Ballarat Central, VIC 3350

Too many of the reviews on this site are from real estate agents who want you to buy/rent their properties! Ballarat is extremely overrated.

It's not a "country town" and hasn't been for a long time, houses here are NOT affordable anymore. The roads are poor quality, a lot of streets have no footpaths, many of the buildings are run-down and dirty.

The demographic here is not good. Too many bogans using drugs and alcohol in public. Packs of jobless teenagers wander around at night, where are their parents? Lots of hoons speeding and doing burnouts especially on main roads near pubs.

Public transport in Ballarat is a joke: the bus service is extremely unreliable, with buses often showing up late OR they show up early and don't wait.

The V/Line train service isn't frequent enough. Too often they run a 3-car train instead of a 6-car train, meaning it is constantly over-crowded. Of course, this is all assuming you even get a train to begin with, every other week the line goes down with coach replacements, so it often takes over 2 hours to get to Melbourne!

And of course, the weather in Ballarat is terrible. Freezing cold, rainy, windy, but also susceptible to horrible heat waves.

Hugely overrated area, don't buy into the hype.

Ballarat is a vibrant regional city located in Victoria. Known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and thriving arts scene, Ballarat offers a unique suburban lifestyle with a range of amenities and attractions.

Location
Ballarat is situated approximately 115 kilometers northwest of Melbourne, making it an ideal option for those seeking a suburban lifestyle with easy access to the city. The city is well-connected via highways and has a train station, allowing for convenient transportation options.

Housing
The suburb of Ballarat offers a diverse range of housing options, from period homes with Victorian-era charm to modern estates. The property market is relatively affordable compared to major cities, making it an attractive destination for families and first-time homebuyers. Additionally, there are plenty of new land developments and housing estates on the outskirts of the city, providing further options for buyers.

Education
Ballarat has a strong education system, with a number of quality schools and educational institutions. There are several reputable public and private schools catering to all levels of education, ensuring that families have access to excellent educational opportunities for their children.

Lifestyle and Amenities
Ballarat boasts a rich cultural and artistic scene. The city is home to a variety of art galleries, museums, theaters, and festivals that cater to all interests. Lake Wendouree, a beautiful recreational area, offers residents the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities such as walking, running, and cycling. Additionally, the suburb has numerous shopping precincts, restaurants, cafes, and local markets, providing a vibrant and convenient lifestyle.

Employment Opportunities
Ballarat has a diverse economy, with employment opportunities available in various sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and retail. The city is home to several hospitals, educational institutions, and government departments, offering a range of job prospects.

Infrastructure and Development
Ballarat has experienced significant infrastructure development in recent years. The city has a well-maintained road network, public transport options, and essential services. Ongoing investment in infrastructure and development projects ensures that the suburb continues to grow and improve.

In summary, Ballarat is a desirable suburb in Victoria, Australia, offering a rich blend of history, culture, and community spirit. With its affordable housing options, quality education, and diverse range of amenities, it provides a comfortable and fulfilling suburban lifestyle for residents.

Great sense of community with an ever growing population at a steady level to grow infrastructure. Easy commute to Melbourne either by train or drive. Amazing collection of cafe and culture (like a mini Melbourne). I live in Melbourne and commuted to Ballarat for work. Many great places to work. Stunning houses of Edwardian and Gold Rush era with a blend of modern town houses. A great place to invest (Central Ballarat). Easy serviceability with steady capital growth. Surrounding areas seeing substantial growth(2018-2019) at time of review. With scope for more. Regional markets offer a great alternative to Metro for getting into the investor market. Slow and steady growth unlike Metro which can make larger returns in a shorter time.

