of the Australian Catholic University.

Formerly the University of Ballarat, Federation University Australia was opened in 2014. It originated as the Ballarat School of Mines, founded in 1870, and was once affiliated with the University of Melbourne. The main campus is located in Mount Helen, approximately {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=off}} southeast of the city. The university also has campuses in the Ballarat CBD, Horsham, Berwick, Brisbane, Churchill, Ararat and Stawell.

The Australian Catholic University's Ballarat campus is located on Mair Street. It was formerly the Aquinas Training College, run by the Ballarat East Sisters of Mercy in 1909. It is ACU's only campus located outside of a capital city.

Ballarat has five State Government-operated secondary schools of which Ballarat High School (established in 1907) is the oldest. Ballarat High School and Mount Clear College are the only state school members of the Ballarat Associated Schools. The three remaining schools are Phoenix College and the two newly formed schools Mount Rowan Secondary College and Woodmans Hill Secondary College which emerged from the old Ballarat Secondary College.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5466929/the-ballarat-school-name-that-wont-exist-next-year/|title=The Ballarat school name that won't exist next year|date=14 June 2018}} Phoenix College was formed in 2012 as an amalgamation of Sebastopol College and Redan Primary School.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/60822/phoenix-college-a-new-name-change-for-sebastopol/|title=Phoenix College a new name change for Sebastopol|first=Jennifer|last=Greive|date=2 December 2011|work=thecourier.com.au}}

The city is well serviced by Catholic schools, with eight primary schools and three secondary colleges which include the all-boys St Patrick's College,{{cite web|url=http://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/gscot/10sepgs/50.htm|title=Error – Scotch College|first=The ADWEB|last=Agency|work=scotch.vic.edu.au|access-date=3 September 2011|archive-date=11 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411123756/http://www.scotch.vic.edu.au/gscot/10sepgs/50.htm|url-status=dead}} the all-girls Loreto College and the co-educational Damascus College, which was formed by the amalgamation of St Martin's in the Pines, St Paul's College and Sacred Heart College in 1995.

Ballarat has three other non-government secondary schools: Ballarat Christian College, Ballarat Clarendon College and Ballarat Grammar School.

The later two schools are day and boarding schools who provide education from Preschool to Year 12. Both of these co-educational schools are classified as academically excellent as the only Ballarat schools to be ranked on the tables of the top 100 Victorian schools based on median VCE scores and percentage of scores of 40 and above. In 2015, Clarendon was placed at 9th best VCE results in the State, above Melbourne Grammar, Geelong College, Scotch College, Trinity Grammar School (Victoria), Xavier College, and Haileybury College. Ballarat Grammar was placed at 82nd, above Wesley College, Geelong Grammar and Tintern.{{cite web|url=http://bettereducation.com.au/Results/vce.aspx?yr=2015|title=VCE School Ranking – 2015|first=Wang|last=Family|work=bettereducation.com.au}}

The City of Ballarat has three public libraries, the largest and most extensive of which is the Ballarat Library, run by the City of Ballarat and located on Doveton Street North.{{Cite web |date=July 2024 |title=Ballarat Library |url=https://libraries.ballarat.vic.gov.au/services/visit-us/ballarat-library |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Ballarat Libraries}} Another library service is provided by the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute in Sturt Street, which is the oldest library in the city and a significant heritage site; it contains a collection of historic, archival and rare reference material as well as more general books.

The Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library opened in 2022. It contains over 240,000 Chinese-language books, reportedly the largest collection in the Southern Hemisphere.{{Cite web |last=Yuan |first=Olivia |date=4 July 2022 |title=New chapter: One of the largest Chinese libraries in the Southern Hemisphere opens in Ballarat |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/chinese/en/article/new-chapter-one-of-the-largest-chinese-libraries-in-the-southern-hemisphere-opens-in-ballarat/tsa97ol2i |access-date=5 February 2024 |website=SBS Mandarin}}

File:Ballarat fine art gallery.jpg, the oldest and largest art gallery in regional Australia]]

The Art Gallery of Ballarat houses one of Australia's oldest and most extensive collections of early Australian works. It is the oldest and largest regional gallery in Australia.{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Art Gallery of Ballarat |url=https://www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au/explore/the-collection/about |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au |language=en}}

Federation University Australia operates the Post Office Gallery in the Wardell-designed former Post Office on the corner of Sturt and Lydiard Streets.[http://www.ballarat.edu.au/curator/buildings/site_listing_Post-Office.shtml UB Site Listing] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125071805/http://www.ballarat.edu.au/curator/buildings/site_listing_Post-Office.shtml |date=25 November 2009 }}

File:Her majestys ballarat.jpg

Ballarat has a lively and well-established theatrical community, with several local ensembles as well as a number of large performing arts venues. Major performing arts venues include the 800-capacity Her Majesty's Theatre, {{cite web |last=Dewey |first=Christine |date=Nov 25, 2024 |title=Performance review: Resurgence: Opening Night Gala, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat |url=https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/performance-review-resurgence-opening-night-gala-her-majestys-theatre-ballarat-2763020/ |website=artshub.com.au |access-date=April 7, 2025}} the 857 seat Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts {{cite web |author=|date=2025 |title=About the Venue |url=https://wcpa.com.au/ |website=wcpa.com.au |location=Wendouree (Ballarat), Australia |publisher=Wendouree Centre For Performing Arts |access-date=Apr 7, 2025}} and the Loreto Abbey Theatre in the Mary's Mount Centre which is part of Loreto College a Roman Catholic girls school with 500 seats.{{cite web |author=|date=2025 |title=Mary’s Mount Centre |url=https://loreto.vic.edu.au/loreto-college/facilities/marys-mount-centre/ |website=loreto.vic.edu.au |location= |publisher= |access-date=April 7, 2025}} Ballarat also hosts the smaller 90 seat Post Office Box Theatre which is also used by Federation University's Performing Arts Academy program. {{cite web |author=|title=Camp St, P - Old Post Office |url=https://federation.edu.au/about-us/facilities-and-services/timetables/room-resource/camp-st |website=federation.edu.au |location=Ballarat, Australia |date=May 24, 2024 |access-date=Apr 7, 2025}}

