BALLARAT spring & summer 23-24 magazine

Spring is here and with it comes a fresh new sense of possibility.

The days are getting longer, flowers are blooming, produce is abundant, and the city is alive with activity as it heads towards summer’s warmth and vibrancy.

Restaurant menus are filled with palate-pleasing plates produced by award-winning chefs. The city is humming with creativity as the 10th iteration of the biannual Ballarat International Foto Biennale takes over the CBD and beyond, encouraging exploration and discovery.

The countryside is alive and Mother Nature is calling, welcoming winter-chilled bodies to uncoil and relax, be it within Ballarat’s boundaries or in towns and hamlets beyond.

Ballarat’s full calendar of events provides further reason for visitors to follow the golden path to this great city.

Whether you’re looking to explore the great outdoors, be immersed in one-of-a-kind creative festivals, or indulge in world-class eat and drink offerings in unusual and unexpected places, a visit to Ballarat will awaken your spirit and warm your soul.

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

The publication is created and printed in Ballarat. Published by Tourism Midwest Victoria.

visitballarat.com.au | hello@tourismmidwestvic.com.au

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

COVER IMAGE

Explore the summer display at the Robert Clark Observatory in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Image: Matt Dunne

IMAGES ABOVE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Across Victoria’s Midwest, we acknowledge that we travel across the ancient landscapes of many First Peoples communities. These lands have been nurtured and cared for over tens of thousands of years and we respect the work of Traditional Custodians for their ongoing care and protection.

We recognise the past injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country. As our knowledge grows, we hope that we can learn from their resilience and creativity that has guided them for over 60,000 years.

As we invite people to visit and explore Victoria’s Midwest, we ask that alongside us, you also grow to respect the stories, living culture and connection to Country of the Ancestors and Elders of our First Peoples.

Top: Choose your own Ballarat adventure with Sofia Levin. Image: Liam Neal. Middle: Erik Johansson, The Swedish Space Program, C-Type, 112 x 140cm Courtesy the artist. Bottom: Grainery Lane. Image: The Common Wanderer

What’s on in Ballarat this spring & summer

From a side-splitting comedy and a transformational photography festival to unforgettable food and wine events that celebrate the best local produce, your Ballarat must-do list is about to fill up very quickly.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SUPERSTARS COMING TO TOWN

American rapper Post Malone and Australia’s Dom Dolla will be in Ballarat this December for the return of the popular Spilt Milk music festival.

The acclaimed singer/songwriter and music producer lead a massive line-up of international and local names at Ballarat’s Victoria Park.

2 December | spilt-milk.com.au

Ballarat’s free concert series, Summer Sundays, gives you the perfect excuse to get your friends together this January, with live music and food trucks filling the beautiful Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

January | summersundaysballarat.com.au

A DINING DESTINATION

An ever-evolving calendar of foodie events adds to Ballarat’s significant eat and drink credentials. Exclusive collaborations between the best regional eateries and wineries, special one-off dinners, immersive experiences and more are all designed to showcase rare gems and historical buildings in this thriving cultural city.

Our picks include the EMBR Degustation Dinners at Wayward Winery, where their chefs proudly display what they can do using raw

Tex Perkins needs no introduction – he’s a legend within the Australian music industry and is considered one of the country’s best rock ‘n’ rollers. Perkins returns to the stage with brand new show The Man in Black, playing the songs of Johnny Cash. There are few artists in Australia who could translate Cash’s work and bring it to the modern day like Perkins, and his reverence for Cash is evident in the way he approaches every song.

7 October | hermaj.com

flame, the Le Bouchon at Attwoods Ballarat Pop-Up at Johnny Alloo, and Once Upon A Time... Mushrooms and Wine by the team at Peasant which gives diners the chance to indulge in a five-course menu while learning about mushroom foraging, preparation and presentation.

waywardwinery.com.au

attwoodswines.com.au

peasant.net.au

Image: Le Bouchon at Attwoods

DRAGONS AT KRYAL CASTLE

A flight of dragons has landed at Kryal Castle and they’re ready to meet you. From hatchlings to full-sized firebreathers, these beautiful beasts will be on display every day of the September school holidays. You can also enjoy live performances, face painting, potion making, axe throwing, live jousts, archery and much more.

16 September – 8 October | kryalcastle.com.au

GIN IN THE GARDEN

Whilst the Pyrenees region is renowned for its world-class red wine producers, it’s also home to a multi-award-winning spirit producer, Mrs Baker’s Still House.

This spring, join botanistturned-distiller Mrs Baker for a garden tour where you’ll learn about the botanicals grown at the distillery, followed by a sampling of the gins made from these plants. Be sure to check out the ongoing calendar of workshops also on offer.

