BALLARAT autumn winter 2023 magazine

In autumn, tree-lined boulevards put on a show with golden hued leaves contrasted by the heritage buildings the city is renowned for. Winter brings beautiful low-lying fog and mist which seem to hug the city.

Menus around the city are filled with the best of local produce, often served beside roaring fires, and the crisp air seems to suggest lingering longer to enjoy being ensconced inside.

The upcoming calendar of events also provides a strong call to visitors. Activities that enrich, engage and help you to actively relax are in abundance.

The award-winning Ballarat Heritage Festival returns – think candlelit concerts in stunning Victorian buildings, crafters and artisans displaying their skills in the old Mining Exchange, a Heritage Harvest festival at the iconic Sovereign Hill – and more. Also enriching is a series of bespoke hands-on experiences which will have you slowing down and getting in touch with your creativity.

Winter too is wonderful with the Ballarat Winter Festival and all it includes. Ice skating, an immersive sound and light show, and so much more will warm your heart and soul, regardless of the temperature.

So book, visit, cocoon, experience, indulge, recharge, enjoy – then return. Remade.

What’s inside

All information was correct at the time of printing. Please check ahead of your visit to Ballarat.

Printed by Low Co2 Certified Printer Sovereign Press Pty Ltd Ballarat

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The City of Ballarat acknowledges the Traditional Owners of our land, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People.

Within our council boundaries, the Wadawurrung People are the Traditional Owners south of the Great Dividing Range and, to the north, the Dja Dja Wurrung People are the Traditional Owners.

We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their respective Elders past, present and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

COVER IMAGE

Slow down and photograph Ballarat’s historical buildings using an old-school analogue camera with award-winning photographer Jacqueline Matisse. Find out more at madeofballarat.com

The autumn and winter months are a splendid time to visit Ballarat.

What’s on in Ballarat this autumn & winter

From candlelit concerts and photography showcases, to a riverside food and wine festival nestled in one of Victoria’s premium wine regions and a dazzling winter light show – there’s plenty to keep you enthralled.

UNEARTH NEW FAVOURITE DROPS

Held on the beautiful banks of the Avoca River every April, the popular Pyrenees Unearthed Wine and Food Festival showcases more than 20 of the best winemakers from the Pyrenees and Grampians regions.

The festival, which sells out year after year, gives revellers the chance to unearth new favourite drops from the wineries of western Victoria.

Pyrenees Unearthed Wine and Food Festival

April 22

pyreneesunearthedfestival.com.au

A COOL TAKE ON HISTORY

Celebrate Ballarat’s rich heritage, unique stories and vibrant creative community at the Ballarat Heritage Festival.

With Ballarat’s stunning Victorian architecture as the backdrop, the annual festival highlights the city’s golden past and evolving future through an inspiring 10day program.

Event-goers can also expect a raft of new experiences alongside world-renowned performances that are set to inspire, ignite and delight.

Winemakers from the Pyrenees will gather once again in Ballarat for two days of winelovers’ heaven.

The Red Series showcases the best wines from western Victoria, giving guests the chance to meet the makers behind their favourite wines.

The Red Series

July 28-29

Ballarat Mining Exchange

Enjoy concerts illuminated by candlelight, immerse yourself in a two-day foodie festival at Sovereign Hill, or dust off your vintage bike and take part in the annual Ballarat Tweed Ride.

Ballarat Heritage Festival

May 19-28

ballaratheritagefestival.com.au

THE MAGIC OF THE BALLARAT WINTER FESTIVAL

The Ballarat Winter Festival is set to dazzle and amaze again this year with an impressive line-up of events.

Experience the sound, lights and wintry delights of Sovereign Hill’s Winter Wonderlights, watch a spectacular fire joust and be dazzled by flaming swords at Kryal Castle, then get your skates on at the pop-up ice skating rink in the Ballarat CBD.