Some notable theatre organisations in Ballarat include Ballarat National Theatre (since 1938);{{cite web | last=Hines | first=Wayne | title=History of Ballarat National Theatre Inc | website=Ballarat National Theatre | date=4 October 2023 | url=https://www.bnt.org.au/about-us/history-of-bnt | access-date=28 June 2024}} BLOC (Ballarat Light Opera Company; since 1959);{{cite web |url=http://blocmusictheatre.com.au/content/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=BLOC Music Theatre |access-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811230305/http://blocmusictheatre.com.au/content/about-us |archive-date=11 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=BLOC Music Theatre is a multi award-winning amateur theatre company entertaining the Ballarat community for over 60 Years. | website=BLOC Music Theatre | url=https://blocmusictheatre.com/ | access-date=28 June 2024}} the amateur theatre troupe Creswick Theatre Company (since 1981);{{cite web | title=Creswick Theatre Company | website=Visit Ballarat | date=26 February 2019 | url=https://www.visitballarat.com.au/explore/creswick-theatre-company/ | access-date=28 June 2024 | archive-date=28 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628084347/https://www.visitballarat.com.au/explore/creswick-theatre-company/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=Our History | website=CRESWICK THEATRE COMPANY | date=28 June 2024 | url=https://creswicktheatre.com.au/our-history/ | access-date=28 June 2024}} and the female-led boutique company, Salty Theatre (established 2018).{{cite web | title=Salty Theatre | website=Creative Ballarat | date=1 July 2022 | url=https://www.creativeballarat.com.au/artists-makers-creatives/salty-theatre | access-date=28 June 2024}}

The Ballarat Civic Hall is a large public building constructed in 1956 as a general purpose venue. Its stripped classical design was heavily criticised during its planning, however it has gained some cultural significance to the city with its cavernous spaces holding many significant events over the years. Civic Hall was closed in 2002 and public pressure forced the council to redevelop it in 2018{{cite web|author=Marcus Power |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/civic-hall-plan-to-go-before-ballarat-city-council/1698639.aspx |title=Civic Hall plan to go before Ballarat City Council – Local News – News – General |publisher=The Courier |date=7 December 2009 |access-date=18 August 2010}} as a modern performing arts and exposition centre. The refurbished building is a modern interpretation of its original 1950s built form and features a 1000 capacity main hall capable of use for concerts, meetings and civic events.{{Cite web |title=Ballarat Civic Hall - Here Studio Architects |url=https://www.herestudio.au/projects/ballarat-civic-hall |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Here |language=en-AU}}

{{anchor|regent}}The Regent Cinemas, which opened in the heart of the city in 1928, was once the largest picture palace in regional Victoria, with nearly 2,000 seats in stalls and balcony. It was designed by noted Melbourne theatre architect Cedric Heise Ballantyne,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244197852 |title=Ballarat's new picture theatre |newspaper=The Herald |issue=15,713 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=28 September 1927 |access-date=28 June 2024 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}} and who was also responsible designing the Regent Theatre on Collins Street, Melbourne. After the interiors were damaged by fire in 1943 (although the front facade survived), the architectural firm Cowper, Murphy & Appleford redesigned the building. Hoyts ran the cinema from its inception until it closed the venue in 1964{{cite web | title=Regent Cinemas in Ballarat, AU | website=Cinema Treasures |first=Ken| last=Roe | url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/36448 | access-date=28 June 2024}} or 1970. It was acquired and renovated by the Anderson family, who reopened it in 1976. It was completely refurbished and the interiors redesigned to create a multiplex containing three separate theatres in 1986, and a further three screens were added in the early 2000s. The facade remained intact, and the sign at its entrance showed the words "The Regent Multiplex", while the vertical sign simply said "Regent". On 24 June, 2024, the owners announced the closure of the cinema, effective immediately, to the dismay of many patrons and the mayor of Ballarat.{{cite web | last=Kirkham | first=Rochelle | title=Historic Regent Cinemas Ballarat announces closure, effective immediately | website=ABC News | date=25 June 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-25/regent-cinemas-ballarat-announces-immediate-closure-films-movies/104017206 | access-date=28 June 2024}}

Ballarat has its own symphony orchestra, the Ballarat Symphony Orchestra, which was formed in 1987.{{cite web | title=About the Orchestra | website=Ballarat Symphony Orchestra | date=13 December 2023 | url=https://ballaratsymphonyorchestra.com/about-the-orchestra/ | access-date=28 June 2024}}

The city has several dance clubs as well as a highly active live music and jazz scene.{{cite web | title=Local Live Music in Ballarat Victoria | website=Ballarat Live Music Scene | url=https://www.livemusicscene.com.au/ballarat/ | access-date=28 June 2024}}

Ballarat is home to many annual festivals and events that attract thousands of visitors. The oldest large annual event is the Ballarat Agricultural Show (since 1859), currently held at the Ballarat Showgrounds and has attracted attendances of up to 30,000 and is an official public holiday for residents of the city.Oliver, Jordan [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/crowds-flock-to-ballarat-show/2356395.aspx Crowds flock to Ballarat Show] The Courier. 13 November 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.eques.com.au/general/oct-06/ballarat_agricultural__pastoral.htm |title=Ballarat Agricultural & Pastoral |date=8 January 2007 |access-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108125717/http://www.eques.com.au/general/oct-06/ballarat_agricultural__pastoral.htm |archive-date=8 January 2007 }}

Ballarat is home to Australia's oldest and largest annual performing arts eisteddfod. The Royal South Street Eisteddfod is an all-encompassing performing arts festival and competition event that is conducted over twelve weeks annually.[http://southstreet.ballarat.net.au/ Royal South Street Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718194655/http://www.southstreet.ballarat.net.au/ |date=18 July 2008 }}. Southstreet.ballarat.net.au. Retrieved 18 August 2011.