28 October | mrsbakers.com.au

RELAX AND GET CREATIVE

It might sound counterintuitive but sometimes the best way to relax is by ‘doing’. The key is picking an activity that’s different, creative and enjoyable – and possibly that involves gin. And in Ballarat, there’s plenty to choose from.

Join silversmith Rachel Grose and learn to bezel set a stone on a silver ring, or make beads from paper then turn them into beautiful bespoke Christmas decorations with Faye Heininger. Be inspired by the botanicals used in a gin flight at Kilderkin Distillery

before moving to visual artist Laura Day’s studio to create your own abstract artwork. Or maybe spend the day with woodcarver, engraver and printer Olivia O’Connor and learn to carve your own 3D wooden animal.

These are just some of Ballarat’s immersive and inspiring creative experiences you can choose from.

Browse the what’s on calendar at visitballarat.com.au to discover which workshop you’ll book first.

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

GET YOUR COMEDY FIX

Belly laughs will be on the menu when two stellar comedy acts come to Ballarat’s Civic Hall this spring.

The Umbilical Brothers are an international comedy phenomenon. In The Distraction, the Umbilicals take the energy of live performance and the spectacle of cinema and smash them together into a new show performed simultaneously on stage and on the big screen.

Multi-award-winning South African/New Zealander Urzila Carlson is bringing her sell-out show, Just No!, to town. The ever-popular comedian believes that what unites us most in life isn’t sport, it isn’t love, it isn’t even peace – it’s frustrations. Don’t miss this relatable – and hilarious – show.

Umbilical Brothers 12 October | Urzlia Carlson 3 & 4 November | hermaj.com

HOPE SPRINGS THROUGH SONG

Hope is an all-new concert by the three-time Grammywinning Soweto Gospel Choir. Formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music, the choir’s new show celebrates songs and anthems from the Freedom movement of Nelson Mandela’s South Africa, back to the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King’s 1950s America. It includes works by legendary artists James Brown, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and the one and only Aretha Franklin.

19 October | hermaj.com

Left: Be inspired by botanicals with Laura Day. Image: Matt Dunne.

Image: Tourism Australia

Image:

The power of the lens

First held in 2005, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale has evolved into one of Australia’s pre-eminent photographic arts events.

Platon, George Lois and Platon, 2012. Courtesy Studio Platon.

For the 10th instalment, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale team has curated an iconic line-up, both behind and in front of the camera.

Running until 22 October, the festival features more than 2000 works by some of the photography world’s biggest names.

“The 10th anniversary festival premise is ‘The Real Thing’ and will be a dynamic view of modern life through the lens of local, national, and international photographers and how their images and the channels they use shape us,” Ballarat International Foto Biennale CEO Vanessa Gerrans said.

People Power – Platon leads the charge and is a world premiere exhibition exclusive to Ballarat. The striking display showcases over 120 large-scale portraits from globally-acclaimed British photographer Platon.

Platon’s iconic works feel familiar, not only because of the subjects he shoots but because they have featured on the covers and pages of leading international publications. These include TIME, Vanity Fair, GQ, New York Times, The New Yorker, and British Vogue. In 2007 alone, Platon shot more than 20 covers for TIME magazine.

The headline exhibition brings you eye to eye with some of society’s most renowned humans who have made headlines for the right, wrong or notable

reasons. Think Gaddafi, Vivienne Westwood, Putin, Prince, Michelle Obama, Adele, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Rudd, Pussy Riot and more.

“There is power not just in the images we make but also in the narrative,” Platon said.

“I am looking forward to sharing my stories and those of people who face incredible odds in the world but can still emerge with great compassion and kindness.”

The word ‘iconic’ can also be used to describe Andy Warhol and Instant Warhol – another Biennale exclusive. The exhibition will give visitors a fascinating insight into the groundbreaking artist’s obsession with the Polaroid.

From 1958-1987, Warhol took thousands of photographs – both as social document and as art – with many of the images later turned into his famous silkscreen prints.

Instant Warhol is an amazing collection from New York’s Brant Foundation of more than 50 original Polaroid portraits of famous artists, performers, the influential and of Warhol himself. It features subjects like Mick Jagger, Liza Minelli, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton. here, there, everywhere brings one of the most celebrated international street photographers to Australia. Based in New Delhi, Vineet Vohra is self-taught and has a talent for capturing extraordinary images from ordinary moments. Believing

photography has the power to transform perspectives, he encourages everyone to pick up a camera and start exploring.

