Why you should put Ballarat on your radar

Ballarat Image 500px, Hamlan

For decades people have been drawn to Ballarat — at first, it was the promise of gold, and now it’s the affordable, easy lifestyle that it offers.

Ballarat is steeped in history — it started out as a prosperous Gold Rush town attracting thousands of people from all over the world. It was also the location of the historic 1854 rebellion at the Eureka Stockade — an event many people claim led to Australia’s democracy.

These days Ballarat’s appeal has definitely changed. As one of the state’s real estate hotspots for those looking for a tree change — it’s the promise of a richer lifestyle that is its drawcard.

Why move to Ballarat?

Ballarat is Victoria’s third largest city — behind Melbourne and Geelong. Although Ballarat is attracting more people, the housing market continues to perform well in terms of affordability and capital growth.

When it comes to amenities it ticks all the boxes — great schools, quality healthcare, a vibrant arts and culture scene, sporting and recreational facilities, and outstanding culinary experiences.

And one of its biggest drawcards is that compared to other regional towns it’s still in commuting distance to Melbourne — making it an appealing prospect for those working in Melbourne.

For families, Ballarat has some of the best education in the state with schools such as Ballarat Grammar, Loreto College and St Patrick’s College, and a diverse mix of private and state primary schools.

It has a strong connection to the arts and is home to the oldest regional art gallery in Australia — the Art Gallery of Ballarat. The gallery is home to a permanent collection of works — art that’s been collected over the last 120 years. Its exhibitions are drawn from both their own collection and touring and temporary exhibitions.

For recreation, the picturesque Lake Wendouree has been a popular picnic and recreational spot for more than 150 years. It’s home to the Ballarat Tramway Museum — which includes a tram ride through the Botanic Gardens, water sports (it was the site of the rowing events at the 1956 Olympic Games), fishing, an adventure playground for the kids, and is a popular spot for walkers, runners and cyclists.

Lake Wendouree is just one of more than 100 recreation and sporting facilities found across Ballarat.

There are also many playgrounds across Ballarat including the Inclusive Play Space in Victoria Park — an accessible and inclusive playground for people of all abilities. The Ballarat Wildlife Park is also a great spot to take the kids for close encounters with some furry friends.

Ballarat is also a popular foodie destination known for its paddock-to-plate menus, craft beers and cool-climate wines. It’s got a great mix of cafes, restaurants, pubs, breweries and wineries to explore — many of which wouldn’t look out of place in Melbourne.

Like most towns across the Victorian Goldfields, there are nods to Ballarat’s rich past wherever you look. Wide tree-lined streets and beautiful Victorian-era buildings and houses give the town a distinct character and charm. Ballarat is proud of its history, which can easily be explored at the Sovereign Hill outdoor museum, the Gold Museum and the Eureka Centre.

New homes in Ballarat

There are many beautiful established homes in Ballarat, but there are also many new homes being built across the town.

One of Ballarat’s up-and-coming estates is Lucas. Situated 6km west of the CBD, Lucas runs off the iconic post-WWI Avenue of Honour — the longest Avenue of Honour in Australia. Lucas streets have been named after the service people honoured on the memorial.

Hailed as taking “the best that Ballarat has to offer”, this master-planned estate focuses on connecting its residents and encouraging an all-inclusive family-friendly lifestyle. Walkability has been key behind the planning of Lucas — with options of work, education and shopping all designed to be within minutes of home. The roads are all designed to be 200m or less in length — restricting the speed of cars and improving road safety across Lucas. And public transport stops are planned for every 400m.

Lucas is a self-sufficient estate — the Lucas Town Centre includes a shopping strip with tree-lined walkways, alfresco cafes and restaurants in addition to a supermarket, greengrocer, specialty shops and medical centre.

The town centre also includes the multi-million dollar Lucas Community Centre — a hub for residents to come together in its meeting rooms, childcare, play areas, consulting rooms and activity spaces.

Lucas also includes a business park — in a hope to draw businesses and employment to the area to create an even shorter commute between work and home for its residents.

Following Ballarat’s standard of high-quality education, Lucas has created a state-of-the-art Education and Learning Precinct that includes the Siena Catholic Primary (P-6), with further plans to also build a state government school on the site.

Green Space is also a prominent part of Lucas’s fabric with 22ha of parkland. It’s Central Park and recreational spaces are accessible from any one of its neighbourhoods. There will also be neighbourhood parks within five minutes walk of every home.

There are five “neighbourhoods” within Lucas — each offers something a little different to suit all types of homeowners and their lifestyle — whether they’re a family, couple or single. One of these neighbourhoods is the Lucas Lifestyle Estate for seniors and retirees.

In terms of street appeal, Lucas says its streets will not look like the same house after house and has been designed to provide choice and diversity.

Conclusion

There’s so much to love about Ballarat. As Victoria’s third largest city — behind Melbourne and Geelong — its housing market is performing well in terms of affordability and capital growth.

Ballarat is steeped in history, and its wide tree-lined streets and beautiful Victorian-era buildings and houses give the town a distinct character and charm.

In terms of amenities Ballarat really has it all — great schools, quality healthcare, a vibrant arts and culture scene, sporting and recreational facilities, and outstanding culinary experiences.

It also has a variety of housing options. One of Ballarat’s up-and-coming estates is Lucas, which is situated only 6km west of the CBD.

Lucas is hailed as taking “the best that Ballarat has to offer” and is focused on connecting its residents and encouraging an all-inclusive family-friendly lifestyle. It has a variety of neighbourhoods to suit all types of people.

If you’re interested in making the move to Ballarat, why not check out Hamlan’s display home at the Lucas Platinum Display Village or phone 1300 426 526.

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