From the late 1880s, there were annual competitions run by the South Street Society, later revived as the Royal South Street Eisteddfod (in recess in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions).

File:Beggs avenue ballarat showgrounds from ferris wheel during ballarat show.jpg

Lake Wendouree is featured in many including the biggest and most prominent is the Begonia Festival (held annually since 1953).[http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/35d65a20f36e90baca256dc0007bda69!OpenDocument Begonia Festival Enters New Era With Bracks Government Support] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403215226/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/35d65a20f36e90baca256dc0007bda69%21OpenDocument |date=3 April 2011 }} Minister for Tourism, 15 October 2003. SpringFest (held annually since 2001) attracts more than 15,000 people from around Victoria{{cite web|url=http://ballaratspringfest.com.au/pages.php?page=11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718195136/http://ballaratspringfest.com.au/pages.php?page=11|title=Springfest-An initiative of the Rotary Club of Ballarat|archive-date=18 July 2008}}Nolon, Patrick [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/springfest-will-go-on-whatever-the-weather/1981489.aspx SpringFest will go on whatever the weather] The Courier, 28 October 2010. and features market stalls and activities around the lake.

The Ballarat Swap Meet (formerly the Super Southern Swap Meet and held annually since 1989) attracts 30,000 visitors a year.Mcilroy, Tom [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-rotary-saves-the-swap-meet/2335760.aspx Ballarat Rotary saves the Swap Meet] The Courier. 26 October 2011. Ballarat Heritage Weekend (held annually since 2006) celebrates the city's heritage with activities such as historic vehicles and displays in and around the CBD and has attracted as many as 14,500 visitors a year from around Victoria.pg 12. My Ballarat. August 2012. City of Ballarat[http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/473801/10%20august%202011%20-%20public%20agenda.pdf City of Ballarat Ordinary Council Meeting 10 August 2011] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320175739/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/473801/10%20august%202011%20-%20public%20agenda.pdf |date=20 March 2012 }}Brown, Emma [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/heritage-weekend-crowds-up-on-last-year/1824851.aspx Heritage Weekend crowds up on last year] The Courier. 10 May 2010. The Ballarat Beer Festival at the City Oval (since 2012) has attracted more than 4,000 visitors.O'Neill, David [http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/01/23/433435_entertainment-news.html Crowds flock to Ballarat Beer Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127043452/http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/01/23/433435_entertainment-news.html |date=27 January 2012 }} Weekly Times Now. 23 January 2012. The Ballarat Airport Open Day (Ballarat's unofficial air show, held annually since 2009) also attracts thousands.Pilven, Jack [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-airport-open-day-draws-thousands/2122452.aspx Ballarat Airport open day draws thousands] The Courier. 3 April 2011.

Other minor cultural festivals include the Ballarat Writers Festival, Ballarat International Foto Biennale and the Goldfields Music Festival.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In the 1970s the Ballarat urban area contained around 60 hotels. The introduction of gaming machines in the early 1990s has brought about significant change in the city entertainment precincts. By 2006 at least 20 hotels had closed and some of the remaining ones had been redeveloped as dining and/or gaming venues. Gaming machines brought significant revenue to the remaining hotels, sports and social clubs, enabling expansion and modernisation. The city has many restaurants and wine bars.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Ballarat has inspired many visual artists. Eugene von Guerard documented the city's establishment as a gold digging settlement, while Albert Henry Fullwood and Knut Bull depicted the city's boom era streetscapes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.balgal.com/?id=collection |title=BALGAL – My WordPress Blog |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024231304/http://www.balgal.com/?id=collection |archive-date=24 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/defining_moments/featured/gold-rushes |title=Gold rushes 1851: Gold rushes in New South Wales and Victoria begin |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=Defining Moments in Australian History, National Museum of Australia |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831072024/http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/defining_moments/featured/gold-rushes |url-status=dead }} Ballarat features prominently in literature and fiction, including "The Boscombe Valley Mystery", a short story from Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1891); King Billy of Ballarat and Other Stories (1892) by Morley Roberts; The Fortunes of Richard Mahony (1917) by Henry Handel Richardson; Murder on the Ballarat Train (1993) by Kerry Greenwood; and Illywhacker (1985) by Peter Carey.

Ballarat is also a popular filming location.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmballarathepburnandbeyond.com.au/filming/feature |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070724002715/http://www.filmballarathepburnandbeyond.com.au/filming/feature |archive-date=24 July 2007 |title=Filmed Here |publisher=Film Ballarat Hepburn & Beyond |access-date=18 August 2010}} Australia's second oldest feature film, Eureka Stockade (1907), is the first in a line of films about the historic Ballarat event. The city makes cameos in Dogs in Space (1986), My Brother Jack (2001), Ned Kelly (2003) and The Writer (2005).{{cite web |url=http://www.cometolifeballarat.com/invest/key-industries/film-and-television/movies-shot-in-ballarat.aspx |title=Movies Shot in Ballarat |date=9 July 2009 |work=Invest in Ballarat, City of Ballarat |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617055555/http://www.cometolifeballarat.com/invest/key-industries/film-and-television/movies-shot-in-ballarat.aspx |archive-date=17 June 2010 |url-status=dead }} The television series The Doctor Blake Mysteries (2012–2017) is set in Ballarat and also mostly shot there.{{cite news |first = Jordan |last=Oliver |title=Filming for ABC series to start in Ballarat |date=2 April 2012 |publisher=Fairfax |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/filming-for-abc-series-to-start-in-ballarat/2514573.aspx |work=The Courier |access-date=8 May 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-20/ballarat-keeps-doctor-blake-alive-as-abc-kills-off-crime-series/8456872 |title=Ballarat keeps Doctor Blake alive as ABC kills off crime series |date=20 April 2017 |last1=Bentley |first1=Prue |last2=Allan |first2=Tony |location=Ballarat |work=ABC News |access-date=30 August 2018}} The series was picked by the Seven Network, which proposes to make several telemovies without the Blake character, picking up the story line after his death, leaving his widow Jean.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/good-news-for-anna-mcgahan-means-bowing-out-of-the-doctor-blake-mysteries-for-now/news-story/26f99671075cc1345052b387f6a291ff |title=Good news for Anna McGahan means bowing out of The Doctor Blake Mysteries ... for now |last=Brain |first=Anna |date=3 November 2017 |newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/doctor-blake-mysteries-to-return-without-craig-mclachlan-20180420-p4zapf.html |title=Doctor Blake Mysteries to return without Craig McLachlan |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 April 2018 |access-date=30 August 2018 |last=Carmody |first=Broede}}

