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24 Oct 2020

Sovereign Hill to reopen with reduced ticket prices

Ballarat tourist attraction Sovereign Hill will reopen to locals and regional Victorians on 31 October with new ticket prices and a range of hygiene and social distancing measures in place...

News

24 Oct 2020

Temporary relocation of the Ballarat Information Centre

From Monday 26 October, the Ballarat Information Centre (BIC) will temporarily move to the City of Ballarat's Phoenix Building, 25 Armstrong Street South. Operating hours will remain 10am-4pm seven days...

Family Friendly

17 Sep 2020

Ballarat Wildlife Park and Kryal Castle reopen to regional Victorians

The Ballarat Wildlife Park and Kryal Castle have reopened to locals and regional Victorians, just in time for the spring school holidays. Owned and operated by the Parker family, the...

Family Friendly

16 Sep 2020

Escape to Ballarat for the spring school holidays

Regional Victorians can again holiday in regional Victoria – Ballarat included – as of 17 September. This important third step in the State Government's COVID-19 roadmap has arrived just in...

News

02 Sep 2020

Learn in lockdown with Ballarat's online workshops and DIY kits

Pick up a new skill or simply make the most of your time at home with our guide to Ballarat's online masterclasses and DIY kits. Online workshops Enjoy happy hour...

Food & Drink

02 Sep 2020

Bar meets brewery at new Ballarat venue Aunty Jacks

The countdown is on until the opening of Ballarat's much anticipated brewpub Aunty Jacks. Located at 315-317 Mair Street next to fellow newcomer Ragazzone, Aunty Jacks will combine quality craft...

News

01 Sep 2020

SpringFest Ballarat unveils new online raffle

SpringFest Ballarat has been reimagined in the face of COVID-19 restrictions and will be presented as an $18,000 online raffle this year. Up for grabs in the 2020 Ultimate SpringFest...

Food & Drink

26 Aug 2020

Enjoy a taste of Ballarat at home with Click for Vic

The Ballarat region is featured in a new State Government campaign designed to connect people with Victorian producers, creators and businesses. Click for Vic encourages consumers to support Victorian businesses...

Food & Drink

11 Aug 2020

A self-guided food and adventure experience with a difference

A Melbourne-founded company offering unique ways to experience more than 50 cities around the world has arrived in Ballarat. To date, AmazingCo has delivered more than 40,000 experiences to over...

Food & Drink

05 Aug 2020

Your guide to Ballarat cafes and restaurants open for takeaway and delivery

Whilst dining out might be temporarily off the menu due to stage three restrictions, you can still treat yourself at home with our lockdown guide to Ballarat cafes and restaurants...

Food & Drink

14 Jul 2020

Faces of Ballarat: Gorgi Coghlan

She's the popular Australian television host who's brought a slice of European magic and simplicity to Ballarat. We spoke to The Provincial Hotel owner and The Project panellist Gorgi Coghlan...

Food & Drink

07 Jul 2020

Step back in time at The 18th Amendment Bar

A new Ballarat bar is taking patrons back to a chapter in American history when it was illegal to consume or sell alcohol. The 18th Amendment Bar opened at the...

News

25 Jun 2020

Discounted tickets for locals and regional Victorians at Ballarat tourist attractions

Ballarat tourist attractions are offering discounted tickets to help attract local and regional Victorian visitors this winter. Discounts of up to 50 per cent are available at Sovereign Hill, Kryal...

News

18 Jun 2020

Ballarat’s online winter festival extended until 31 August

If you can't visit Ballarat right now in person, you still can online with the Ballarat Virtual Winter Fest extended until 31 August. Visit the website and tour the interactive...

Family Friendly

15 Jun 2020

Kryal Castle to lower its drawbridge on 27 June

Another Ballarat tourist attraction has announced a reopening date, with Kryal Castle to resume operations on Saturday 27 June. During the Victorian school holidays (27 June – 12 July), the...

Family Friendly

10 Jun 2020

Sovereign Hill to welcome visitors again from 27 June

Popular Ballarat tourist attraction Sovereign Hill will reopen on Saturday 27 June – the first day of the Victorian school holidays. For the first three months, the outdoor museum will...

News

09 Jun 2020

Art Gallery of Ballarat to reopen doors on 1 July

Australia’s oldest and largest regional gallery will resume operations on Wednesday 1 July. The Art Gallery of Ballarat will open to a limited number of visitors from 10am-5pm daily using...

Family Friendly

02 Jun 2020

Ballarat Wildlife Park reopens to the public

The Ballarat Wildlife Park has reopened to visitors after it was forced to close its doors in late March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Parker family and the...

Family Friendly

28 May 2020

Ballarat's Kryal Castle to host Harry Potter stars this October

The English actors who played the Weasley twins in the hit Harry Potter films will make a special appearance in Ballarat later this year. James and Oliver Phelps (who starred...

Made of Ballarat

14 Apr 2020

From Ballarat with love

We're bringing the Ballarat region to you with our list of local businesses with online stores that deliver Australia-wide. Shop small, support local and be kind to Ballarat businesses during...

