DEPARTMENT of RURAL HEALTH Living and Working in Ballarat
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DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH Living and Working in Ballarat, Victoria INFORMATION PACK 1 CONTENTS. LIVING IN BALLARAT 3 Attractions, Culture and climate 3 Getting around Ballarat 5 Local Facilities 6 Eating out 7 UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 8 Rural Clinical School 8 Creswick Campus 8 Going Rural Health student support team 9 Accommodation 10 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BALLARAT 11 CONTACT US 11 This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working arrangements within Ballarat Australia. We acknowledge that re‐locating to a new region is a daunting yet exciting experience, and there are many logistical aspects to consider. Therefore the ‘Going Rural Health’ team wish to make this transition as easy for you as possible. Please consider the information in this booklet as a general guide to living and working in Ballarat, Victoria. Our information booklet contains general information and is to be used as a guide only. This activity has been supported by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program programme. The Department of Rural Health takes no responsibility or liability of the accuracy of the information provided in this document or information provided on the listed websites. This booklet does not endorse the products/services listed throughout. 2 LIVING IN BALLARAT Ballarat is located in the Grampians region, just over 100 km west of Melbourne. It is home to approximately 100,000 people, with 1‐2% of the total population being of Indigenous origin. The Ballarat region has a rich history thanks to the Gold Rush which began in 1851. Many impressive buildings were financed from the wealth generated by the diggings. Many of these buildings remain today, and tourist attractions celebrate the city’s history. Many areas and buildings are also heritage listed. Ballarat is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities. Its largest industry by employment is health care and social assistance, though retail and industries related to tourism are also prevalent. Ballarat has a thriving restaurant scene, ranging from fine dining to cafes. Many wine regions are also close by. The median age of residents is ~35 years old, as many families have found the lifestyle and affordability of housing better than metropolitan Melbourne, while still within easy commuting distance to the capital. ATTRACTIONS, CULTURE AND CLIMATE: Ballarat is renowned for its Botanical Gardens, and the adjacent 200 hectare man‐made Lake Wendouree, a couple of kilometres west of the city centre. The lake hosted rowing events in the 1956 Olympic Games, and its rowing course is still used today. The gardens feature the Prime Ministers Avenue, historic statues, a conservatory with seasonal displays of begonias and other plants and flowers, flower display beds and many mature trees. Revisit Ballarat’s fold mining days at Sovereign Hill, where a gold township of the 1850s has been re‐ created. The Museum of Australian Democracy is situated close to the site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade, and houses the original Southern Cross flag. Kryal Castle at Warrenheip is a medieval adventure park and resort where you can stay the night, and it also houses weddings and events. 3 Other notable attractions include: the Ballarat Aviation Museum, Ballarat Bird World, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Ballarat Vintage Tramway and Museum, and Ballarat Observatory & Museum. Ranging a little further afield you can visit the historic townships of Creswick, Clunes & Buninyong. Ballarat has a thriving arts, tourism and cultural scene. The Art Gallery of Ballarat is Australia’s oldest and largest regional gallery, with a comprehensive collection of Australian art. Her Majesty’s Theatre hosts many diverse performances. The city hosts various festivals throughout the year, such as the Begonia Festival, Heritage Weekend, the Rockabilly Festival, and cabaret performances. The Ballarat region has a temperate climate. Summers are hot but not always dry, and the temperature tends to drop at night. Spring and autumn are typically cool and wet. Winter mornings are cold and often frosty, and occasional light snowfalls can occur. Season Average maximum Average minimum Summer (December to February) 24.5 C 10.4 C Autumn (March to May) 18.1 C 7.5 C Winter (June to August) 11.0 C 3.5 C Spring (September to November) 17.5 C 6.2 C Various sport and recreation centres exist across the region, including the Ballarat Aquatic Centre; Ballarat, Midlands and Buninyong golf clubs; Gold Rush Golf, Redline Speedway, ten‐pin bowling lanes, and indoor go‐carts. Heritage tours, Ghost tours and Gold & Relics tours also run on a regular basis. See www.travelvictoria.com.au/ballarat/ or www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attractions‐g255346‐ Activities‐Ballarat_Victoria.html for more details on attractions & recreation in Ballarat. 