Ballarat Winter Festival

June 24 – July 16

ballaratwinterfestival.com.au

WINTER IS WONDERFUL AT SOVEREIGN HILL

Sovereign Hill’s Winter Wonderlights will dazzle again this winter with sound, lights, and wintry delights – all within an easy drive from Melbourne.

With a shimmering light show, full theatre program, delicious treats, snow, hands-on kids’ activities and more, Sovereign Hill delivers a Christmas in July like no other. Winter Wonderlights begins as soon as the sky is dark enough.

Winter Wonderlights

June 24 – July 16

sovereignhill.com.au

CRAFT LAB 23: LIGHT & DARK

Taking place during the Ballarat Heritage Festival, Craft Lab is known as a place to explore, learn and experiment.

A celebration of traditional artisan skills, this year’s event will feature 17 practitioners –from upholsterers to spinners, shoemakers to armourers, wild weavers to eco-dyers –who will share their knowledge, expertise and techniques with thousands of visitors over four full days.

New to the Craft Lab 23 lineup is The Great Takeaway, which will see visitors dine among some of the finest

materials, textiles, glassware and ceramics produced in the Ballarat region – and then be able to take the handcrafted materials home with them.

A ticketed event, The Great Takeaway is an exclusivelytailored dinner for up to 60 guests, who will be seated in the heart of the Ballarat Mining Exchange to enjoy a threecourse meal.

Craft Lab 23: Light & Dark May 20-28 creativeballarat.com.au/ craftdesign

For more details about what’s on in Ballarat, head to visitballarat.com.au

GET CLOSE TO THE ACTION

Ballarat will once again feature as the Western Bulldogs’ second home, with the city’s Mars Stadium hosting two games this season.

The Bulldogs will host Adelaide for Round 10 on Saturday 20 May at 2.10pm and Greater Western Sydney Giants for Round 20 on the final weekend of July.

Get the crew together and make it a weekend footy trip in Ballarat.

Round 10 & 20 westernbulldogs.com.au/ ballarat

COME AND SEE THE REAL THING

It’s the photography festival that transforms every corner of Ballarat, and this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Discover works from international and Australian photographers in the city’s galleries, laneways, and inside cafes and restaurants as the Ballarat International Foto Biennale takes over Ballarat from 26 August.

The festival’s theme, The Real Thing, encourages visitors to explore what’s truly real in the digital era of live streaming, fast shutter speeds, internet algorithms, artificial intelligence, and 24-hour media. Tickets go on sale in July.

Ballarat International Foto Biennale

August 26 – October 22 ballaratfoto.org

Image: Bowie Wallace

Left: The Great Takeaway

New home of luxury

Ballarat’s brand new boutique stay, Hotel Vera, and its accompanying restaurant Underbar, are part of a wider hospitality renaissance in the city.

By Paul Chai

Hotel Vera’s heritage, red-brick frontage on Sturt Street was described as a “handsome building” when it was first announced in the Ballarat Star in 1885 as the upcoming residence for surgeon Stanislaus Woinarski. Recently renovated by hoteliers David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew, it is easy to imagine that Woinarski would appreciate the precision, effort and attention to detail that has gone into the building’s renewal.

But there is nothing clinical about the end result – Hotel Vera is a warm, inviting space where everything has been curated from the bottled cocktails in the mini bar (from Melbourne sustainable cocktail bar Byrdi) to Salus products on the bathroom shelves.

Through a four-year labour of love, Cook-Doulton and Shew have managed to create a dramatic impact but with a light touch. The original features of metal fireplaces and ornate cornices have all been maintained, public spaces have been kept neutral (so the colourful rooms can shine) and anything the pair have had to remove is being kept in an attic storage space for future use.

Technology like a hydraulic car stacker means they have saved a heritage outhouse for future use as a spa and there is a Porsche electronic charger mounted to the rear wall of the property. Hotel Vera celebrates the past but is looking firmly to the future.