Filling out the already rich program are additional mesmerising exhibitions, including:

How to Fly showcases Swedish artist Erik Johansson’s surreal landscapes, which see him combining multiple shots to create images that seem real, but where the logical inconsistences make us question what we see.

Cruising for a Bruising is queer artist Kyle Archie Knight’s camp love letter to the Australian suburbs in which he grew up.

UV Songlines: Illuminating ancestral roots highlights proud Arabana, Mudbura, Gurindji and Warlpiri woman Colleen Raven Strangways’s drive to photograph Aboriginal culture and tell positive stories of the strength and beauty she sees in her community.

The program also includes a range of workshops, outdoor installations, activities at the kids’ hub and yes, a giant golden monkey on the side of the National Centre for Photography.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale runs until 22 October. Full program and tickets at ballaratfoto.org

Left: Colleen Raven Strangways (Nharla Photography), Kati Tahanda Protector, 2012. Courtesy the artist.

Top: Erik Johansson, If Lost, Please Call, 2021, C-type digital print. Courtesy the artist.

Bottom: Vineet Vohra, Untitled (from the series Here, there, everywhere), 2011. Courtesy the artist.

Choose your own Ballarat adventure

By Sofia Levin

Until a few years ago, my only memories of Ballarat were panning for gold and spending my pocket money on raspberry drops during a school excursion at Sovereign Hill. Now it’s the first place I tell people to visit as an alternative to the Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula. It’s 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne (quicker if you catch a train direct from Southern Cross Station) and there are more places to eat, drink and explore than a single weekend will allow. Here are some of my favourites.

Three places to fill up

The Shared Table in Buninyong is the most underrated regional restaurant in Victoria. It would be a mistake to dismiss the charming, heritage facade as a place to only pop in for tea or coffee. Inside, hunter-green banquettes and a nebulous mirror reflect the open kitchen and slick space designed by IF Architecture, who are also responsible for the interior of Melbourne restaurants such as Attica and Cutler & Co. Chef-owner Dianne Ray displays local produce for all to see, whether jewelled corn grown by a generous neighbour or cumulus clouds of colourful mushrooms from down the road. The $90 three-course menu is seasonal and changes monthly. There’s even a considered three-course tasting menu for kids ($30).

Back in Ballarat proper, Ragazzone proudly wears a 2023 Good Food Guide chef’s hat. Slide up to the pale pink bar at this modern Italian restaurant and watch chefs twirl blue swimmer crab tagliatelle onto plates, or sink into leather banquettes with a $75 set menu.

A two-minute walk away, Merkama owner Temam Hussen will proudly tell you that his African restaurant is number one in Ballarat on TripAdvisor. He opened back in 2014, naming the place after his daughter (Merkama means “beautiful”). Temam makes injera (fermented Ethiopian flat bread) from scratch, serving it rolled up alongside tasting platters of traditional dishes such as doro wat (chicken stew) and ye’gomen wat (think Ethiopian collard greens). Call ahead to organise an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

Three watering holes

Ballarat is flooded with charismatic places to start or finish your night with a drink, but these three are markedly different – and you can conceivably visit them all on foot in an evening. Start at Ellington’s, the only rooftop bar in town. The heated and sheltered space feels like an architecturally-designed greenhouse, with industrial windows and a bar belting out espresso martinis. Downstairs is cosier, with European charm in the form of warm lighting and timbers. It’s the kind of bar seating where you intend to stay for a glass and fried olives stuffed with veal and parmesan, but end up selecting a bottle off the shelf for $10 corkage and working your way through the entire menu.

Next stop: cocktails. There’s no better place than at the terrazzo bar at locallyowned Renard. Old films play on a screen behind mixologists, who make the most of native Australian ingredients in cocktails that minimise waste, such as the Bartender’s Lament (milk clarified lamington, wattleseed, cacao nibs, Campari and coconut). There are also plush booth tables for French-inspired shared eats, while bar snacks are served until late in this bistro-meets-disco.