4 GETTING AROUND BALLARAT: Public Transport. Buses and taxis operate a regular service throughout Ballarat, and also travel to Creswick. Local bus timetables are available from the Ballarat Information Centre or via the Public Transport Victoria website https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/timetables (under Regional), while Ballarat Taxis can be booked by calling 131 008. V‐Line trains and buses run numerous times a day from Southern Cross Train Station in Melbourne to Ballarat. There is also an infrequent service to Creswick station (on the Maryborough line) from Ballarat. For travel information and an up to date timetable, please visit the V‐Line website (https://www.vline.com.au/) or phone 136 196. If traveling to and from Melbourne Airport, Airport Direct have a regional bus service that connects with coach and train timetables in Ballarat – please visit http://www.airportdirect.com.au/ for more information. Myki is your ticket to travel on trains and buses in the Ballarat region. For more information on the myki card, please visit: https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki Cycling. Cycling is very popular in the Ballarat area, and is an excellent way to get around. Bike lanes are often available. Driving Yourself. Ballarat is situated at the intersection of many highways. Take the M8 to Melbourne to the east, or NW to the Grampians, Ararat, Stawell and Horsham. The A300 also passes through Ballarat – take it south to go to Geelong, and north to Daylesford, Castlemaine and ultimately Bendigo. SW is the B160 to Dunkeld, Hamilton and Portland, or turn off the B160 to go to Warrnambool via the C171. NNW is the B220 to Avoca, St Arnaud and ultimately Mildura, and north to Maryborough via the C287. From / to: Bendigo Geelong Melbourne Warrnambool Mildura Ballarat 121 87 113 176 447 (www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/distances/) Further information on transport within and to/from Ballarat can be found at: www.travelvictoria.com.au/ballarat/transport/ For up to date emergency information and warnings for weather and bushfires, please see the VicEmergency website (www.emergency.vic.gov.au), or the VicEmergency app. 5 LOCAL FACILITIES: Shopping: Regional markets: www.visitballarat.com.au/events/markets Supermarkets: Ballarat ‐ www.travelvictoria.com.au/ballarat/supermarkets/, Creswick ‐ www.travelvictoria.com.au/creswick/supermarkets/ Shopping centres: www.travelvictoria.com.au/ballarat/shopping/ ; & Sturt Street precinct Entertainment: Regent Cinemas: www.regententertainment.com.au/Page/Home Mini‐golf: Ballarat Mini Golf, 263 Scott Pde Ballarat ph: 53348150 or Gold Rush Indoor & Outdoor Mini Golf, 4/9367 Western Highway, Warrenheip, ph: 53348150 Ten‐pin Bowling: Oz Tenpin Ballarat, 901 Doveton St North, Ballarat North, ph: 53315610 Medical facilities: Medical Centres Greater Ballarat – see www.yellowpages.com.au/find/medical‐ centres/greater‐ballarat‐vic Ballarat Health Services – 1 Drummond Street North, Ballarat Central, ph: 53204000. 24 hour emergency department on site. St John of God Hospital – 101 Drummond Street North, Ballarat Central, ph: 53202111. 24 hour emergency department on site. Creswick Hospital & Community Health Centre, 1 Napier Street, Creswick, ph: 53459100 Health / leisure: Ballarat Aquatic Centre www.ballarataquaticcentre.com/health/group‐fitness.aspx Federation University Uni Sports ‐ www.federation.edu.au/about‐us/facilities‐and‐ services/campus‐life/unisports Fernwood Gym Ballarat ‐ www.fernwoodfitness.com.au/clubs/vic/ballarat/ Curves Ballarat – multiple sites, see www.curves.com.au/find‐a‐club using postcode 3350 (Ballarat) Banks: See the links below for bank locations, opening hours and ATMs. The postcode for Ballarat is 3350; Creswick is 3363. NAB ‐ see www.nab.com.au/locations for nab, and rediATM Westpac ‐ see www.westpac.com.au/locateus/#/ ANZ – see www.locate.anz.com/anz/australia/ Bendigo Bank – see www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/locator#/ Commonwealth Bank – see www.commbank.com.au/digital/locate‐us/ Bank Australia – see www.bankaust.com.au/tools/find‐us/ Rabobank – see www.rabobank.com.au/branch/ Child care facilities: Visit www.careforkids.com.au/child‐care‐centre/vic/ballarat‐western and enter 3350 postcode for Ballarat, or 3363 for Creswick. 6 EATING OUT IN BALLARAT: Ballarat has a large range of places to dine out, catering for a variety of cuisines, diets and budgets. Some of the more popular facilities are listed below, including their price range. Cafes: Cafe Lekker, 11 Doveton Street North, Ballarat. Ph: 5332 8141 $$‐$$$ Ballaarat Yacht Club, Wendouree Parade, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 2208 $$‐$$$ Webster’s Market, 61 Webster Street, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 2498 $$‐$$$ Turret Cafe & Catering, 802 Sturt Street, Ballarat. Ph: 5334 4744 $$‐$$$ Pubs & Wine Bars: Mitchell Harris Wine Bar, 38 Doveton Street North, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 8931 $$‐$$$ North Britain Hotel, 502 Doveton Street, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 1291 $$‐$$$ The Lake View Hotel, 22 Wendouree Parade, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 4592 $$‐$$$ Hop Temple, 24‐28 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat. Ph: 5317 7158 $$‐$$$ Restaurants: Meigas (Spanish), 33 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 9444 $$‐$$$ The Forge Pizzeria, 14 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat. Ph: 5337 6635 $$‐$$$ Japanese Restaurant Kambei, Shop 1 501 Main Road, Ballarat. Ph: 5331 1468 $$‐$$$ Brown Grain Thai Restaurant, 212 Sturt Street, Ballart.