gramar

My wife and I moved to the Moorabool Shire 4 years ago as we recognised the central location of the Shire - a hub for easy access to other areas. Our criteria was commutability to Melbourne, easy access to airport (we travel for both work and pleasure), coffee shop, housing value for money.

After researching many areas in and around the outer areas of Melbourne, we moved into a rental property in Bacchus Marsh to make sure the general area met our expectations before we committed to a more permanent arrangement. It did, so we set about finding a place to buy. The additional criteria was the house must be within 10 minutes drive of either Bacchus marsh or Ballan train station, and be on a large block with some distance to neighbours.

We found a perfect place in Ballan on an acre. We moved in recently. The birdlife, atmosphere, friendliness, lifestyle and value far out weighs all the 'Cons' people have mentioned. Yes it is about 4C colder than in Melbourne, but we are in the hills at 500 metres, and as someone on the train station quipped "we often get kissed by the clouds". We still do weekly grocery shopping in Bacchus Marsh (15 mins away), and major item shopping in Melton or Ballarat (both 25 mins way). Daylesford and Creswick are around 30 mins away, and Geelong makes a good change (55 mins away).

Ballan is self sufficient from an everyday living point of view - hospital / medical centre, child care, fire station, ambulance, police, supermarket, butcher, post office, bakery, coffee shop, take away food, electrician, plumber, glazier, shire offices, primary school, kindergarten, hardware store, train station (about 60 mins to Melbourne - mostly express). The drive to Melbourne via the Western freeway is about an hour (45 minutes to top of Westgate Bridge) but there are other routes that work well (eg via Diggers Rest and the Calder Freeway). Housing options range from older style on small or medium to large blocks to more modern (new) on small or medium blocks. The farmers market, 2nd Saturday of each month, is a great place to wonder around and get some local produce, meet the locals, and have morning tea or lunch.

Dining out options are available within the town or local nearby pubs, or for more choice, Ballarat or Bacchus Marsh. If going out in Melbourne, last train from Southern Cross is 9.54pm M-F (plus 11.24pm Fridays), and around 10.10pm or 11.50pm on Saturdays (check with Vline for accurate timings). Very do-able with a little planning.

Ballan is meeting our expectations. It won't suit everyone, but we are all different and we see merit from our own perspective. It certainly ticks all our boxes.