“Ballarat is a town of stories and this building has a unique story to tell,” says Cook-Doulton. “We wanted our renovation to respect those stories already written whilst allowing us to add a new contemporary chapter. Firstly, we wanted to show how a historic landmark building could be restored in a respectful way and secondly to demonstrate how a new use could be both contemporary, yet respectful to the past.”

The team here don’t do cookie cutter. There are just seven suites and each is named for a nearby region and designed to reflect the area’s personality, so Ercildoune has a rosy colour scheme

that reflects the soil colour of the area with an equally blush Anthea Kemp canvas Inside a Flower 2022 hung over the kingsized bed, while Sandon is a riot of blues echoing the local summer skies. Kingston is the rich green of the area’s potato fields and all the rooms have original porcelain works by artist Neville French.

“We wanted each suite to reflect the amazing landscapes of the Ballarat region with colour and texture creating a subtle link to the land,” Cook-Doulton says. “It was this link to the land that made Underbar the perfect companion restaurant, with locally sourced and foraged produce and synergies around sustainability and a celebration of local.”

UNDERBAR AND THE NEW BALLARAT DINING SCENE

To call Underbar the hotel restaurant is to undersell things a little. Derek Boath trained with Thomas Keller at New York hotspot Per Se before settling in Ballarat to open Underbar, which was swiftly hatted.

It has always been a bespoke, intimate affair with barely a dozen tables. In its new home at Hotel Vera, Boath has 14 covers on weekends and he has designed the sustainable, gas-free kitchen to his own specs.

Boath draws on Japanese influences in his food too, and there is a sense of calm when you enter the kitchen from the door in Hotel Vera’s lobby. Boath is usually all focus, with Zen assembly of the intricate dishes. But that is thanks to a day’s worth of prep (and, for some dishes, a few days) so you are just seeing the very end, very delicious results of his days of labour.

Underbar’s cloud-light chawanmushi (egg custard) has been invited to the new digs with sweet spanner crab and corn but you might also find a whole deboned garfish and rice, wrapped in a nori roll with rich prawn bisque sauce. What you get depends on what Boath has been inspired by that week, so sit back and trust the process.

“ Ballarat is a town of stories and this building has a unique story to tell.”

Image: Matt Dunne

What you get served at Underbar depends on what chef Derek Boath has been inspired by that week, so sit back and trust the process.

When Underbar vacated its modest Doveton Street shopfront, Boath and his team quickly installed Pencilmark Wine Room – a more casual but equally delicious offering where you can get charcuterie, cheeses and tinned seafood from Portugal.

Boath is just the latest to champion the blossoming Ballarat food scene. Mr Jones’ modern Thai first received a regional hat from The Age Good Food Guide when it was Catfish Thai many years ago but it is still producing fiery-but-balanced degustation from chef Damien Jones, who trained at David Thompson’s Nahm in London.

One of the newest hat recipients is modern-Italian restaurant Ragazzone. It’s an ever-changing menu but the pasta is a favourite, often with swimmer crab or duck ragu enjoyed in an intimate setting.

Mitchell Harris Wines makes crisp, coldclimate wines in vineyards outside of town but you can enjoy these drops, and some simply cooked regional produce, at the Mitchell Harris Wine Bar in town – dishes like Shaw River buffalo mozzarella from Yambuk with shaved zucchini, yellow squash, lemon, mint and chilli.

At the riot of colour that is Pancho, you will have the best michelada this side of Central America, as well as ceviche, fish tacos and crisp tostadas topped with pork and avocado.

Breakfast is an event at Johnny Alloo, just a five-minute walk from Hotel Vera, where the chilli crab scrambled eggs do not hold back on the heat and the coffee is excellent. While over at Drive café in a former service station, the bacon and egg roll comes on a milk bun with jack cheddar and chilli and tomato jam.

