Conferencing In Ballarat
Conferencing In Ballarat
Want to make your next business event memorable and successful? Hold it in Ballarat, and the rest will be history. In fact, Ballarat is living and breathing history. From its gold rush heritage to its grand Victorian architecture, Ballarat offers historic significance, a vast choice of venues and attractions your delegates will remember.
Whether you choose a boutique hotel, an idyllic vineyard, an historic landmark or a hall of learning, Ballarat is the ideal destination for conferences, meetings and conventions from 10 to 1,000 people. You’ll enjoy big-city facilities and contemporary amenities with the relaxed, unhurried atmosphere of a regional town.
Access
Just over an hour from Melbourne, it also offers ease of access so you can get straight down to business, and pleasure.
Situated just 75 minutes’ drive northwest of Melbourne, the city is at the centre of a network of freeways and highways, making access from anywhere in Australia easy. Ballarat is just one hour from Victoria’s two major airports, Melbourne International (Tullamarine) and Avalon near Geelong. Ballarat Coach Lines runs a regular Melbourne Airport shuttle service to and from Ballarat. Or take one of the many V-Line trains that service Ballarat.
Getting around Ballarat once you are there is easy. Ballarat Taxis operates a fleet of 50 standard taxis, as well as having five multi-purpose/accessible vehicles. Telephone (03) 5329 0000 or 131 008.
Hire cars are plentiful, operated by Budget Car Rental, Avis, Hertz and Europcar.
Gold Bus and Ballarat Coach Lines operate scheduled and charter services.
Industry
Gold mining made Ballarat’s fortune, but today the city’s century prosperity is due to much more. Mining now makes up less than one percent of Ballarat’s current regional domestic product.
Ballarat’s dynamic economy revolves around manufacturing, retail, construction and property, health, education, tourism, agribusiness, and information and communication technology. Large corporate organisations based here include IBM Global Service, McCain Foods (Australia), Masterfoods Australia and the FMP Group.
• Manufacturing is by far Ballarat’s largest export sector, with $671 million annual exports and contributing over $800 million to the Ballarat economy.
• Retail services a regional population of 192,000 and has enjoyed sustained growth which is forecast to continue for at least the next ten years.
• Construction in residential and commercial sectors is set to grow, with projected population growth providing new opportunities for new and existing businesses and investors.
• Health and community services. This sector is the region’s second largest employer contributing $246 million in regional exports and $455 million in value-added products and services.
• Education is one of the city’s economic cornerstones, with some of Victoria’s finest secondary and tertiary institutions in Victoria, including two internationally-accredited universities plus a University of Melbourne campus in the immediate regional area.
• Tourism is a growing industry capitalising on the city’s unique heritage, food and wine and regional arts status along with the city’s high quality accommodation integrated with conference, convention and expo facilities.
• Agribusiness offers substantial downstream opportunities for the broader Central Highlands region thanks to the region’s abundant resources, evident in the major local investment by major food manufacturers Masterfoods and McCains.
• IT and communications – Ballarat is the nation’s capital for this booming sector which is helping drive the city’s economy via more than 100 organisations, from multinationals to small and micro businesses. The University of Ballarat Technology Park is the sector’s epicenter.
Festivals and Events
Ballarat is renowned Australia-wide for its wide range of events and festivals that celebrate the best of the region all year long. Visitors enjoy a taste of our famous hospitality, arts and culture, beautiful gardens and stunning heritage buildings. Ballarat also boasts a vast array of sporting facilities which attract nationwide competition; while enthusiast collectors flock to the city to search out antiques, old wares, or discover hard-to-find parts at swap meets.
Australian Open Road Cycling Championships
Five-day event every January featuring Australia’s best cyclists in the prestigious Australian Open Road Cycling Championships in Ballarat and Buninyong.
Ballarat Begonia Festival
Iconic event in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens that drawing garden lovers from all over Australia during the Victorian Labour Day weekend in March every year.
Ballarat Heritage Weekend
A celebration of Ballarat’s heritage with the city’s grand Victorian architecture as the backdrop. Held in May, it features heritage memorabilia, open historic gardens and houses and a wide range of heritage and vintage events, exhibitions and activities.
Ballarat Antique Fair
Hundreds of exhibitors from every state and territory showcase a treasure trove of antiques every year in March on a grand scale. Specialist exhibitors include book dealers, deco, retro jewellery clothing and accessories dealers, and smalls, ephemera and collectables dealers. Unmissable event for the antique lover.
Royal South Street Competitions
A hallmark event on Ballarat’s packed arts calendar, and dating back to the goldfields era, this is Australia’s largest and oldest eisteddfod, having been conducted for more than 115 years. Competitions are held in drama, speech, dance and a range of other artistic pursuits.
Ballarat Touring Routes
Goldfields Touring Route
History-packed route through Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maldon and other villages, including all the important heritage sites, cities, villages and wineries of the region
Great Southern Touring Route
The best of Victoria’s beaches, coastline, forests, countryside, history and heritage in a flexible tour. Discover the excitement and heritage of the gold rush in Ballarat and the surrounding goldfields; marvel at the grandeur of the Grampians mountain range and National Park; and experience one of the world’s greatest drives along the Great Ocean Road from Geelong to Warrnambool.
Climate
Ballarat is renowned for its cool weather, but visitors might be surprised to discover that Ballarat has more clear skies than Melbourne. With an average annual temperature of a mild 17.3°C, Ballarat also enjoys four distinct seasons. Whether you’re dining outdoors in warmer months, in front of an open fire in winter or revelling in the changing colours of spring and autumn, you’ll enjoy a refreshingly liveable blend of Australian and Mediterranean climate.
Ballarat’s climate makes it ideal for activities such as cycling, car club meets and barbecue get-togethers in summer. The crisp golden autumn days are perfect for the Ballarat Heritage Weekend; while winter heralds the arrival of heart-warming food and wine events and antique expos. Ballarat’s renowned gardens burst into life in spring while sporting events again line the calendar.
Ballarat’s cooler climate is ideal for our many local food and wine artisans. Award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay are just two of the grape varieties produced.