Two ships of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMAS Ballarat after the city, the corvette HMAS Ballarat (J184) and the frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155).{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Ballarat Highlanders Rugby Football Club (est. 1976) is based at Doug Dean Reserve, Delecombe. They play in the statewide Victoria Rugby Championship, which they last won in 2016. They also host the Ballarat Charity 7s (est 2022), a short form version of Rugby Union and all proceeds from the event get donated to a local charity (2022 – Ballarat Men's Mental Health, 2023 – GROW Group Ballarat).

File:Ballarat Football Team 1889.jpg, 1889. The club was founded in 1860 and is one of the oldest football clubs in the world.]] Australian rules football is the most popular spectator and participation sports in Ballarat. It has its own dedicated stadium, Eureka Stadium, which serves as a venue of the Australian Football League (AFL), as well as the home ground of the semi-professional North Ballarat Roosters, which formerly competed in the Victorian Football League (VFL). The Ballarat Football League, established in 1893, features six local teams, including the Ballarat Football Club, which was founded in 1860 and remains one of the world's oldest football clubs. Other Ballarat-based teams compete in the regional Central Highlands Football League.

Cricket is Ballarat's second most-popular sport. It has three international standard cricket ovals, including Eastern Oval, which was one of the host venues of the 1992 Cricket World Cup. The Ballarat Cricket Association is the city's principle cricket competition. Soccer is also popular in Ballarat. Based at Morshead Park Stadium,{{cite web|url=http://events.ballarat.vic.gov.au/news/may-2014/historic-first-match-for-the-new-home-of-soccer-in-ballarat.aspx|title=City of Ballarat – Community Events Calendar|work=ballarat.vic.gov.au}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} the semi-professional Ballarat City FC competes in the National Premier League, the third tier competition of Australian soccer. Melbourne's Western United FC plays four A-League matches per year at Eureka Stadium.{{Cite web | url=https://www.miragenews.com/western-united-brings-a-league-soccer-to-mars-stadium/ | title=Western United brings A-League soccer to Mars Stadium| date=8 August 2019}} Basketball is played in Ballarat with the Ballarat Sports Events Centre hosting South East Australian Basketball League matches involving the Ballarat Miners and Ballarat Rush. Netball is similarly popular, with many netball clubs affiliated with local Australian rules clubs.

Athletics is and has historically been very popular with 4 local clubs competing at the BRAC{{Cite web|last=www.nemenvisual.com|first=Ben Foster-|title=Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre|url=http://ballaratregionalaths.com.au/|access-date=2021-02-04|archive-date=23 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223032331/http://ballaratregionalaths.com.au/|url-status=dead}} (Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre) located at the Llanberis Athletics Track in Golden Point, 5 minutes from the CBD. The city features a rich and decorated athletics history with Australia's most successful track and field athlete (Jared Tallent - Racewalker), and many other Olympians (Steve Moneghetti, Greg Smith (Paralympian)) having been born in Ballarat.

File:Lake Wendouree Ballarat.jpg hosted the rowing and canoeing events for the 1956 Summer Olympics.]]

Rowing and kayaking are centred on Lake Wendouree, which hosts the Victorian Schools Rowing Championships as well as the annual "Head of the Lake" rowing regatta. The city hosted rowing events for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games. Horse racing and greyhound racing are also popular, with dedicated facilities. The Ballarat Turf Club schedules around 28 race meetings a year including the Ballarat Cup meeting in mid-November.{{cite web

|last = Country Racing Victoria |title = Ballarat Race Club |url = http://www.countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=49&Itemid=80

|access-date =7 May 2009

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719021221/http://countryracing.com.au/index.php?option=com_club_info&club=49&Itemid=80 |archive-date = 19 July 2008}} Athletics facilities include an international standard athletics track at Golden Point. Swimming and water sport is facilitated at two Olympic-sized pools as well as an indoor {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} competition short course pool. The main facility is the Ballarat Aquatic Centre located in Lake Gardens. Baseball was first organised in Australia at Ballarat in 1857,{{cite book |last=Harris |first=John O. |title=Queensland Baseball 1905–1990 |year=2009 |page=14}} and three local teams compete in the Geelong Baseball Association.