Drinks-wise, Ballarat has such a strong claim on craft brewing that Melburnians head up for the day to drink at Hop Temple and its newer sister venue, Aunty Jacks –a shabby-chic live music venue with great beer snacks. For cocktails, head down the laneway to The 18th Amendment, a speakeasy with throwback cocktails like the Thomas Edison that puts vodka, melon and lychee into a light bulb.

The common ingredients across all these places are innovation, passion and a camaraderie that makes this very much a foodie movement rather than a disparate collection of restaurants. Ballarat has always been a city of craftspeople and it is the hospitality industry that is currently having its time to shine.

Image: Leon Schoots

Image: Leon Schoots

WIN A BALLARAT ADVENTURE.

Think sipping liquid gold in quirky bars, experiences you’ll never forget, sampling mouth-watering creations made of earthly treasures and so much more!

We’re giving one lucky winner and a person of their choice the chance to experience the best that Ballarat has to offer with a two-night escape valued at $2,000.

To enter scan the QR code

48 HOURS IN BALLARAT & SURROUNDS

Great eats

1. MR JONES

This hatted contemporary Asian restaurant serves fresh, balanced food with just the right amount of heat. The banquet menu changes weekly, so no two (or more) visits are ever the same. Add a signature cocktail and you could almost be on a beach in Asia. mrjonesdining.com.au

2. THE FORGE PIZZERIA

You’ll find all your favourites at The Forge – set in a former antique shop right in the middle of town – with many dishes celebrating the region’s best produce like Salt Kitchen Charcuterie, Meredith Dairy goat cheese and Western Plains Pork. Our hot tip? Leave space for one of the delicious dessert pizzas. theforgepizzeria.com

3. JOHNNY ALLOO

Named in honour of the Australia’s first Chinese restaurateur, John Alloo, this allday Ballarat eatery serves specialty coffee, a thoughtful wine list and hearty yet refined food. The 1870s building has been meticulously transformed into a calming place where the team aim to connect people and bring joy through great food and drink experiences, just like John did on Ballarat’s goldfields in 1854. johnnyalloo.com

4. ROY HAMMOND

This eclectically-dressed bar and restaurant showcases an Asian-inspired menu to die for. Think Korean fried chicken, bao of all descriptions, bahn mi and more, plus a mouth-watering array of libations served from a glowing golden bar. royhammond.com.au

5. HYDRANT FOOD HALL

Tucked away down an old bluestone laneway, Hydrant Food Hall is one of Ballarat’s best cafes. Set in an historic warehouse punctuated by an original Grinnell sprinkler system, the menu here is driven by seasonality and local produce combined with specialty coffee. thehydrant.com.au

Must-do activities

1. ART GALLERY OF BALLARAT

Over the autumn and winter months, Australia’s oldest regional gallery presents several special exhibitions worth making a trip to see. In an Australian exclusive, the Art Gallery of Ballarat will give an intimate and rare glimpse into the world of the Pre-Raphaelites. Meanwhile, alongside in a special double feature will be an exhibition of historical and contemporary Australian artworks drawing from the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites, particularly celebrated designer William Morris. artgalleryofballarat.com.au

2. RELAX BY DOING

Unlock a hidden talent during a hands-on adventure. Let your inner artist shine with a Made of: Ballarat Experience. This new series of creative experiences range from casting silver jewellery, hand painting a pot or vase, to capturing Ballarat’s beauty on an old-school camera and heading off the beaten track to forage for clay. madeofballarat.com

Get your nature fix

1. LAKE WENDOUREE

The jewel in Ballarat’s crown really does sparkle. Watch local swans gliding along the glistening waters as you walk, run or ride around the six-kilometre Steve Moneghetti Track. Grab a coffee from a lakeside cafe, or plan a picnic with delicious local produce from 1816 Bakehouse and Campana’s.

2. WOOWOOKARUNG REGIONAL PARK

Woowookarung – meaning ‘place of plenty’ – is part of the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung people. The 641-hectare regional park, which is home to Australia’s first Dementia-friendly Forest and Sensory Trail, is perfect for bushwalking, trail running and cycling. Head to The Lookout for evoking views over Ballarat’s township.

