Ahead of International Women's Day (8 March), meet the trailblazing women behind some of Ballarat's best cafes, restaurants, attractions and experiences...
The hospo heroes
- The Shared Table owner and chef Dianne Ray
- Erin Taylor, co-owner of Hop Temple, Aunty Jacks, Grainery Lane and Roy Hammond
- Carboni's co-owner and event manager Irene Beghini
- Cornerstone Cafe owner and chef Nicole Edwards
- Hideaway owner and chef Trudi Armstrong
- The Little Cupcake Ballarat's mother and daughter duo Madeleine Witham and Chelsea Foord
- The Turret Cafe and The Turret Bakehouse co-owner Belinda Hand
- Buninyong Hotel owner and performer/presenter Gorgi Coghlan
- Eclectic Tastes owner Jane Miller
- La Miette Patisserie owner and pastry chef Jacinta Hogan
- Kilderkin Distillery co-owner Rebecca Matthews
- Sip Champagne Bar owner Lauren Irwin
- Emma's Bakery owner and baker Emma Conroy
- Mondegreen Cafe co-owner Kris Payne
- Mother/daughters trio Jane Baker (botanist), Elizabeth (distiller) and Georgette (designer) from Mrs Baker's Still House
- Sally's Paddock winemaker Sasha Fair
- The Flywheel Bar & Cafe owner/operator Katie Gleisner
- Chef Lilly Wright from Flying Chillies
- Cake queen Sara Kittelty from Kittelty's
- The Crypt Ballarat's mother and daughter owners Shani and Savannah Stevens
- The brains behind the award-winning cookie pies, Mrs Browne Bakes' Erika Browne
- Eatsy Thai, Aunty Katie and Cattleya Signature Ballarat owner Katie Potikul
The arts & culture champions
- Mother/daughters trio and Wadawurrung artists Aunty Marlene Gilson and Deanne Gilson plus traditional weaver Tammy Gilson
- Art Gallery of Ballarat director Louise Tegart
- Ceramicist and Ross Creek Gallery owner Ruby Pilven
- Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and visual artist Jenna Oldaker from Murrup Art
- Wootten's general operations manager and head of footwear and accessory cutting and finishing Krys Wootten
- Cyril Callister Museum founder and general manager Liza Robinson
- GOR Woollen Mill co-owner Isabel Renters
- Ceramics queen and The Pottage owner Shelby Sherritt
The retail & relaxation queens
- The Crafty Squirrel owner Morgan Wills
- Hattie and the Wolf founder and graphic designer Andrea Hurley
- Ballarat's Sanctuary Day Spa owner Sarah Emmanuel
- Collins Booksellers Ballarat on Lydiard co-owner Tracey Willersdorf
- Women of the Well founders and South Sudanese refugees Mary Top and Mary Deng
- Wen & Ware Living owner Wendy McLachlan
The nature warriors
- Ballarat Botanical Gardens curator Donna Thomas
- Ballarat Wildlife Park CEO Danielle Neil
- Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat beekeeper Amanda Collins
The nostalgic namesakes
- The Provincial Hotel's European-inspired restaurant Lola is named after spirited gold rush showgirl Lola Montez. The Lydiard St hotel is also home to Clara the cocktail caravan – a nod to The Ballarat Times' first female editor, Clara Seekamp
- The boutique Hotel Vera is a tribute to co-owner David Cook-Doulton’s maternal grandmother, Vera. "We wanted the hotel to embody her warmth, generosity and, most importantly, her beautiful heart," David said
- Ballarat neighbourhood cafe Naomi & i is named in honour of co-owner Frazer Wyley's beloved grandmother, Naomi — "inspired by handwritten notes, gardens full of flowers and a love that can never be broken"
- Pat's Sandwiches is named after co-owner Thom Mitchell's publican grandmother, Patricia. "Pat embodied the true sense of hospitality – love and care expressed through providing beautiful food and spaces for others," Thom said
