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The White Hat Guide to Ballarat

What can I say about Ballarat? It is the place where I grew up. As the twig is bent . . . 

I thought all large country towns had main streets with gardens and statues in the middle. I thought all large towns had trams. I thought that all kids in Australia could hop on a bike and as long as they were back before sunset nobody would be too worried. I thought that the hills known as Warrenheip and Buninyong were mountains because they were called Mount Warrenheip and Mount Buninyong  (even though they were not as challenging as Mount Hollard-Smith - but you will need to ask a local about that). I thought all towns had large botanical gardens with statuaries. I thought all gardens had bloated roses known as begonias (see the White Hat newsletter of 26th February 2003). I thought that when anyone's grandfather got sick they would go to the cemetery to consult the 'chinaman'.  I thought that all lakes had reeds and black swans. I thought all large towns had a School of Mines. I thought that Melbourne was big and imposing and where neighbouring teenage girls went for mysterious operations and Melbourne started at the Sunshine railway gates.

But then I went to university in Melbourne, and that is where the rot set in . . . 

This area contains Beaufort, Creswick, Linton, Casterton and Buninyong. An alternative spelling of Ballarat was Ballaarat which still appears in many older documents, and in fact the lyrics of the city song proclaim:

"B A double L double A R AT,
It spells Ballaarat and it's home sweet home to me.

Attractions & Places to Visit in Ballarat

Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Australia's oldest regional gallery. and home of  the original Eureka Flag. A particularly impressive collection of Heidelberg School and Colonial paintings. Purchase a Smartvisit Card to obtain free entry to this attraction. 10.30am to 5 pm, daily   Ballarat Fine Arts Gallery - Ballarat Enquiries: (03) 5320 5858

Learmonth and District Historical Society Visit the newly restored and conserved Former Ballarat Shire Offices, Learmonth. Open 4th Sunday of month Feb to Nov   - Enquiries: (03) 5338 4361

The White Hat Map of Ballarat

To find the location of an attraction, click on the desired link on the right hand side and then use the controls to zoom in or change to satellite view.

Events

What's On and Things To Do in Ballarat

Medieval Festival Two days of Medieval entertainment including fireworks, jousting, archery, sword fighting, dancing, parades and market stalls and Medieval crafts. October 2012 ? Kryal Castle Ballarat - Enquiries: (03) 5334 7388

Markets White Hat - THE place to find markets in Victoria Over the years White Hat has become recognised as THE place to list and find markets in Melbourne & Victoria and our markets pages consistently receive over 1,000 visitors a day with over 3,000 a day at weekends. Unlike many websites which merely LIST markets, White Hat VISITS markets as witnessed by the photographs. Although we visit hundreds of markets every year we can never cover all of them so please let us know if any of our information is out of date. With details on over 400 markets, users regularly tell us that the White Hat listing is the best and most comprehensive source of markets in Victoria available either on the web or in print. Markets in Ballarat Ballarat Antique Market This large antique market with a wide range of items is located on two floors of an old school building and also contains a museum with a small entry charge.It is morein the nature of a very large antique store and does not appear to have the space to cater for casual stallholders. When White Hat last visited (in April 2008) there was also a specialist coins area. 10am to 5pm, daily   Antique & Collectables Centre, 9 Humffray Street North, - Ballarat (Mel ref 609 A12) Enquiries: (03) 5331 7996 Ballarat Computer Swap Meet A large number of stalls selling new and second hand computer equipment and related goods. A small entry fee applies. (Note - the dates and venue of this event can vary. Click here to confirm the current information on this event. 9am—4.30pm, 2nd Saturday of month   Ballarat Secondary College, Ballarat - Enquiries: (03) 9886 1466 Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Arts Market With original fine arts, acoustic musicians and artists at work. 9.30am-3.30pm, 2nd Sunday of month   Ballarat Fine Arts Gallery, - Ballarat Enquiries: (03) 5320 5858 Ballarat Lakeside Farmers Market A true Farmers Market. Situated on beautiful Lake Wendouree, the Ballarat Lakeside Market dishes up some of Victoria's freshest produce. While enjoying the live music you can sample & buy from up to 50 specialist boutique stalls featuring fresh fruit, herbs & vegetables, free range poultry and meat, deli style foods, regional wine, coffee, sausage sizzle and much much more. The Lake has never tasted so good. 9am to 1pm, 2nd & 4th Saturday of month (except December 2nd and 3rd Saturday)   Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree - Ballarat (next to Pipers Restaurant) Enquiries: (03) 9553 0601 Ballarat Trash & Trivia Market Over 400 stalls selling secondhand goods, crafts,etc. 8am - 2pm, Sundays   Ballarat Showgrounds,Creswick Rd, - Ballarat (Mel ref 609 A12) Enquiries: 0418 518 106 Beaufort Market Craft and Produce Market. Located on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Ararat, a beautiful drive approx. one and a half hours from Melbourne. 1st Saturday of the month, 9:00am - 1:00pm in Memorial Park, Western Highway, Beaufort. Market operates from September to April. Local gourmet food, produce, arts & crafts. 9am to 1pm, first Saturday of month (Sept—April)   Memorial Park, Havelock Street - Beaufort Enquiries: (03) 5349 1184 Buninyong Farmers Market Fresh local produce direct from the producer together with live music and entertainment. 10am-2pm, 3rd Saturday of month   Desoza Park, - Buninyong Enquiries: (03) 5341 3080 Caledonian Art, Craft & Produce Market Ballarat's art, craft & produce market, held in the grounds of Caledonian Primary School, Brown Hill. From 9am-1pm. Quality hand made, home grown products. Entry is Free. Special twilight Market - Friday 11 November 2011. First Sunday of month (March, April, May, Sept,Oct)   Caledonian Primary School, cnr Thompson & Water Streets - Ballarat Enquiries: 0420 528 729 Computer Swap Meet Featuring local and Victorian traders. 9am-4pm, 2nd Saturday of month   Ballarat Secondary College, East Campus, - Ballarat Enquiries: (03) 9886 1466 Please note that the above are the official trading hours. At many markets, a number of stalls close early, so you need to be there well before official closing time. Other markets in Victoria Submit a market for listing on these pages

