Ballarat Favorites

Favorite thing: One of my favorite things about Ballarat (in its oldest streets - the ones with heritage streetscapes) is its heritage housing/architecture.
The most predominant styles are Victorian houses/cottages with wrought iron lace work on the verandahs, Edwardian (which this house in Drummond Street would fit into), Californian Bungalow and there are still some Victorian terraces remaining in streets like Lydiard Street.
Well worth taking a bit of a drive or walk around to see the different styles, usually painted in heritage colours.

Favorite thing: Currently at the Gold Museum the Normandy Nugget is on display until the end of July.
It is owned by Newmont Australia, one of the largest gold mining companies in Australia (and the world).

It weighs 819 oz (about 25 kgs)
It is the 26th largest nugget ever found, and is the second largest intact nugget in the world (as almost all the others have been melted down, apart from the Welcome Nugget (2217 oz, found in Ballarat in 1858 and living on display in a casino in Las Vegas)

Favorite thing: A trip to Lake Wendouree isn't complete without paying the swans a visit (the birds prefer it if you bring food!)
Beware though driving around the lake. The speed limit is 50 km/hr but at times you may need to go a lot slower, and to watch out for swans (there are some Aussie 'swan crossing' signs) as they do cross the road to forage around in people's front gardens or on nature strips.

Favorite thing: Lake Wendouree is very picturesque and you can have very different views of it, depending what side of it you're on.
The lake itself is always different, and is home to an abundant array of birdlife, including many different species of ducks and water birds (some of which are seasonal) and of course Australia's famous black swans. I find their numbers here far greater than at any other lake I've been to in Australia. Try feeding a couple and watch the others swim in from all directions.

Favorite thing: The Trash and Trivia Market at the Ballarat Showgrounds (affectionately known by locals as 'Trash') is Ballarat's large Sunday market.
It sells predominantly secondhand goods, though more and more these days it is expanding into the clothing and new goods line. Much of it is outdoors, but it is so popular that hundreds of locals brave the cold to go there each week in winter anyway. There are also some sheltered sheds containing goods, and two of the Show pavillions are also in use.
It's also a great place to pick up secondhand books, often very cheaply. A really good spot to find unusual items and barter with stallholders to get yourself a bargain.
I highly recommend the great snacks (including Samosas and Pakoras) at the Curry Delight Indian food caravan, which is there each week. At other vans you can also buy fairy floss, hot dogs, chips, or BBQ food, and often there is a Dutch pancake stand in one of the pavilions as well.
Sometimes there are rides (like the jumping castle) for the children.
Entry is a 20c donation which goes to the Rotary Club of Ballarat charity, who run the market. It runs from about 8 am - 1 pm each Sunday. Address: Creswick Road, Ballarat (not far from the railway line)

Fondest memory: Trash is one of my very fondest memories of Ballarat. I've been going there ever since I was very young, and had a couple of fun turns at having a stall there along with my family when I was much younger.

Favorite thing: Lake Wendouree is also a very popular spot for picnics. There are playgrounds, picnic tables and BBQ's at several points around its circumference, or you can just sit on the grassy shores and admire the views...

Favorite thing: Lake Wendouree is ever popular, with many runners, joggers, cyclists and walkers of all ages taking advantage of the well made 6 km circuit.
Ballarat's Olympic marathon runner Steve Moneghetti holds the lap of the lake record.
It's a great focal activity point of the city.

Favorite thing: This is a copy of Ballarat's famous Eureka Flag, made and first raised during the 1854 goldfields Eureka Rebellion Uprising in Ballarat.
What remains of the original flag is on display in the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
Australian states each have their own flag, and the Aboriginal people have their own flag, but I don't know of any other Australian city which has its own flag like this. It's rather special and our city is proud to fly it. Ballarat even has issued a limited number of its own car number plates bearing the Eureka Flag.
The flag represents the southern cross star constellation.