3. MOUNT BUNINYONG

An extinct volcano rising 745m above sea level, Mount Buninyong is a short 20-minute drive from Ballarat. Take in the bush surrounds as you wind your way up to the lookout tower, where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular, sweeping views of the region.

Sleep in style

1. HOTEL VERA

This newly-opened seven-room hotel takes luxe to the next level. Suites have been injected with sustainability and are individually styled (there’s even a dogfriendly room with a private courtyard for those well-travelled pooches). hotelballarat.com.au

2. BATTISTA

This circa 1860 Baptist church underwent a major renovation that was followed by the ABC’s Restoration Australia. Today, it’s a grand one-bedroom apartment with glass walls providing guests uninterrupted views of the incredible bones of the old building. battistaballarat.com.au

3. QUEST BALLARAT STATION

Quest Ballarat Station makes the ideal base for your Ballarat adventure. It features 77 stylish apartments and is a short stroll from restaurants, retail offerings and the Wallaby Track. questapartments.com.au

3.

UN-WINE-D WITH A LOCAL DROP

The Ballarat region – and beyond – is home to a vast array of boutique and iconic producers, winemakers, distillers and brewers. From the big bold reds in nearby Pyrenees, to more localised offerings like brews from Aunty Jacks and navy strength gin at Kilderkin Distillery, there’s plenty to get your tastebuds tingling. Be sure to plan a tasting or two during your stay.

5 reasons to visit the Art Gallery of Ballarat

PRE-RAPHAELITES: DRAWINGS & WATERCOLOURS

May 20 – August 6

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood are amongst the most loved artists of the 19th century. They looked back to the simplicity and directness of Mediaeval and Renaissance art with naturalistic poses and the use of brilliant colour, painting with originality and authenticity.

This international exhibition draws from the extraordinary collections of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to tell the story of the artists, their lives and loves, bringing to life the world of John Ruskin, William and Jane Morris, Edward BurneJones, John Everett Millais, Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Lizzie Siddal.

Image: Marie Spartali Stillman, Cloister lilies, 1891. Watercolour and bodycolour on paper. Ashmolean Museum. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

IN THE COMPANY OF MORRIS

May 20 – August 6

This exhibition celebrates the ongoing legacy of the Pre-Raphaelites and William Morris in the work of Australian artists in the Art Gallery of Ballarat Collection from the 19th century until today. Artists included in the exhibition include Norman Lindsay, Deborah Klein, Elizabeth Pulie, William Strutt, Emily Floyd, Fiona Hiscock and Paul Yore.

Entry to both Pre-Raphaelites: Drawings & watercolours and In the company of Morris exhibitions is included in your ticket.

Image: Elizabeth Pulie, Italian, 1994. Synthetic polymer paint on canvas. Purchased with funds from the Colin Hicks Caldwell Bequest, 2019. Collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat © Elizabeth Pulie

DEL KATHRYN BARTON: INSIDE ANOTHER LAND & RED

May 20 – August 6

Renowned Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton’s work is a celebration of body, self and sexual expression, a wild celebration of fantasy and self-expression which lures the viewer in like the thrill of a peep show. Inside another land is a large series of photomontages inspired by 1920s fashion, Victorian era decoupage, 1940s pin-up girls, scrapbooking, and botanical illustration. The exhibition includes Barton’s short film Red featuring Cate Blanchett and Charmene Yap from the Sydney Dance Company, which explores sexuality, gender, and power via the mating rituals of the redback spider.

Image: Del Kathryn Barton, RED, 2016. Still from high resolution digital video, 15 mins, patron’s edition 3/3 (film still). Image courtesy of the artist

STEPHEN DAVIDSON: GREATEST FISHING STORY NEVER TOLD

April 29 – July 16

American-Australian artist Stephen Davidson has drawn from his migrant experience and his travels to create a significant body of new work in different mediums including prints, drawings and ceramics.