The 18th Amendment Bar is trickier to find. Look for the narrow laneway strung with lampshades and follow it down the side of the old Masonic Hall to the basement. A prohibition-inspired drinking den awaits with more than 160 whiskies, but cocktails crowned with flavoured smoke bubbles and enveloped in dry ice are the boozy equivalent of When Harry Met Sally’s “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Image: Liam Neal

Three places to stay

Hotel Vera is a restored 1880s medical building with seven luxury suites, merging heritage features with modern tributes to the region. From $279, hotelballarat.com.au

The Provincial Hotel sits on historic Lydiard Street, conveniently opposite the train station. Built in 1909 the 23 rooms range from suites to twobedroom apartments. From $289, theprovincialballarat.com.au

Quest Ballarat Station is an affordable, modern option if you’re looking for a serviced apartment. There are 77 neat and spacious rooms, each with a small kitchen so you can make the most of the local produce. From $264, questapartments.com.au

Three ways to shop ‘til you drop

If you’re anything like me, you’ll need to be restrained before walking into Windflower on Sturt Street. I am convinced that everything in this store – from the uncommon seasonal flowers through to the homewares and art – belongs in my house. Owned by Soho Rose Farm, this concept store was a pandemic pivot after all events (and therefore flower orders) were pulled overnight. The farm became a pop-up florist and eventually evolved into this tempting and colourful space, which also hosts workshops.

Set in a former World War II munitions workshop, Wootten is continuing Ballarat’s long history of bootmaking from the 1800s. Jess Cameron-Wootten, who took over from his father, leads a small team of leather craftspeople who pour unfathomable amounts of care into making boots, shoes, belts, bags and aprons by hand. You can see the factory from the showroom, where the process of customising your perfect pair starts with an informal interview.

You could spend an entire day exploring Ballarat’s vintage and antique stores. Main Road, in particular, is peppered with them. Antiques Goods & Chattels, Main Road Emporium and The Dressing Room Recycled, which stocks vintage clothing from the 1920s through to the 1990s, are crawling distance from each other. For furniture and knick-knacks, try Rocket and Belle and Antik, which are also nearby.

Three things to keep you busy

My favourite way to get some fresh air and soak up the best of Ballarat is with a visit to Lake Wendouree. Start by traversing the easy six-kilometre loop around the lake (bicycles welcome), then follow it up with a stroll through the Ballarat Farmers’ Market on the second or fourth Saturday of the month. There are more than 60 stalls of food, local produce, arts, crafts and clothing. Farmers unload produce straight from truck to stand, and there’s plenty to eat here, too. My favourite spot is Flying Chillies, a Malaysian market stall offering street food.

For something more hands-on, local beekeepers Amanda Collins and Scott Denno host Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat workshops on Saturdays. They range from a 90-minute, open-hive experience that includes a jar of honey to take home, through to comprehensive six-hour beginner and advanced courses. Spring and summer are best for the workshops, with an abundance of busy, active bees.

Not everyone knows that the Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest in regional Australia. It’s unmissable when visiting, especially while the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is on (until 22 October). For its 10th year, portrait photographer Platon is headlining with People Power – Platon. From Putin to Prince, the exhibition features more than 120 portraits of people who have shaped our world.

Ellington’s. Image: Liam Neal

Ragazzone. Image: Liam Neal

Wootten. Image: Liam Neal

Flying Chillies. Image: Liam Neal

Get natureyourfix

MOUNT BUNINYONG

Head to the top of this extinct volcano and you’ll be rewarded with what are arguably some of the best views of the region.

LAP THE LAKE ON AN E-BIKE

One of the best ways to see Ballarat is on two wheels and with e-bikes returning in summer, it’s even easier to get pedaling. The Lake Wendouree loop starts opposite the Ballarat Railway Station and is 10km with a gentle grade suitable for all levels of riding experience. You’ll follow quiet back streets before joining a gravel shared path around the lake, returning along a dedicated off-road shared path down the middle of historic Sturt Street.

There’s numerous cafes and attractions to enjoy along the way. Plus minimal road crossings mean this ride is family-friendly and there’s more time to take in the views!

To get to the top, you have three options to choose from – the 1.2km Crater Walk with viewing platform (accessible to people with a disability), the 3km Zigzag Summit Walk, and the 3.5km South Walk to the summit via the Crater Walk. Our tip? Be sure your phone is charged – when you reach the top of Mount Buninyong, you’re a whopping 745m above sea level. Make the short climb up the fire tower and you’ll be greeted with 360-degree views across Buninyong and beyond.

MOUNT MITCHELL ESTATE GARDENING WORKSHOP

Next up, head to the stunning Mount Mitchell Estate in the world-renowned Pyrenees wine region. Established in 1838, the property has 10 acres of beautiful gardens including formal roses, working kitchen gardens, orchards and parkland.

In this workshop, you’ll learn what it takes to manage the estate gardens and how these skills can be translated into your own backyard. Learn more about tools and techniques and get your hands dirty with practical experience. The local Country Women’s Association will supply lunch and there will, of course, be scones with cream and jam.

