From the Collection: Ballarat, The Golden Tourist City

This display presents rare and intriguing tourism publications and ephemera from the Ballarat Libraries’ Australiana Research Collection from the mid-1800s to more recent times.

Ballarat has long been a city with more to offer than just gold. Unlike many goldrush towns, which languished after the gold was depleted, Ballarat evolved into one of Victoria’s most significant tourist destinations. The arrival of the train in 1862 made the city more accessible, encouraging an influx of visitors eager to experience its riches and charm. It was popular for both daytrips and weekend getaways, particularly with middle class families.

Tourists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were drawn to Ballarat’s cultural sophistication, reflected in its stately buildings, wide boulevards, and impressive civic spaces. Lake Wendouree proved a major attraction, offering scenic beauty and recreational opportunities such as rowing regattas, leisurely picnics and even moonlight concerts. Adding to the city’s appeal were its cultural venues, such as Her Majesty’s Theatre – one of the oldest continuously operating theatres in Australia. Ballarat’s theatres attracted high profile performers such as Dame Nellie Melba who performed in Ballarat in 1924.

Ballarat also became known for its lively calendar of events, including agricultural shows, parades, and festivals. Over time, the city developed an array of heritage and cultural attractions, from the immersive goldfields experience at Sovereign Hill to the artistic riches of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Ballarat). Today Ballarat’s unique blend of history, culture and nature continues to make for a thriving tourist destination.

This display includes concertina style photographic publications, guidebooks, photographs and other ephemera, including train tickets and timetables. These items reveal the diverse ways in which Ballarat has been promoted to, and experienced by, visitors over the years.

A highlight is a superbly bound volume of ‘Victoria Illustrated’, which was published to coincide with the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880.  The exhibition drew visitors from over 33 countries to Melbourne and was an opportunity to put Victoria on the international stage. This publication contains illustrations depicting different natural and urban scene to promote Victoria as a destination for international visitors, prospective investors and migrants.

Image: Garnet Walch, ‘Victoria in 1880’, 1880 [detail] George Robertson. Illustrated by Charles Turner.