Lovely place to live. Have been here 18 months and absolutely love it. Affordable housing in many areas and a huge range of shopping options. Beautiful parks and a never ending amount of food, activities and festivals. I also love the quick 1 hour drive down to Melbourne to visit family.
The only downside that still leaves a sour taste about Ballarat is the amount of simply down right dishonest businesses we encountered during moving & living here. All are/were locally owned businesses and to experience so many in such a small space of time is concerning.
When it comes to mortgage lending groups, real estate agents, furniture removal co's and un switched conveyancers do your research and never rely solely on written reviews

Rentals are too high in price and utility are a joke over price Ballarat can be a beautiful place but expensive

I moved to Ballarat 2 years ago with my two young kids and hubby. Wow, what a great move! Initially I was quite worried about moving out of Melbourne but I knew I didnt want a massive mortgage or to be stuck in the deathly suburbs. Ugh.

After hunting around a few other places (Belgrave, Geelong, etc) we settled on Ballarat because of the great schools, nice houses and direct access to Melbourne.

The commute can be a bit of drain at times but my hubby now works in Ballarat and there has been more and more going on in his industry (construction).

We love the city for the family friendly atmosphere and natural beauty. You wont regret coming to Ballarat!

I just love Ballarat. I moved here a few years ago and have seen it on the up and up. The cafe culture is improving every month as is the bar and restaurant scene. Check out L'espresso, Yellow Espresso, Websters and The Local to name a few. Ballarat Central is one of the oldest parts of towns and much of the architecture and charm has been preserved.

It's a short walk to shops, amenities and transport. Everything you need within minutes, not to mention friendly approachable people.

The govt continues to improve the rail links to melbourne and is investing in the local economy with more and more jobs. There's loads going on here so get in and get amongst it before the boom kicks off again!

Ballarat overall, the coldest most miserable depressing town in Victoria. Unprogressive conservative council must take most of blame

I have to agree with the other reviewers. Ballarat is the best kept secret that isn't a secret. Everyone has heard of Ballarat but not all have discovered just how amazing this city is.

It is AMAZING!

I'm seeing more and more people leaving Melbourne and deciding not to live in the deathly suburbs in favour of a relaxed and convenient lifestyle in our stunning heritage city. The houses are simply beautiful, people friendly and absolutely everything you need is never more than 10 minutes away.

A lot of people worry about the commute to Melbourne and let me tell you, it's fine! Yes, there is the occasional delay and it takes a bit over an hour but its a great time to read a book, unwind after work. Such a small price to pay to live in a highly affordable beautiful place.

Ballarat is a beautiful gold-rush city just over an hour from Melbourne. Evidence of yester-year's riches are everywhere in the stunning period architecture, wide tree lined streets and lovely parks and amenities. You could so easily live in the deathly Melbourne suburbs and pay a million dollars or more for the pleasure... OR, you can live just over an hour away and be spoiled for choice, space and a lifestyle that is far more relaxing and forgiving. The restaurant, cafe and bar scene has really picked up in Ballarat and best of all, if you live central (which you should) you'll probable be in walking distance. There is so many options for entertaining the kids that wont break the bank. Stop being stressed, stop worrying about the ridiculous mortgage and do yourself a favour and check out our wonderful city. Being expat Melbournites, you will be most welcome! (we've done the move and it was the best decision we ever made)

VERY GLAD to get out of Melbourne. LOVE living in the country. So much to do. Make sure your ONLY buy in a nice place or close to the city. As close to the city will improve as the town population grows. CRIME and unemployment are problems in all country towns. Make sure one of you has a job. Or can commute to Melbourne. Cheap entry prices. Moved with teenagers and we have been able to find Good educational opportunities here for them.

I like the whole ballarat region.

Plenty to see and do. Great for shopping, eating out, pubs, entertaining the kids. Parks are clean. Don't live on a major road, when the pubs shut, they walk home along these routes, Creswick Road is one of the worst, they rip out your fence, (coppers take forever to get there), smash the window of your car, leave your car ashtray open, so they can look in and see there's nothing in it, don't expect to get much sleep on a Friday and Saturday night. Shopping is great, especially down near Eastwood Street with Coles and Woolies opposite each other. Buses run approx every 20 mins, pretty good service, hospital and medical are plenty.