Golf is played at four main venues which include the Ballarat Golf Course in Alfredton, home to the Ballarat Golf Club.{{cite web |author=Golf Select |title = Ballarat |url = http://www.golfselect.com.au/armchair/courseView.aspx?course_id=258 |access-date =11 May 2009 }} The Ballarat Roller Derby League was formed in 2008, and held their first match in 2009. They have two teams who compete in local events, and a combined travelling team, the Rat Pack, who compete in interleague roller derby competitions.{{cite web |title = Who is BRDL |work = Ballarat Roller Derby League |url = http://www.ballaratrollerderby.com.au/about |access-date = 1 May 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120403044307/http://www.ballaratrollerderby.com.au/about |archive-date = 3 April 2012 |url-status = dead}}

The World Athletics-Certified Ballarat Marathon Road Running Festival, inaugurated in 2024, is now an annual event. It features a variety of road running events, including a full marathon, half marathon, 10km run, and family-friendly fun runs, attracting participants from across the region and beyond. The 2024 Marathon Event was a qualifying race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors 2025 Age Group Championships. The festival promotes community participation, and showcases Ballarat's scenic landmarks.{{Cite web |title=BALLARAT MARATHON |url=https://www.ballaratmarathon.com.au/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=BALLARAT MARATHON |language=en-AU}}

Until they were cancelled in July 2023, Ballarat, along with other cities in regional Victoria, was scheduled to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games with Eureka Stadium flagged to host athletics, the Eastern Oval T20 cricket, and Selkirk Stadium to host boxing.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-18/victoria-commonwealth-games-announcement-daniel-andrews/102613156 Victoria to axe Commonwealth Games plans due to financial constraints] ABC News 18 July 2023

File:Mars Stadium Ballarat (Winter 2022).png]]

File:BAllarat Hospital.jpg's Henry Bolte wing]]

Ballarat has two major hospitals. The public health services are managed by Grampians Health Ballarat{{cite web|url=https://www.bhs.org.au/|title=Home -Ballarat Health Services|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603010353/https://bhs.org.au/|archive-date=3 June 2017|url-status=dead}} including the Ballarat Base which services the entire region and the Queen Elizabeth Centre for aged care on Ascot Street Sth. The St John of God Health Care centre also on Drummond Street Nth, established in 1915 is currently the largest private hospital in regional Victoria.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ed/industries-reports-and-strategies/health-and-community-services.aspx|title=City of Ballarat – Health and Community Services|website=www.ballarat.vic.gov.au|language=en|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309053723/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ed/industries-reports-and-strategies/health-and-community-services.aspx|archive-date=9 March 2017|url-status=dead}}

The Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) on the corner of Drummond and Sturt Street includes a number of facilities focused on cancer treatment.{{cite web|url=http://www.reachnewheights.com.au |title=Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre – home |publisher=Reachnewheights.com.au |access-date=25 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415101121/http://www.reachnewheights.com.au/ |archive-date=15 April 2013 }}

The Heart Foundation did a study in 2014 that Ballarat had the highest level of physical inactivity (85.3 per cent) in Australia and that 32.9 per cent of residents were deemed obese.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2887384/eat-in-not-out-experts/|title=Eat in, not out: experts|first=MELISSA|last=CUNNINGHAM|date=16 February 2015|work=thecourier.com.au}}

Ballarat's residents are serviced by a wide range of public utilities including water, gas and electricity, telephony and data communications supplied, overseen and regulated by state based authorities and private enterprise and local council.

Water supply as well as sewage collection and disposal are provided by Central Highlands Water.{{cite web |url = http://www.filmballaratandbeyond.com.au/filming/services |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110821222424/http://www.filmballaratandbeyond.com.au/filming/services |url-status = dead |archive-date = 21 August 2011 |title = Essential Services |access-date =20 April 2012 |publisher = Film Ballarat}} Drinking water is sourced from a network reservoirs all located in the highlands to the east, however the majority is sourced from two main reservoirs—Lal Lal and White Swan. The Lal Lal Reservoir (built in 1970 with a capacity of {{convert|59500|Ml|usgal|abbr=off}}) is Ballarat's largest water catchment accounting for approximately two-thirds of the city's water usage.{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/08/05/3286039.htm |title = Lal Lal catchment full and flowing for first time in 15 years |access-date =26 April 2012 |last = Burin |first = Margaret |date = 5 August 2011 |work = ABC Ballarat |publisher = ABC}} The White Swan reservoir (built in 1952{{cite web |url = http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/water-vics-streams |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130520233123/http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/water-vics-streams |archive-date = 20 May 2013 |title = Streams, Lakes and Storages |access-date =26 April 2012 |date = 11 May 2010 |publisher = Department of Primary Industries}} with a {{convert|14100|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}} capacity) supplies most of the remainder.{{cite web|url = http://www.water.vic.gov.au/resources/inyourregion/water-storages|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110413105732/http://www.water.vic.gov.au/resources/inyourregion/water-storages|archive-date = 13 April 2011 |title = Water Storages |access-date =26 April 2012 |date = 12 October 2011 |publisher = water.vic.gov.au}} Since May 2008, the White Swan has been topped up by water from Bendigo's Sandhurst Reservoir through the Goldfields Superpipe with water originally sourced from the Goulburn River system.{{cite news |first = Emma |last = Brown |title = Ballarat water storages: White Swan gets healthy new look |date = 21 January 2010 |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-water-storages-white-swan-gets-healthy-new-look/1731314.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date =20 April 2012}} Kirks Reservoir (built between 1860 and 1862 with a capacity of {{convert|400|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}) and Gong Gong Reservoir (built in 1877 at Gong Gong, Victoria{{cite web|url=http://www.chw.net.au/community/gong-gong-reservoir-park|title=Gong Gong reservoir park – Central Highlands Water|work=chw.net.au}} with a capacity of {{convert|1902|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}) are historic main water supplies now maintained for emergency use.{{cite news |first = Kim |last = Quinlan |title = Ballarat population growth: water supply critical |date = 13 May 2009 |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-population-growth-water-supply-critical/1814779.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date =20 April 2012}} Other reservoirs supplying Ballarat include Moorabool reservoir (located in Bolwarrah, Victoria{{cite web|url=http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/fisheries/recreational-fishing/fishing-locations/inland-angling-guide/moorabool/moorabool-angling-waters|title=Moorabool – Angling Waters|first=Department of Environment and Primary Industries|last=Victoria|work=agriculture.vic.gov.au|date=10 May 2017}} with a capacity of {{convert|6738|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}), Wilson's Reservoir (located in the Wombat State Forest with a capacity of {{convert|1013|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}), Beales reservoir (built 1863{{cite book|author=Margaret Cochran|title=Sovereign City: A Ballarat Tapestry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xn82AgAACAAJ|access-date=15 June 2013|year=1974|publisher=Ballarat and Queens Grammar School Parents and Friends' Association|isbn=978-0-9598167-0-9|page=37}} located at Wallace with a capacity of {{convert|415|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}) and Pincotts reservoir (built 1867 located at Leigh Creek, Victoria{{cite web|url=http://www.findmap.com.au/searchthis/AUSUB_leigh_creek_3352.php|title=Suburb: Leigh Creek, 3352 VIC (Near Ballarat) – www.findmap.com.au|first=Daniel|last=Vidoni|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025045410/http://www.findmap.com.au/searchthis/AUSUB_leigh_creek_3352.php|archive-date=25 October 2016|url-status=dead}} with a capacity of {{convert|218|Ml|usgal|abbr=on}}).{{cite news |first = P.N. |last = King |title = A Report on the Ballarat Water Supply Catchments |date = 1 May 1979 |publisher = Department of Primary Industries |url = http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/coranregn.nsf/pages/pwsc_63_ballarat_pdf/$FILE/ballarat_WS.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130520232426/http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/coranregn.nsf/pages/pwsc_63_ballarat_pdf/$FILE/ballarat_WS.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 20 May 2013 |work = Soil Conservation Authority |access-date = 1 May 2012 }} Sewage is managed by two plants—the Ballarat North Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Ballarat South Waste Water Treatment Plant.{{cite web|url=http://www.chw.net.au/CHW/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=258 |title=Welcome to Central Highlands Water | Central Highlands Water |publisher=Chw.net.au |date=27 October 2012 |access-date=25 March 2013}}

