Ballarat
Ballarat Vacations
This city in the Central Highlands of Victoria precipitated the Victorian gold rush after gold was discovered here in 1851 and Ballarat became a thriving boomtown, rivaling even Melbourne.
Region: Regional Victoria
Overview
Today, Ballarat, once called Australia’s most livable regional city, pays homage to its gold-rush past in the form of opulent buildings, fountains, and tourist attractions. Some of its must-see sights include Sovereign Hill, a living museum that re-creates life in the 1850s gold-rush era; Eureka Centre, located at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park, considered to be the site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade where a miners’ rebellion took place; and Kryal Castle, a replica of a medieval castle featuring a moat and drawbridge, a maze, castle towers, and stocks.