LE GERCHE FOREST WALK

Wander through 100-year-old trees planted by Creswick’s first forest bailiff, John La Gerche. Signs along this 2.2km trail talk to the impacts of mining on the forest and La Gerche’s efforts to save the trees. The walk winds through a mix of native forest and old plantation nursery which changes colour with the seasons. While you’re in Creswick, why not check out popular swimming hole St George’s Lake?

CHECK OUT THE SUMMER DISPLAY IN THE CONSERVATORY

The Ballarat Botanical Gardens are stunning all year round, but the summer months are particularly beautiful.

Head to the Robert Clark Conservatory – a striking, architecturally-designed glass structure – where you’ll find breathtaking summer displays of fuchsias, hydrangeas and pelargoniums.

The conservatory allows visitors to stroll amongst year-round floral displays with the rare begonia display during the March festival of the same name another highlight.

Be sure to check conditions and that you have the correct equipment before embarking on any nature activities.

After cocooning over the cooler months, the spring and summer sun encourages exploration in Ballarat and beyond. Here’s just a few of the ways you can bliss out in the great outdoors...

Art Gallery of Ballarat

YVONNE TODD: THE STEPHANIE COLLECTION

Until 5 November

New Zealand-based photographer Yvonne Todd’s images can make you look twice. There is something not quite right – a discomfort, an awkward experience. Her work challenges photographic clichés and manipulates traditional photographic styles, and features objects or characters in striking costumes and unnatural poses. Todd’s work is not a commentary on beauty, but rather an exploration of the irrelevant and obscure.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB) and is part of the BIFB 2023 Core Program. Image: Yvonne Todd, New Portia, 2018. C-type print from 8x10 transparency film. Courtesy of the artist and McLeavey Gallery, Wellington

RAMAK BAMZAR: PRO FEMINA

Until 5 November

In Pro Femina, Iranian-Australian photographer Ramak Bamzar reflects on history, poetry and destiny, the endless struggle between good and evil, oppression and freedom. Images of Iranian women burst out of their imprisoning frames to show their unique personality and their unquenchable vitality for freedom and dignity.

Pro Femina emphasises the performative and symbolic nature of the images taken by citizen journalists in Iran and portrays an epic and mythic narrative of women fighting against theocratic control. So far, dozens of women protestors have been arrested, kidnapped and subjected to torture, rape and execution.

This Art Gallery of Ballarat exhibition is presented as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2023 Core Program. Image: Ramak Bamzar, Leila from the Moustachioed Women and Rhinoplastic Girls series, 2022. Pigment inkjet print on paper © Ramak Bamzar

KARENNE ANN AND HEATHER HORROCKS: EFFACEMENT

Until 19 November

This exhibition is about identity. Masks can change everything. Photographic images by Karenne Ann loom from the walls and distort the identity of the maker, Heather Horrocks, who wears them. Redundant VHS tape that once held stories is manipulated with a crochet hook to tell new ones – about the war on a virus, the war on climate change and the war on women.

This Art Gallery of Ballarat exhibition is presented as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2023 Core Program. Image: ISOyoh collaboration (Karenne Ann and Heather Horrocks), She the Effaced, 2022. Archival pigment inkjet on paper. H120cm x W80 cm. © Karenne Ann

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

4 November – 11 February

While ‘significant other’ has come to refer to someone’s intimate partner, it has its origins in psychology. It refers to people who have a major influence on one’s quality of life – a parent, mentor or other figure who has shaped a person’s development.

Pairings in the exhibition include Hans Heysen and Nora Heysen, John Brack and Helen Maudsley, Inge King and Graham King, and many more.

Exhibition drawn from the Art Gallery of Ballarat collection. Image: Helen Maudsley, Our Souls that meet; our Souls together, 2019. Oil on canvas. Gift of the artist under the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2022 © Helen Brack

LAYERS OF BLAK

9 December – 10 March

Bringing beauty to an ugly and brutal history, 11 Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and designers have wrestled with colonial history to present their stories. This is powerful storytelling through exquisite contemporary jewellery.

Layers of Blak is a creative outcome from the highly successful Blak Design program which is presented by the Koorie Heritage Trust to foster First Nations cultural innovation within the Victorian design sector.

Presented in partnership with The Ian Potter Foundation, RMIT University, National Gallery of Victoria, Fed Square. Image: Nikki Browne (Bidjara), STOP KILLING COUNTRY, 2022. Sea urchin spines, sewing machine cogs, copper. Collection of the artist. © Nikki Brown.

5 reasons to visit the

Go Ballaratbeyond

A visit to Ballarat isn’t complete without an excursion further afield to some of the villages and towns in the surrounding regions. Many of these were born out of the frenzied energy of the gold rush.

