What’s new in Ballarat

From restaurants and cafes to boutiques and hands-on workshops, here’s the lowdown on what’s new in Ballarat…

New food & drink offerings

• Ballarat’s newest cellar door experience is now open in Coghills Creek. Just a 20-minute drive from the Ballarat CBD, Mt Coghill Vineyard specialises in single vineyard cold climate wines including chardonnay, rosé, pinot noir, sparkling rosé and sparkling pinot chardonnay. Built using rustic timbers and corrugated iron, the new cellar door overlooks the region’s beautiful volcanic formations. Mt Coghill Vineyard is open Sundays from 11.30am-4.30pm for wine tastings, chocolate & wine pairings, and grazing boards.
• Yum Cha Sundays have arrived at Roy Hammond (main image). The Armstrong St Nth bar is hosting this fabulous feast every Sunday from midday-4pm. Indulge in spring rolls, wontons, croquettes, shao mai, dumplings, bao buns and tacos, plus free-flowing spritz, beer, sparkling, mocktails and soft drink.
• Have your cake and eat it too at Ballarat’s La Miette Patisserie. Located at 611 Main Rd, this new dessert shop is just down the road from Sovereign Hill and Mercure Ballarat. Think sweet treats plus Ballarat’s own Enga Coffee Roasters and Grounded Pleasures hot chocolate and chai. A large range of gluten-free desserts are also available, as well as egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free options.
• Bushfood hot chocolate is now on the menu at Saltbush Kitchen and we want to know which flavour you would choose? Take your pick from roasted wattleseed (roasted nutty caramel flavour), lemon myrtle (lemon citrus kick), pepperberry (similar to chilli chocolate), and aniseed myrtle (delightful liquorice flavour). You can also add homemade marshmallows from Kittelty’s.
• Get your marg on at Nolans. Every weekend, indulge in 90 minutes of bottomless pizza and margarita cocktails for $52 per person. Reservations available, walk-ins welcome. Nolans is located within The Goods Shed Ballarat at 200 Lydiard St Nth (next to the Ballarat Train Station).
• We love a hidden gem and this new laneway cafe is just that! The Salty Sparrow Cafe Ballarat is tucked away in Hancocks Lane (entry off 105 Lydiard St Nth). This European-inspired courtyard cafe is serving up Belgian hot chocolate, Dukes coffee, toasties, scones with Inglenook Dairy cream and homemade strawberry jam, brownies, cakes, Sweet As El cookies and more.

New places to shop

• From the team behind Common Ground Ballarat comes new boutique Willow + Hutch. Think luxury homewares, furniture, ceramics by local artists and books. This beautiful red brick corner store is located at 502 Macarthur St.
• A bespoke milliner has begun a six-month residency in Ballarat’s historic Lydiard St precinct. Rose Hudson Millinery is now based out of Art Hub Ballarat next to the Ballarat Mining Exchange.

New places to stay

• Sleep among the vines at Waubra’s Wayward Winery. A four-bedroom homestead is now available for luxury weekend stays at the Pyrenees property. Enjoy panoramic views and relaxing walks around the vineyard whilst enjoying this country retreat.
• Soak up the beauty of the Australian bush at The Woodlands. This enchanting log cabin is located on a secluded 40 acres in Lal Lal (just 20 minutes from Ballarat). Adorned with warm wooden accents, the one-bedroom cabin comes complete with stone fireplace, four-poster bed, well-appointed kitchen, dining space and deluxe bathroom.

New workshops & experiences

• Ceramics queen Shelby Sherritt has unveiled a new paint your own pottery studio in Ballarat. The Pottage is described as a “cottage home to make art, spread joy, get creative and unwind”. Choose from a range of different pottery bisque to paint, including mugs, plates, jugs, vases and trinkets.
• A Pyrenees farm is now offering Paint and Pat experiences with its adorable Scottish highland cows. These unique workshops at Mount Beckworth’s Stonehenge Farm include step-by-step instructions on how to paint a cow, along with a tour of the 146-year-old property plus the chance to pat the highland cows, miniature pigs and miniature donkeys.

Coming soon

• Winner, winner, chicken dinner – Timezone Australia is coming to town! Timezone Ballarat will officially open in the Bridge Mall on Saturday 22 June at 10am. The 650sqm space will feature over 75 arcade games including King Kong VR, E Claws, and Taj Mahal mini golf.
• Sovereign Hill will launch a new festival this spring. To be held over two weeks in October, the Food, Fire and Light Festival will acknowledge and celebrate the role fire played on the goldfields.
• Want the inside scoop? Rumour has it that Timboon Fine Ice Cream is opening a “scooperie” in Ballarat later this year. Established in 1999, the family-owned Victorian brand is renowned for its luscious homemade ice cream.

Main image: Roy Hammond Ballarat