Residential electricity is supplied by Victorian electricity distributor Powercor, while residential natural gas is supplied by AGL Energy.

Telephone services are provided via the Doveton Street (BRAT) telephone exchange{{cite news |first = Erin |last = Delahunty |title = Ballarat jobs to go as part of Telstra cutback |date = 2 November 2000 |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-jobs-to-go-as-part-of-telstra-cutback/304328.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date =20 April 2012}} which was originally built by the Australian Telecommunications Commission (now known as Telstra) who remains its owner, though Optus now also operates services from this facility. The city's cellular network currently uses Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Telstra has provided mobile telecommunications to Ballarat since 2003 (initially as CDMA). Optus provided competition with its entrance to the market in 2003 along with significant service upgrades in 2004{{cite news |first = Graham |last = Germaine |title = Optus improves mobile coverage in Ballarat |date = 18 April 2004 |publisher = optus.com.au |url = http://www.optus.com.au/aboutoptus/About+Optus/Media+Centre/Media+Releases/2004/Optus+improves+mobile+coverage+in+Ballarat |work = Optus |access-date =20 April 2012}} followed by Vodafone in mid-2009.{{cite news |first = Tindall |last = Suzanne |title = May date for Vodafone 3G bush launch |date = 24 March 2009 |publisher = cnet.com.au |url = http://www.cnet.com.au/may-date-for-vodafone-3g-bush-launch-339295618.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090404121312/http://www.cnet.com.au/may-date-for-vodafone-3g-bush-launch-339295618.htm |archive-date = 4 April 2009 |work = CNET |access-date =1 May 2012}}

Data communications are provided by several companies. Telstra was the first company to provide dial-up Internet access via the Ballarat exchange, however the first network for broadband Internet access available in the city was a hybrid optical fiber cable and coaxial cable built by Neighbourhood Cable in 2001.{{cite news |first = Matt |last = Borgo |title = NBN doubles rollout of fibre to Ballarat |date = 18 April 2001 |publisher = whirlpool.net.au |url = http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm?id=238&show=al |work = Whirlpool |access-date =20 April 2012}} Since then, Telstra and Optus have entered the Ballarat market, providing Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) services for residential Internet access from four main exchanges—Ballarat, Wendouree (Howitt Street), Sebastopol (Skipton Street) and Alfredton (Cuthberts Road). These companies also provide mobile data access Evolved HSPA and since late 2011 3GPP Long Term Evolution (4G). Ballarat's rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) is seen as vital for the city's growing IT industry.{{cite news |first = Marcus |last = Power |title = Broadband revolution coming to Ballarat |date = 13 May 2009 |url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/broadband-revolution-coming-to-ballarat/1512825.aspx |work = The Courier |access-date =20 April 2012}}{{cite web |url = http://www.ballaratict.com/resources/Issues-MinisterConroy.pdf |title = National Broadband Network Issues to be canvassed with Minister Steven Conroy |access-date = 20 April 2012 |publisher = Ballarat ICT |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120310114730/http://www.ballaratict.com/resources/Issues-MinisterConroy.pdf |archive-date = 10 March 2012 |url-status = dead }} During Ballarat's first stage NBN rollout in 2012, 17,800 homes will be directly connected to the network via optical fibre cable.{{cite news |title = NBN doubles rollout of fibre to Ballarat |date = 12 February 2012 |publisher = abc.net.au |url = http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/02/15/3431155.htm |work = ABC Ballarat |access-date =20 April 2012}}

Ballarat has the following suburbs:

Addington, Alfredton, Ascot, Bakery Hill, Ballarat Central, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Black Hill, Blowhard, Bonshaw, Brown Hill, Bunkers Hill, Canadian, Cardigan, Cardigan Village, Chapel Flat, Coghills Creek, Delacombe, Eureka, Glendaurel, Glendonald, Golden Point, Gong Gong, Invermay Park, Lake Gardens, Lake Wendouree, Learmonth, Lucas, Magpie, Miners Rest, Mitchell Park, Mount Bolton, Mount Clear, Mount Helen, Mount Pleasant, Mount Rowan, Nerrina, Newington, Redan, Scotchmans Lead, Sebastopol, Soldiers Hill, Tourello, Weatherboard, Wendouree, Windermere and Winter Valley.