Today, these villages are taking on a new life with a contemporary vibe being injected into them. In addition to the heritage trails and outdoor walks that are common in every township, these areas are renowned for their gourmet food, fine wine and the charm that defines them.

ENJOY THE SERENITY

Sitting at the foot of extinct volcano Mount Buninyong, Buninyong is a charming village rich in history and serenity.

For lovers of the great outdoors, there’s walks for all fitness levels at Mount Buninyong. The Buninyong Botanic Gardens has an impressive collection of pines, conifers and maples, with four of the latter featured on the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Register of Significant Trees.

The Shared Table is a masterclass in celebrating hyper-local produce in surprisingly delightful ways. Established in 1842, the inviting Crown Hotel is the oldest continually licensed hotel in regional Victoria and offers great service

and a fine selection of food, beer and wine. Other popular foodie stops include Red Door Pizza, Dynamite Cycles and the Espresso Depot

WANDER HISTORIC VILLAGES

Just north of Ballarat, your road trip takes you through the historic Victorian goldfields.

Wander eucalyptus plantations surrounding Creswick then take in the historic streetscapes of Clunes – the official home of Victoria’s first gold discovery. Swing past the roadside Bankhouse Brewery in the tiny hamlet of Dean before catching your lunch at Smeaton’s Tuki Trout Farm

Bibliophiles – or book lovers (thanks Google) – travel from far and wide for the annual Clunes Booktown Festival which brings together Australia’s largest collection of rare, out-of-print and collectible books.

In the warmer months, swimming holes including St George’s Lake and Calembeen Park are both very popular with locals and visitors alike.

NIMMONS BRIDGE

Image: We Are Explorers

DISCOVER DELICIOUS DROPS

Just 30 minutes from Ballarat, the Pyrenees is the sort of place you need to visit to truly appreciate.

The region takes in the idyllic towns of Avoca and Moonambel and is home to some of the country’s most talented wine producers. Expect to see names like Blue Pyrenees Estate, Dalwhinnie Wine and Taltarni Vineyard to name just a few.

New to the cellar door scene is Wayward Winery, which is currently offering diners the chance to experience what can be done using raw flame and local produce during a six-course degustation dinner.

But it’s not just eating and drinking you’ll do here – not that there’s anything wrong with that! This is truly a stunning part of the state with its ironbark forests, flora and fauna reserves, great spots to picnic and lots of good bushwalking tracks. These include spots at Mount Buangor and Mount Cole state forests, where you can hike along the Beeripmo Walk or discover waterfalls along the Waterfalls Nature Walk.

On 14 October, spend a day amongst the vines listening to music, eating delicious treats and enjoying a glass of wine as you

visit iconic wineries Mount Langi Ghiran, Mountainside Wines and Dogrock for the Rotundone Road Wine and Music Festival.

Devotees of the black, salty and delicious yeast extract that we know and love today as Vegemite will love the quirky Cyril Callister Museum. It celebrates the Pyrenees-born food technologist Callister and the product he developed 100 years ago that changed the way Australians ate. The collection includes posters, memorabilia, old advertisements and dozens of jars showing the evolution of the icon. You can even try Vegemite treats like yoyos and brownies.

SOAK UP FRESH COUNTRY AIR

On your way to Ballarat from Melbourne, you’ll discover some of the best walking trails in Australia at Werribee Gorge and the Lerderderg State Park. You’ll also be able to pick up produce straight from The Farmgate Shop in Elaine, pick your own fruit in Bacchus Marsh and Pick Your Own Sunflowers in Dunnstown in late summer/ early autumn.

While this region is most known for the medieval adventures to be found at Kryal Castle, taking in the cascading water

WIN A TWO-NIGHT ESCAPE IN BALLARAT

Devour plates piled high with dishes celebrating local produce, sip magical creations in quirky locations and get hands-on in experiences you’ll never forget.

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.

Simply answer a few questions about your travel habits and sign up to our mailing list to enter.

Head to visitballarat.com.au/competitions or scan the QR code to enter. T&Cs apply.

at Lal Lal Falls is also a must. A popular picnic spot for locals over the last 130 years, the 34-metre gorge is also one of Victoria’s most significant cultural sites. Situated on the traditional Wadawurrung Country, Lal Lal Falls is believed to be the earthly home of Bunjil (the All Father or creator to most Victorian Aboriginal tribes) and its name is thought to be Aboriginal for “dashing of waters”.

STEP BACK IN TIME

Unearth relics of Smythesdale’s history at one of Victoria’s best preserved gold mining sites. Or take a bicycle ride along the 53km Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail and pass open paddocks and eucalypt forests, native grasslands and bush alive with birds and wildflowers. But don’t let the distance put you off – you can start at any point along this old railway line and choose your own adventure.

