Ballarat Central
vic 3350

About Ballarat Central

From rich gold rush history pages to a lively present day town which has everything at your fingertips.

The Town

From colourful gold rush beginnings to the present-day town which dazzles with grand opulent buildings, leafy tree-lined streets, world-renowned tourist attractions, and a thriving arts community, Ballarat Central is Victoria’s largest inland city and one of Australia’s genuine regional highlights. A melting pot of art, culture, food and wine, Ballarat Central is located 116km west of Melbourne’s CBD and was a booming town in the 1850s when it was discovered it had the richest alluvial goldfield in the world. Present-day Ballarat Central is a peaceful yet vibrant hub where locals and tourists alike take advantage of a number of highly-rated restaurants, laidback surrounding wineries, trendy bars, and antique shopping.

The Numbers

(data taken from the 2021 Australian Census, click here for more details)

Population: 5,378

Median Age: 41

Married: 37.2%

Never Married: 43.3%

Couple family without children: 43.5%

Couple family with children: 36.4%

Family households: 53.5%

What To See

Long been an icon of Ballarat, Sovereign Hill (Bradshaw Street, Golden Point) is an open-air museum just south of the main township in Golden Point, with the 25-hectare site depicting the first decade of the gold rush with antiques, machinery, artwork, and animals and livestock (don’t miss the AURA sound and light show). Just east of Ballarat’s centre is the iconic Kryal Castle (121 Forbes Road, Leigh Creek) medieval theme park which allows you to experience the world of knights, live shows, and jousting activities (they also have overnight stays). The Art Gallery of Ballarat (40 Lydiard Street North) was established in 1884 and is Australia’s largest and oldest regional art gallery, and houses an extensive collection spanning colonial Australia to the present day. Lastly, if you’re keen to get up close and personal with some furry friends, the Ballarat Wildlife Park (250 Fussell Street, Ballarat East) allows visitors to interact with free-roaming kangaroos, as well as see koalas, wombats, and ‘Crunch’ the 5-metre super croc (don’t worry, he’s not roaming free). Ballarat Central is also your ultimate retail destination in the Goldfields area, with the popular Central Square (18 Armstrong Street South) and Bridge Mall (between Grenville Street North and Peel Street North) offering the latest in fashion, homewares, beauty, lifestyle, and everything in between.

Where To Eat And Drink

Higher Society (413 Sturt Street) won the Golden Plate Award in 2022 for ‘Best Licensed Café’ – and one sip of their coffee and mouthful of their New Age Porridge or Korean Cauliflower Wings and it’s easy to see why. Fika Coffee Brewers (36A Doveton Street North) is another renowned Ballarat café that is your ultimate destination for a quick weekday flat white or a longer visit on the weekends where you can partake in their amazing Tuscan-style braised chickpeas on toast. Located in the Hotel Provincial, Lola (121 Lydiard Street North) offers European-inspired dining utilising fresh seasonal produce in a relaxed and stylish setting. For another unmissable Ballarat dining experience, Underbar (710 Sturt Street) comes from renowned chef Derek Boath (who has experience at New York’s 3 Michelin-starred Per Se) and has just 16 seats and is open on Friday and Saturday night (an understatement to say bookings are essential). The grand and historic Craig’s Royal Hotel (10 Lydiard Street South) is one of the town’s most popular places to stay, but also boasts a wonderful restaurant in The Atrium. They also serve High Tea at 2 pm every Sunday.