File:Ballarat Arch.jpg]]

The motor vehicle is the main form of transport in Ballarat. A network of state highways radiate from Ballarat and the Western Freeway (A8) dual carriageway bypasses the central city to the north of the urban area, providing a direct road connection to Melbourne (approximately 90 minutes), westward to Ararat (approximately 75 minutes) and Horsham. Five freeway interchanges service the urban area, East Ballarat (half diamond) interchange at Victoria Street (C805); Brown Hill interchange (full diamond) at Daylesford-Ballarat Road (C292), Creswick Road interchange (full diamond) at Wendouree (A300); the Mount Rowan interchange (half diamond) at Gillies Road, Wendouree (C307) and the Mitchell Park interchange (full diamond) at Howe Street (C287). The Midland Highway is a dual carriageway which runs north along Creswick Road to the Western Freeway interchange but becomes a single carriageway north of Ballarat to Creswick (approximately 25 minutes) and runs south as the dual carriageway of Skipton Road to Magpie before becoming a single carriageway to Geelong (approximately 87 minutes). The Glenelg Highway connects directly to Mount Gambier and the Sunraysia Highway west of Ballarat which connects directly to Mildura. Sturt Street and Victoria Street, both dual carriageways carry the bulk of the east-west CBD traffic, while Mair Street is planned to become a four lane dual carriageway to relieve pressure on these main streets.{{cite web |url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/528422/finalstrategypostadoption110906.pdf |title = Ballarat CBD Strategy |access-date = 26 June 2012 |date = 26 May 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120422102705/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/528422/finalstrategypostadoption110906.pdf |archive-date = 22 April 2012 |url-status = dead }} Other dual carriageway main roads in the west include Howitt Street and Gillies Street.{{cite web |url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/220557/ballarat%20road%20transport%20strategy.pdf |title = Ballarat Road Transport Strategy |access-date = 26 June 2012 |date = March 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120421163138/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/220557/ballarat%20road%20transport%20strategy.pdf |archive-date = 21 April 2012 |url-status = dead }} The busiest roads by far are located in the west and south at Albert Street in Redan, Sturt Street in Newington and Gillies Street in Lake Gardens which carry 22,400, 22,000 and 21,500 vehicles per day respectively and all have 4 traffic lanes.

File:Ballarat station.jpg]]

File:Train at ballarat station.jpg train arriving at Ballarat station ]]

Ballarat is a major rail transport hub in Victoria. Situated at the junction of the Ballarat line, Ararat line and Mildura lines, it currently has several connections for both passenger rail services and freight rail. The city has two passenger railway stations, the hub of Ballarat railway station and suburban Wendouree railway station.Victorian Transport Plan – Ballarat:Wendouree Station http://www4.transport.vic.gov.au/vtp/projects/wendouree.html {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025160557/http://www4.transport.vic.gov.au/vtp/projects/wendouree.html |date=25 October 2009 }} From Ballarat station, V/Line operates VLocity trains to Melbourne, west to Ararat and north to Maryborough. Since the controversial removal of "flagship" express services in 2011, successive timetable changes have slowed peak hour services to Southern Cross, with the current journey taking a minimum of 73 minutes.Mcilroy, Tom. [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-commuter-anger-vline-drops-express/2143065.aspx Ballarat commuter anger: V/Line drops express] The Courier. 25 April 2011.Nolan, Pat. [New V/Line timetable sends some commuters' days off track] The Courier. 20 November 2012. Patronage however has continued to grow.Mcilroy, Tom [http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-train-line-records-most-growth-for-vline/2293576.aspx Ballarat train line records most growth for V/Line] The Courier 15 September 2011.[http://www.theage.com.au/national/regional-rail-travel-booming-despite-delays-20090605-byld.html Regional rail travel booming, despite delays] from The Age The Regional Rail Link project was built in 2015 to separate Ballarat trains from Melbourne's suburban rail network.[https://archive.today/20120721143509/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/06/3183515.htm Regional rail link seen as Ballarat work boost] from the Australian Broadcasting Commission. 6 April 2011. Interurban services (Ballarat-Melbourne) now run half-hourly during weekday peak and hourly during weekday non-peak and on weekends from Ballarat station. A twice daily (thrice daily on weekdays) (57 minute) service connects Ballarat to Ararat (stopping at Beaufort) while there is a (53 minute) service to and from Maryborough (stopping at Creswick, Clunes, and Talbot) once a day (twice a day on weekdays) each way.[https://www.vline.com.au/Timetables/Additional-pages/Timetable-list Timetable list], V/Line. 29 January 2017. Victoria's electronic ticketing system, Myki, was implemented on rail services between Wendouree and Melbourne on 24 July 2013.{{cite web|title=Myki to start on VLine Commuter Services|url=http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/96766932/Article.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827131931/http://www.vline.com.au/about/news/mediareleases/96766932/Article.aspx|archive-date=27 August 2013|publisher=VLine Pty Ltd|access-date=7 August 2013}} Ballarat is connected to Geelong by rail via the Geelong-Ballarat railway line, which currently operates only for freight.