We highly recommend making sure you check out Nimmons Bridge – this 1850s hand-built timber trestle rail bridge is one the largest of its kind in Victoria and the most photographed spot along the entire trail. Take a picnic to enjoy or stop by Smythesdale’s historic Courthouse Hotel for your favourite pub meal.

Image: Matt Dunne

Image: Matt Ray.

Image: Matt Dunne

Ragazzone.

Image: The Common Wanderer

Eat + Drink

Ballarat’s eat and drink scene is absolutely thriving, with exciting new offerings popping up to complement the ever-growing list of established ‘must visits’.

From award-winning wine bars and sanga spots to a speakeasy-style distillery and a fine dining experience at a truffiere, there’s plenty to sate your appetite.

Image: The Common Wanderer

Grainery Lane

Head inside a 19th-century grain house and discover one of Ballarat’s newest bars and distilleries, Grainery Lane.

Here you’ll find great tapas, an original one-of-a-kind mahogany saloon bar (the only one like it in Australia), and a drinks menu that offers traditional cocktails as well unique libations. These creations showcase the eight gin and two vodka flavours distilled on-site.

There’s even a secret invite-only speakeasy at the back.

grainerylane.com.au

Earls Deli

One of several newly-opened sanga spots, Earls Deli is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat while you’re busily exploring Ballarat’s historic streetscapes.

Paying homage to the man who invented sandwiches – the Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu – Earls is all about “good bread with a thick cut, chewy crust and delicious filling that isn’t over complicated”.

You’ll find this CBD deli at the base of the Nightingale apartment building in Davey Street.

earlsdeli.com.au

Mitchell Harris Wine Bar

The award-winning Mitchell Harris Wine Bar turned 10 this year and is still a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike. Think a glass of delicious local wine in one hand – possibly one of Mitchell Harris’ own elegant drops – and, in the other, a delicious snack made using some of the best local produce available. All of this is set against the historic industrial backdrop of a 150-year-old former produce store, tentmakers and motor workshop.

mitchellharris.com.au

Black Cat Truffles by Liam Downes

Hydrant Food Hall

As you wander down one of Ballarat’s many bluestone-paved laneways, you’ll come across an industrial facade from the 1950s that houses one of Ballarat’s best cafes, Hydrant Food Hall.

Once inside, you’ll be greeted by an expansive space where an original Grinnell sprinkler system has pride of place, hence the name. You’ll also be treated to a menu driven by seasonality and quality local produce, combined with specialty coffee to match.

thehydrant.com.au

Renowned local chef Liam Downes has taken over the reins at Wattle Flat’s Black Cat Truffles and the result is a not to be missed dining experience.

Book in for a relaxing long lunch this spring and be immersed in Downes’ innovative celebration of the best seasonal and local produce available. The degustation menu might include cannelloni of prawns, garlic lemon myrtle and basil; spring lamb with eggplant, toum and dill; and Holy Goat La Luna, truffled honey (of course!) and roasted apple.

blackcattruffles.au

Stepping into the deco-styled bar/social club Renard (pronounced ‘Re-nar’), you feel both comfortable but also like you’re in for a night to remember.

Grab a spot at the brass-rimmed terrazzo bar or cozy up in a booth and enjoy what are described as “modern bistro-style dishes alongside great cocktails, wines and good times”. Renard’s aim is to create and serve drinks that bridge the gap between accessible and intrigue. Expect nice atmosphere and ambience across all hours of the day.

renardballarat.com.au

Renard

Image: Mass Motion

Image: The Common Wanderer

Image: Media Provided

Image: The Common Wanderer

Image: The Common Wanderer

Image: The Common Wanderer

Things to do

There’s so much to do in Ballarat that a return visit is a must.

From mingling with meerkats to learning a rare and forgotten skill or discovering stories of the region’s Wadawurrung people, there’s something to inspire everyone.

Image: Tony Evans

Book an animal encounter

Make your way to the Ballarat Wildlife Park and you’ll come face to face with creatures of all kinds.

A pair of tiger siblings, cute sleepy koalas, lazy kangaroos ready to hand-feed, a giant crocodile and a clan of meerkats – these are just some of the animals you’ll come across during a visit to the park.

Get hands-on during one of the park’s animal encounters, learn about endangered species and feed the mob of relaxing roos, all while soaking up the spring and summer sun. Also, keep an eye out for the Junior Keeper program – an incredible three-hour experience for kids aged 6-15.

wildlifepark.com.au

Immerse yourself in First Nations culture

Perridak Arts is the city’s newest gallery dedicated to showcasing the works of local First Nations artists.

