James Meek was a man of many varied interests and talents, especially pen drawing. His sketches are among some of the earliest representations of life on the Ballarat goldfields.
Nathan Spielvogel was an author, a schoolteacher and a historian. In Ballarat he is remembered for his strong association with the Ballarat Historical Society.
Chinese men in Ballarat played several Australian Rules football games for between 1892 and 1896. A series of charity matches were staged at Ballarat’s Eastern Oval between the two main occupation groups within the Chinese community: Miners and Market Gardeners. The matches became known as the ‘Chinese Football Premiership’.
Grenville College was a Methodist educational establishment that operated in Ballarat from 1860 to 1910. It's alumni included two Prime Ministers of Australia.
2021 marks the 150th anniversary of the production of the Ballaarat steam engine by Victoria Foundry in 1871 - the first 3ft, 8in gauge locomotive built in Australia.
This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the City of Ballarat following the merging of Ballarat East and Ballarat West townships on 25 May 1921.