CDC Ballarat operates the bus network covering the city centre, Ballarat and Wendouree stations, and most surrounding suburbs, contracted by Public Transport Victoria.{{cite web|url=https://cdcvictoria.com.au/travel-information/timetables-and-maps/ballarat/|title=Ballarat|website=CDC Ballarat|access-date=16 February 2022}}

File:Ballarat Tram.jpg

The once extensive Ballarat tramway network operated between 1887 and 1971 with a small section of remaining track being utilised as a tourist and museum tramway.[http://www.btm.org.au/ Ballarat Tramway Museum]. Btm.org.au. Retrieved 18 August 2011. There have been proposals to extend the network, particularly as a major tourist facility but also to connect it to the railways and return it as a viable component of the Ballarat public transport system, including a strong lobby in 2001–2002,[http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/tram-plans-on-track/304990.aspx Tram plans on track] by Mariza Fiamengo for The Courier. 1 May 2001.Chamber of Commerce backs tram plan. The Courier. 2 May 2001.Ballarat's hotels support push to bring back trams. The Courier. 25 July 2002.Support for Tram Plan. The Courier. 30 July 2002. 2010–11 and 2014,{{cite news |last=Cunningham |first=Melissa |title=Call to bring trams back |work=The Courier |date=8 August 2014 }} however Ballarat City Council and federal member of parliament have dismissed recent proposals.No trams for at least a decade. The Courier. 31 July 2002.pg. 147. Ballarat CBD Strategy 2012 – Appendix A – Other Ideas Considered.{{Citation

|title = Ballarat tram return could cost $90 million

|url = http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1647757/ballarat-tram-return-could-cost-90-million/

|year = 2013

|author = Cowie, Tom

|access-date = 15 September 2013

}}

Ballarat Airport located {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north-west of the CBD consists of two sealed runways (each approximately {{convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide) as well as extensive sealed aprons, night lighting and NDB navaid. Master Plans for the Airport were completed in 2005 and subsequently 2013.{{Citation

|title = Ballarat Airport Master Plan 2013–2033

|url = http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/1515572/final_ballarat_airport_master_plan_8_may_2013b.pdf

|year = 2013

|access-date = 28 November 2013

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150318002413/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/1515572/final_ballarat_airport_master_plan_8_may_2013b.pdf

|archive-date = 18 March 2015

|url-status = dead

}} The report made a series of recommendations and forecasts that included lengthening, widening and strengthening of the existing main runway, consideration for expansion of the passenger terminal, recommendations for future use of aprons, and development of future structures supporting larger aircraft that would result from the forecast increased frequent usage. In 2020, initial Federal funding was provided to enable the re-building and re-instatement of the main north–south runway to 1900m (6233 feet).

Ballarat has a long history of cycling as a form of transport and recreation. The current cycling network continues to grow and consists of several marked on-road routes and {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=off}} of segregated bicycle facilities including several main routes: the Ballarat–Skipton Rail Trail and the Yarrowee River Trail with connections to the Gong Gong Reservoir. Buningyong Trail, Sebastopol Trail, and the Lake Wendouree shared path.[http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/191988/ballarat%20bicycle%20strategy%202008.pdf Microsoft Word – 0002-1-Ballarat Bicycle Strategy.doc] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222112133/http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/media/191988/ballarat%20bicycle%20strategy%202008.pdf |date=22 February 2011 }}. (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2011. The Ballarat Bicycle Users Group provides advocacy for the growing number of cyclists in the city.[http://www.balbug.net/ Ballarat Bicycle Users Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306132919/http://www.balbug.net/ |date=6 March 2012 }}. Balbug.net. Retrieved 18 August 2011. The popularity of cycling in Ballarat is also demonstrated by the large number of spectators and participants drawn to cycling sporting events held in the city.[http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/general/cycling-boon-for-ballarat-region/1826064.aspx Cycling boon for Ballarat region] David Brehaut for The Courier. 10 May 2010.

In 2014, the city was one of a number of Australian regional centres examined by an ABC Four Corners report on the use of methamphetamine, along with Devonport, Burnie, Castlemaine and St Arnaud.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/10/20/4108571.htm|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|first1=Caro|last1=Meldrum-Hanna|first2=Ali|last2=Russell|date=20 October 2014|title=Ice Rush|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023003629/http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2014/10/20/4108571.htm|archive-date=23 October 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/four-corners-australian-country-towns-in-ice-epidemic/news-story/b65c4dad9833b304ce5d45d6a1411b36|publisher=News Corp Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312061914/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/four-corners-australian-country-towns-in-ice-epidemic/news-story/b65c4dad9833b304ce5d45d6a1411b36|archive-date=12 March 2016|date=20 October 2014|title=Four Corners: Australian country towns in ice epidemic|website=News.com.au}}

{{Portal|Victoria}}

• List of people from Ballarat

{{reflist}}

History books

• Bate, Weston. Lucky City: The First Generation of Ballarat 1851–1901 (1978)
• Bate, Weston. Life After Gold: Twentieth-Century Ballarat Melbourne University Press (1993)
• Carboni, Raffaello. The Eureka Stockade (1980) first published (1855)
• Goodman, David. Gold Seeking: Victorian and California in the 1850s (1994)
• Jacobs, Wendy. Ballarat: A Guide to Buildings and Areas 1851–1940 Jacob Lewis Vines Conservation Architects and Planners (1981)
• Lynch, John. The Story of the Eureka Stockade: Epic Days in the early fifties at Ballarat, (1947?)
• Flett, James. The History of Gold Discovery in Victoria
• Molony, John. Eureka, (1984)
• Molony, John. By Wendouree, (2010)
• Serle, Geoffrey. The Golden Age: A History of the Colony of Victoria, 1851–1860, (1963)
• Freund, Peter, with Val Sarah. Her Maj: A History of Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat (2007)
• Ballarat City Council
• Victorian Heritage Register, Heritage Victoria

{{Commons category|Ballarat}}

{{Wikivoyage}}

{{EB1911 poster|Ballarat and Ballarat East}}

{{Wikinews category}}

• [http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ Ballarat City Council]
• [http://www.visitballarat.com.au/ Visit Ballarat] – Ballarats Official Tourism website
• [http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Goldfields/Destinations/Ballarat.aspx Ballarat – Tourism Victoria] – Government tourism site.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111210195544/http://bih.ballarat.edu.au/index.php/Ballarat_and_District_Industrial_Heritage_Project Ballarat and District Industrial Heritage Project]

{{Ballarat suburbs}}

{{Cities of Australia}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Mining towns in Victoria (state)

Category:Cities in Victoria (state)

Category:1838 establishments in Australia

Category:Populated places established in 1838