Perridak means ‘platypus’ in Wadawurrung language and the gallery is an initiative of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative.

When you step inside the space, you’re immersed in the relaxing sounds and smells of “being on Country”. Various art forms shine a light on the stories and culture of First Nations people living in the region.

perridakarts.com.au

Search for ghosts

In a town as steeped in history as Ballarat, there’s no shortage of spooky stories and gripping tales that will have you engrossed and intrigued.

Unearth these dark tales and explore Ballarat’s underbelly on an Eerie Ghost Tour. Set against the shadowy backdrop of Ballarat’s Victorian-era architecture, tours are perfect for paranormal enthusiasts or those who like their outings on the spooky side.

eerietours.com.au

Weeds you can eat

While weeds are, by definition, wild and unwanted, many are not only edible but nutritious as well. Take a guided walk around the grounds and gardens of Sovereign Hill searching for weeds and kitchen herbs.

Along the way, the team will discuss their folkloric, medicinal and culinary uses. Finish up with a cup of tea made from your foraged finds and a wild weedinspired morning tea. sovereignhill.com.au

Learn a rare trade

In a world driven by mass production and globalisation, Ballarat’s Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades shines as a place “dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of rare skills, knowledge and practice”. With the goal of ensuring these abilities are not lost forever, this safeguarding is achieved by the presentation of an ever-changing series of workshops, masterclasses, events and residencies.

Chopstick making, straw plaiting, traditional signwriting, SAORI weaving, silversmithing, armouring and long bow making are just some of the workshops and classes available over the spring and summer months.

Take a look at the calendar, pick your skill, then build your Ballarat visit around the workshop.

raretradescentre.com.au

Discover liquid gold

Visit Ballarat’s home of beer education, brewpub Aunty Jacks, and learn more about the liquid gold this region is famous for.

At Taste the Taps, you’ll discover the history of brewing in Ballarat, enjoying a beer paddle and a tour of the Aunty Jacks brewery.

Beer and Bread sees you savouring fresh brews right from the source, all paired with matching food from local producers and bread created by 1816 Bakehouse from the same grain used to brew Aunty Jacks’ beers.

auntyjacks.com.au

Image: Tourism Australia

Image: Sovereign Hill

Image: Chris

Puro

Bueno Design

Image: @mdpphotovideo

Image: Matt Dunne

Image: Tony Evans

Stay

From luxe boutique apartments to a resort that’s nested among an 18-hole championship golf course, Ballarat and its surrounds boast an enticing array of options when choosing where to lay your head.

Ballarat Premier Apartments

Set inside a stunning heritage-listed 1901 building which has been meticulously restored, Ballarat Premier Apartments offer elegant accommodation right in the heart of Ballarat.

Originally constructed by a surgeon – you can still see his name in the leadlight above the front door – the apartments are within easy walking distance of the city centre and the arts, hospitality and heritage precincts. Rooms feature beautiful period details, luxury bedding, modern ensuites (some with spa baths) and all the mod cons you’d expect.

ballaratpremierapartments.com.au

RACV Goldfields Resort

Creswick’s RACV Goldfields Resort is a countryside retreat perfectly positioned to soak up the history, arts, culture and outdoor activities on offer in Ballarat and beyond.

Members and guests alike enjoy extensive facilities including a restaurant, bar, tennis courts, gymnasium, heated swimming pool, mountain bike trails and an 18-hole championship golf course. There’s also the recently added ArtHouse for exhibitions, workshops and artist residencies.

racv.com.au/travel-experiences/ resorts/goldfields

The Glut Farm

The Glut Farm is a luxury farm stay on 100 acres of private land. The farm is situated in the tranquil setting of Mount Cole State Forest in the Pyrenees wine region, just two hours’ drive from Melbourne.

At The Glut Farm, the focus is on sustainability and working harmoniously with the land. Guests can experience a conscious and slow way of living where the aim is to reduce waste, recycle, reuse and repurpose without compromising luxury and comfort. theglutfarm.com

Tuki Retreat

Located a short drive from Ballarat in the hamlet of Smeaton, Tuki Retreat offers a romantic getaway for couples. Think stone cottages with open fires, cathedral ceilings and corner spas combined with stunning views of the Loddon-Campaspe Valley.

Fresh farm produce and regional specialties can be served in your cottage. By day, head to the trout ponds where you can catch your own lunch to be prepared by the restaurant’s chefs.

tuki.com.au

Image: Daniel Mallia

Image: RACV Goldfields

Image: Tuki Retreat

SENSES

Grainery Lane