Image: Stephen Davidson, Fisher and koi, 2021 Synthetic polymer paint on paper. © Stephen Davidson

TAMMY GILSON: BEENYAK (BASKET)

June 29 – August 13

In this installation, Indigenous artist and weaver Tammy Gilson recreates the lake floor of Lake Burrumbeet (Borombeet), a place of significance for her Wadawurrung ancestors. Drawing on her knowledge of traditional weaving techniques, she depicts fish traps found on the lakebed and eel traps used within living places and waterways, awakening Wadawurrung life with adornments and woven pieces, documenting sustainability through the lived experience of her ancestors and contemporary life today.

Image: Chris Puro, Beuno Design

Let your curiositycreative take flight

to

Recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, Ballarat is the perfect place to switch off and choose your own analogue adventure. Our creative undercurrent is inspired by a rich history of entrepreneurship and traditional trades, with a new generation of creators drawing on near forgotten art forms.

Explore Ballarat’s thriving creative culture with the new series of Made of: Ballarat Experiences led by award-winning local makers and creators. From gold leafing in a bluestone cellar to capturing moody backstreets on film, these hands-on adventures will help you unlock your creative potential.

Other experiences include:

Paint a pot or vase with Bridget Veld from Ivy&Coco.

WILD CLAY ADVENTURE

Take an adventure off the beaten track with visual artists and ceramists Steph Wallace and Kirsten Ives at Lake Esmond, an idyllic spot that’s one of Ballarat’s best-kept local secrets.

Take a guided walk around the clay banks of Lake Esmond whilst learning about the social and geological history of the area and how to responsibly forage for clay in your own backyard.

After this, you’ll join Steph and Kirsten as they provide tools and equipment to help you make and decorate your own wild clay pottery piece.

ABSTRACT ART AND BALLARAT GIN

Discover two of Ballarat’s hidden gems and unlock your creativity at this gin and botanical painting experience led by passionate painter, mixed media artist and art tutor Laura Day.

Draw inspiration from Mount Pleasant – Ballarat’s oldest residential suburb. Begin this experience with a flight of gin in the rustic warehouse of Kilderkin Distillery. Explore the various styles and botanicals used in their Larrikin Gin.

Continue the botanical theme by using Laura’s garden studio as the inspiration for your own negative abstract painting using natural elements as stencils for your creation.

FROM WAX TO WEARABLE JEWELLERY

In this workshop, you’ll make your own unique piece of botanical silver jewellery under the guidance of Ballarat silversmith Claire McArdle.

In the eclectic surroundings of Windflower homewares and floristry store, learn about the process of lost wax casting to make personalised silver jewellery drawing inspiration from Windflower’s extensive range of botanicals.

Once you’ve created your models, Claire will expertly craft one into an ever-lasting silver ring, a pair of earrings or pendant.

Slow down and photograph Ballarat’s historical CBD buildings using an oldschool analogue camera with award-winning photographer Jacqueline Matisse.

Step back in time in a bluestone cellar to learn the art of embellishing vintage prints with pure gold leaf with art tutor and art therapist Linda Franklin.

Join local poet, performer and artist Megan J Riedl on a walking tour around Ballarat, where you’ll be inspired to compose your own poetic creation.

To explore the full series of creative and cultural experiences, visit madeofballarat.com

Welcome

Ballarat –A city forged in gold, where rebellious and creative spirits thrive.

Eat + Drink

Be sure to allow plenty of time during your visit to explore Ballarat’s constantly evolving culinary scene. From charming cafes and sleek wine bars to award-winning restaurants, distilleries and brew houses, there’s plenty to keep you satisfied.

Saigon Allee

Pencilmark Wine Room

Housed in the former home of Underbar – which was recently reimagined and opened at the ultra-luxe Hotel Vera –Pencilmark Wine Room promises fun wines and good times and delivers in spades. The team at Pencilmark serve up an ever-changing roster of exceptional wines that are lovingly sourced both locally and from further afield.

