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It has endured as a major regional centre and is the commercial capital and largest city of the Central Highlands, as well as a significant tourist destination. Ballarat is known for its history, culture and well-preserved colonial-era heritage, with much of the city subject to heritage overlays.
Ballarat, city, central Victoria, Australia, on the Yarrowee River. The area was first settled in 1838 by sheepherders and developed rapidly after the discovery of rich alluvial gold deposits in 1851.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Nov 2, 2023 · Colonisation and mining in Ballarat led to devastation and destruction of Wadawurrung dja, including the Yarrowee River. Settlement was built upon our living spaces and as a result...
Explore the rich history of Ballarat – derived from the Wadawurrung words ‘balla’ and ‘arat’, meaning resting place.
Prior to pastoral settlement in 1837 Aboriginal people inhabited the land in the area which was to become known as Ballarat. This word is of native origin from "Balla" and "Arat" meaning 'resting place'. It was a camp ground or meeting place where groups gathered.
Ballarat’s landscape formed 500 million years ago. Through a series of dramatic changes caused by tectonic forces, erosion, volcanic activity, climatic change and water flows, Ballarat’s alluvial and deep lead gold deposits were formed. Today, Ballarat sits within a distinctive setting.
For thousands of generations, the Wadawurrung People have lived in the Ballarat-Geelong region. Wadawurrung Country provided all of the food, clothing and shelter the people needed, and their lives were rich in culture and ritual.
