As one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most liveable regional city, you can rest assured you’re in good company when you choose Ballarat as your host destination.
We understand the patron experience does not stop and start at the event. It begins from the moment they step out the front door to the moment they return, and everything in between.
You have enough on your plate organising an event. So leave the logistics of accommodating, feeding and transporting your guests and crew in the capable hands of the amazing people of our creative, vibrant and diverse city.
POSITION PERFECT
Home to some of Australia’s most beautiful heritage streetscapes and the living museum of Sovereign Hill, Ballarat is world renowned. It’s conveniently located just over an hour from Geelong, and an hour and a half from Melbourne and Bendigo. We are ideally located within easy range of a large population pool, allowing event marketers to hit the right notes with the right audience.
ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT
From cosy cottages to dog-friendly caravan parks and boutique hotels with conference facilities, Ballarat offers all kinds of accommodation for your team members, participants and patrons. There are 5,000 beds within 10kms of the city centre catering to a range of prices and tastes. And there are over 50,000 local homes that are ready to welcome friends and family. So you can rest assured your people will always have a place to stay in Ballarat.
And when it comes to getting you moving, there are two train stations including the centrally located Ballarat Railway Station, public bus transport, taxis and plenty of Ubers. Ballarat is easily accessible by road from Melbourne, Adelaide and Geelong, and Tullamarine and Avalon international airports are equidistant to bring people from near and far.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
What makes a town beautiful? Beautiful, vibrant, engaged people. Ballarat people. People who get involved, who support and understand the big benefits events bring to the local community.
There are more than 110,000 people living in Ballarat, with a population from diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. It is also home to major educational institutions, two hospitals, and a huge variety of industry sectors to work in. As such, many events have enjoyed the benefit of the volunteer pool this population size allows them to tap into. Tourism employs 3,000 people in Ballarat, and we’re proud of our creative community that works to deliver experiences that let your curiosity take flight.
CLIMATE AND SEASONS
With clear skies and four distinct seasons, Ballarat’s temperate climate is a refreshingly liveable blend of Australia and Europe. In the warmer months, people head outside to enjoy the long days and balmy nights. Winter is a time for thick scarves and getting cosy next to open fires. Come spring and autumn, the city bursts into a riot of colour and there are plenty of sunny days to enjoy, too. No matter what time of the year, Ballarat’s weather lends itself to a diverse range of seasonal events and activities, limited only by your imagination.