Forthcoming Events These events are ones which have run in the past and we expect to run in the future. As yet we do not have confirmed details, dates and contact details. To be informed of those details when they become available you can subscribe to our newsletter "Great things to do in Melbourne".   Anderson's Mill Food, Wine & Jazz Festival The Anderson's Mill Festival is a showcase for the excellent food, wine, and music of the region. An eclectic mix of local produce, boutique wineries, entertaining music, arts and crafts, heritage artisans, mill tours and kids entertainment. Magnificent setting of the majestic bluestone mill and picturesque valley. April 2012 ? Anderson's Mill, Smeaton (near Ballarat) Ballarat Antique Fair The Ballarat Antique Fair clainms to be the largest and longest running fair in Australia and White Hat has no reason to doubt them. March 2012 ? Ballarat Badminton Centre, Ballarat Ballarat Begonia Festival This colourful event offers something for everyone, whatever age and interest, including free music, garden tours and displays and of course the ever-popular Begonia display in the Robert Clark Conservatory. The theme for 2010 is ‘The Secret Garden’, enticing visitors to step out and beyond the conservatory into the Botanical Gardens with its many avenues, historic trees and hideaway spots. The Ballarat Begonia Weekend is a free event. Entry to view the begonias in the Robert Clark Conservatory costs $6 adults, $4 concession and free for children under 16 March 2012 ? Ballarat Botanic Gardens Ballarat International Foto Biennale With photographs from across Australia and around the world together with a host of exhibitions and events the Ballarat Foto Biennale is the largest photography event in the Southern Hemisphere. Full information at Ballarat Foto Biennale< September 2013 ? Various locations in Ballarat Buninyong Film Festival A film festival with socialising & sightsseing. May 2012 ? Bunninyong Town Hall, Buninyong Gold King Festival This annual festival takes place in the historic township of Bunninyong nestled underneath the dizzying heights (well not quite) of Mount Bunninyong and features a street parade as well as a varieties of entertainment and stalls. February 2012 ? Desoza Park, Bunninyong Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields A festival of fine music in historic venues. Artistic director Sergio de Pieri. January 2012 ? Ballarat and district Rainbow Serpent Festival A new age festival with world music, arts, crafts and communal environment. Featuring entertainment, a market with over 100 stalls, workshops and lifestyle and art displays. January 2012? Beaufort These events are ones which have run in the past and we expect to run in the future. As yet we do not have confirmed details, dates and contact details. To be informed of those details when they become available you can subscribe to our newsletter "Great things to do in Melbourne".

Page last updated: 01 January, 2011 URL:

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