Ballarat, Regional heritage city in Victoria, Australia
Ballarat is a city in the Central Highlands of Victoria, around 70 miles northwest of Melbourne. It sits at roughly 1430 feet above sea level and spreads across hills and valleys with Lake Wendouree as a central water feature.
Gold discovery in 1851 turned grazing land into a booming settlement that drew thousands of fortune seekers from Europe, America, and China. The 1854 miners' uprising at Eureka Stockade became a symbol of labor struggle and democratic demands in Australia.
The name comes from a Wathaurong word for the region, referring to a resting place near the lake. Today you can see this connection in street names and signage that recall these roots.
The Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail runs 53 kilometers through the countryside and links several historical sites with paved cycling paths. Most sections are flat or gently rolling and work well for cyclists and walkers of all ages.
The Yuille family cottage at Burrumbeet Creek is considered the oldest surviving dwelling in the area and dates from before the big gold discovery. You can visit the small stone building today at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, where it was reassembled in 1960.
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