Add to this a specially-curated snacks menu by Underbar head chef Derek Boath which showcases the best local, and sometimes international, produce. Keep an eye out for their regularly changing three-course set menus –perfect for when you want someone to make all the decisions for you. pencilmark.com.au

The Turret Cafe

Sitting on historic Sturt Street in a beautifully restored 1890s heritage building is The Turret Cafe. The team are passionate about sourcing as much produce from in and around Ballarat as they can and this passion translates to outstanding dishes that pack a punch. Our pick? The Mexican baked eggs in a spicy chipotle and tomato braise with chorizo, capsicum, smashed avocado, cheese, tortilla chips, lime and coriander. turretcafe.com.au

Enjoy a modern twist on Vietnamese fare at Saigon Allee.

This vegan-friendly restaurant might be situated in the heart of Ballarat’s foodie precinct, but you’ll be taken on a culinary journey to the streets of Vietnam.

From pho, cauliflower popcorn and fried dumplings, to slow-cooked curry, fish bites and salt and pepper tofu, you’ll want to order the entire menu.

@saigonallee_ballarat

Aunty Jacks

Calling all beer lovers – Aunty Jacks is for you. The ever-popular brewpub brews award-winning beer on site across a variety of styles. Come for a tasting paddle with friends or take it to the next level with one of the many beer school experiences that range from a shorter session to a multi-day program. Many of these experiences are led by Ballarat’s own Dr Beer, Peter Aldred, who – with a PhD in biochemistry, a diploma of brewing and distilling, and a brewing CV as long as your arm – has well and truly earned this honorary title.

auntyjacks.com.au

Webster’s Market and Cafe

Casual yet stylish, Webster’s Market and Cafe is one of Ballarat’s most popular spots for breakfast or brunch. Set on one of the city’s most picturesque streets –especially in autumn when the flame-hued leaves are worthy of a visit themselves – Webster’s offers delicious all-day breakfast and more substantial offerings like baguettes and cheese platters. Our go-to is the breakfast board with honey and vanilla yoghurt, seasonal fruits, super seeds and nuts, smoked salmon, smashed avocado and goat cheese – perfect when you want a bit of everything.

webstersmarketandcafe.com

Cafe Sidra

A fan of cider? Well, you’re in luck because Cafe Sidra is the cellar door for vegan-friendly, locally-made cider –Learmonth Cider.

Order from the café’s very cool outdoor Airstream bar, Little Sid, and sip away in the quirky courtyard.

Cafe Sidra is a short drive from Ballarat and their seasonal cakes make it worth the trip.

cafesidra.com

Image: Emma Duzhnikov from The Concept Distillery

Things to do

From enriching hands-on creative experiences to hunting for ‘black gold’ at a local truffière or hitting the winding country roads through the Pyrenees wine region, your visit to the Ballarat region will see you return home remade.

Take part in a cooking class

Join Ballarat-based cook, baker, and entrepreneur Lilly Wright for a handson cooking experience that celebrates a melting pot of cultural cuisine from Malaysia, India, China, Borneo, Bali and beyond.

If it’s carbs you’re craving, wind down on a Saturday and learn the art of handcrafted Italian gnocchi. Hosted by Chef Dona and packed with practical knowledge, these popular masterclasses are always followed by a shared lunch. Take home some authentic skills and techniques that are sure to impress at your next dinner party.

flyingchillies.com

carbonis.com.au

Join the hunt at Black Cat Truffles

There’s something satisfying about knowing exactly where your next meal has come from, but what makes the experience even more special is knowing you’ve had a hand in its creation.