News

14 Apr 2020

Ballarat festival to help create visual COVID-19 record

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is partnering with the United Kingdom's FORMAT International Photography Festival and Ireland's Gallery of Photography to create a visual record of the COVID-19 crisis on...

News

18 Feb 2020

Excitement builds for Ballarat's Super Rugby double header

History will be made this weekend when Super Rugby comes to Ballarat for the very first time. Victoria’s own Melbourne Rebels will host a huge double header at Mars Stadium...

News

04 Feb 2020

Ballarat goes crazy for National Raspberry Drop Day

Ballarat businesses have joined forces with Sovereign Hill this February to celebrate the city's famous hard‐boiled lolly, the raspberry drop. Raspberry drop lemon meringue cakes, raspberry drop dessert pizzas and...

News

04 Feb 2020

Your guide to Ballarat's new Smarter Parking Plan

Ballarat’s new Smarter Parking Plan has been rolled out across the CBD. The parking meters are a mix of credit card and coin, with the added ability to pay via...

News

30 Jan 2020

Ballarat to transform into a summer playground for big kids this February

Live music, fine food, craft beer plus elite and extreme sports will be the focus of Ballarat’s bumper line-up of events this February. In a coup for the city, Mars...

News

13 Jan 2020

More new live music venues and bars for Ballarat

Ballarat's entertainment scene continues to grow with the addition of several new bars and live music venues to the city's line-up in 2020. The sad face that resulted from the...

News

10 Jan 2020

Ballarat secures RoadNats for another three years

In a coup for Ballarat, the city has scored the rights to host Cycling Australia's Road National Championships for the next three years. First held in Ballarat in 2002, the...

News

07 Jan 2020

How to support bushfire relief in Ballarat

If you’re visiting Ballarat this January, here's how you can help raise money to support those affected by the nation’s devastating bushfires. The Western Hotel’s Bushfire Fundraiser 1221 Sturt Street...

News

20 Dec 2019

Ballarat to host Super Rugby match in 2020

Ballarat will become the first regional Australian town to host a Super Rugby match for premiership points in February 2020. The Melbourne Rebels will take on the Durban Sharks at...

News

18 Dec 2019

Ballarat to show its creative side with new open studio program

Ballarat artists, makers and creatives will join forces for the city’s largest open studio program in April next year. From 3-13 April, Ballarat Open Studios: Art of Making will be...

News

10 Dec 2019

Award accolades for Ballarat businesses

Ballarat continues to make its mark in the hospitality and tourism sectors, with a number of local businesses scoring statewide recognition at recent industry awards. The following businesses and individuals...

Family Friendly

07 Nov 2019

Get ready to chart a creative journey of discovery

The long-awaited Fringe Benefits program – a complementary music, art and performance festival to the city’s largest inaugural music festival, Spilt Milk – has been launched. The city is set...

News

01 Nov 2019

Ballarat named UNESCO Creative City

The City of Ballarat has been announced as a UNESCO Creative City, in the area of Craft and Folk Art. Ballarat is one of 66 newly declared UNESCO cities and 246...

State recognition for The Provincial Hotel

After just eight months in business, The Provincial Hotel has been named Victoria’s best boutique style accommodation. The Ballarat hotel was awarded the accolade at the 2019 Tourism Accommodation Australia...

News

08 Jul 2019

Ballarat home to Australia’s best luxury day spa

A Ballarat day spa has been crowned Australia’s best of the best – not once, not twice but three times. Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa snapped up three awards at the...

Food & Drink

08 Jul 2019

From petrol to pimped-up sandwiches

Have you heard the one about the old Ballarat service station that became a hip neighbourhood cafe? Introducing the NYC-inspired Drive, the culmination of 12 months of blood, sweat and...

Food & Drink

11 Jun 2019

Winner winner, chicken dinner

The boys behind Moon & Mountain are at it again, this time putting their own spin on finger-licking fried chicken. Deluxe fried chicken joint Winner Winner is the latest Ballarat...

Family Friendly

28 May 2019

The top questions at the Ballarat Information Centre

Who better to ask for the best local knowledge than the locals themselves at the Ballarat Information Centre? Here are some of the most common questions asked at the BIC...

Food & Drink

08 May 2019

Faces of Ballarat: Taite Radley

Former Ballarat boy Taite Radley gained national attention last year after stealing the heart of blonde beauty Ali Oetjen on The Bachelorette. We spoke to the 29-year-old bank manager and...

Food & Drink

16 Apr 2019

Industry acclaim for region’s wineries and distilleries

A recent swag of industry accolades has brought international and national attention to the Ballarat region’s wineries and distilleries. At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Ballarat’s Kilderkin Distillery was...

Food & Drink

03 Apr 2019

Putting a contemporary spin on Australian bushfoods

A new concept store showcasing the finest of Australian bushfood products and ingredients has opened in Buninyong. Located in an historic cellar, Saltbush Kitchen is designed to showcase both the...