The arrival of winter marks the start of truffle season, a time to unearth the aromatic delicacy that is black Perigord truffles. This careful extraction can only be done with the help of a truffle dog.

blackcattruffles.com.au

Make something unique

An Australian-first, the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades is designed to preserve rare arts and trades, with artisans passing on their unique skills through public workshops and masterclasses. Learn the craft of cane rod construction, chair making and SAORI weaving, or choose to craft and design leadlight or use traditional techniques to design your own ring with Rachel Grose.

Workshops run across the year with a constantly changing program for beginners through to experts.

raretradescentre.com.au

Go beyond Ballarat

Situated about 30 minutes outside of Ballarat, the Pyrenees wine region is the sort of place you can drop in to for a couple of days or potter around for a week.

Cocoon at a day spa

Leave life stresses at the door and allow the attentive team of skilled therapists to take you on a decadent journey, and with an extensive list of private or group treatments, you’ll be relaxed in no time.

Pair a signature spa journey with he hydrotherapy pool and finish with refreshments in the relaxation lounge. Perfection.

ballaratsanctuary.com.au

However long you manage to stay, you can’t help but have your fair share of delicious food and locally-produced wine. Our top picks include Wayward Winery and Mrs Baker’s Still House.

But eating and drinking isn’t all you’ll do here – it’s a gorgeous part of the country, with ironbark forests, flora and fauna reserves, great spots to picnic and lots of good bushwalking tracks, including at Mount Buangor and Mount Cole State Forests.

Stay the night at The Glut Farm or Unyoked cabins at Peerick Vineyard and Winery.

visitpyrenees.com.au

Chase waterfalls

You’re guaranteed one thing in winter, and that’s rain! But it’s not all that bad, because with rain comes roaring waterfalls. There’s no better time than winter to go chasing waterfalls in the region, so jump in the car and discover Lal Lal Falls.

The falls are believed to be the earthly home of Bunjil, the All Father and Creator to most Victorian Aboriginal communities.

Image Chris Puro, Bueno Design

Stay

Glamp it up at the Garden of St Erth

The Garden of St Erth is a secluded glamping getaway in Blackwood, on the north-western corner of Lederderg State Park.

Once a gold rush town of 13,000 people, the site now has one last remaining stone cottage, seasonal gardens and six private bell tents nestled in bushland.

Each five-metre wide tent is carpeted and decked out with all the mod-cons, including linen bedding and heaters.

gardenbedsglamping.com.au

Sleep like a Queen at Craig’s Royal Hotel

Located on historic Lydiard Street in the heart of Ballarat, Craig’s Royal Hotel has been a goldfields icon since 1862.

Steeped in history, the 167-year-old hotel has played host to everyone from Dame Nellie Melba to Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.

Each of the 41 boutique rooms have been individually re-built and furnished to provide guests with beautiful elegant accommodation while retaining features of their rich history.

craigsroyal.com.au

Stay in style at The Provincial Hotel

Sitting pretty on historic Lydiard Street, The Provincial Hotel oozes style and sophistication. Built in 1909, the historic building provides a beautiful nod to its Victorian heritage and is now home to uniquely-curated suites and a Europeaninspired restaurant.

The restaurant, Lola, is named after the infamous goldfields maiden Lola Montez, while the name of their courtyard cocktail caravan, Clara, was inspired by the first female editor of The Ballarat Times newspaper – Clara Seekamp.

theprovincialballarat.com.au

Vintage vibes at Graze-Ballan

Revel in the retro and vintage vibes of Graze-Ballan. Enjoy the comfort of the gypsy van or 1960s caravan and relax in the vintage ambience of the gin lounge and dining cabin. Four-legged friends are also welcome.

Guests are free to gather produce from the region to enjoy during their stay, but our tip? Relax, sit back, and savour the area’s finest fare as it’s prepared and served to you on-site.

grazeballan.com.au

There’s a myriad of options when it comes to where to lay your head in Ballarat and surrounds. From boutique hotels to luxury tents and everything in between, your stay will be a memorable one.

UNEARTH SOME TRANQUILLITY.

Black Cat Truffles