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The best things to see and do in beautiful Ballarat

<p>There’s plenty to do and see in Ballarat. Here are a few things that you can do whilst you’re visiting the town in Victoria.</p> <p><strong>Gold country</strong></p> <p>The grand streetscape of Melbourne was created from the wealth of the goldfields, specifically Ballarat and Bendigo in the 1850s. Both cities now have populations of less than 100,000 but boast grandiose buildings you’d expect in much larger cities. These, too, were funded by gold.</p> <p><u><a href="http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/">Sovereign Hill</a></u> is a sprawling open-air museum at Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat. It’s a clever recreation of a goldfields town, complete with volunteer actors. Some of the buildings have been transported here and others have been built from the original plans. Even if you can’t find kids to bring along it is definitely worth a visit. Watching over $150,000 worth of molten gold poured into an ingot can induce gold fever in the most stable personality. Or you can have fun panning for gold yourself. The Gold Museum tells the history of the goldfields, displays gold in all its forms – and you can even buy a gold nugget of your own in the gift shop.</p> <p><strong>Afternoon tea</strong></p> <p>A surprise highlight of the adventure was churning butter. Perhaps it was Enid Blyton’s depiction of bucolic English farm life but I’ve always wanted to do this (ideally followed by a picnic tea complete with lashings of cream of course). Ask at the desk because at various times during the day, cream and pikelets are made in the Postmaster’s kitchen. Be aware that you’ll earn your treat because after you ha vebeaten the cream and it seems to be firm you’ll still be only about a quarter of the way to ending up with butter and buttermilk.</p> <p>Sovereign Hill, along with the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island’s penguins, attracts over half a million visitors each year. One show that’s certainly for adults is the sound and light spectacular entitled “Blood on the Southern Cross” that tells the controversial tale of the Eureka Rebellion across the open-air set. Don’t miss it.</p> <p><strong>Downtown Ballarat</strong></p> <p>In downtown Ballarat it is a joy to simply wander around and take in the streetscape. One of the most impressive buildings is the Mining Exchange that now houses a gold shop with the main hall used for functions. <u><a href="http://www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au/">The Ballarat Art Gallery</a></u>, Australia’s oldest regional gallery, houses remnants of the original Eureka Flag and an impressive permanent collection. The Town Hall and Her Majesty’s Theatre are also worth a look, as is the historic George Hotel.</p> <p>A unique feature of Ballarat is Lake Wendouree, set in the middle of town but still around three kilometres from the CBD. The <u><a href="http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/lae/gardens/ballarat-botanical-gardens.aspx">Ballarat Botanic Gardens</a></u> cover 40 hectares on the western side of the lake and is a stunning formal garden surrounded by open parkland. It’s a significant cool-climate garden with many well-established trees and a begonia weekend each March. In 1884 the gardens were adorned with several statues brought from Italy. The garden’s Prime Ministers Avenue is lined by the busts of the 26 Prime Ministers since federation.</p> <p><strong>Famous historical faces</strong></p> <p>There’s one place in town where history, architecture, the paranormal and horse racing all come together. From the heavily decorated street lamps to the large rooms, imposing façade and turrets, <u><a href="http://www.craigsroyal.com.au/">Craig’s Royal Hotel</a></u> at 10 Lydiard St at the heart of the city has long been a grand hotel. Prince Alfred stayed here in 1867; Adam Lindsay Gordon operated the stables behind the hotel at that time; Lord Kitchener and Mark Twain also chose this as their Ballarat address. In 1911, Dame Nellie Melba serenaded the city from Craig's balcony. It has recently been through an extensive four-year restoration and has transformed into a fine boutique heritage hotel.</p> <p><strong>Fascinating stories</strong></p> <p>One of Australia's most endearing horse racing stories is based around Craig's. The flamboyant Walter Craig, who bought the hotel in 1857 when he was 32, told everyone of a dream he had in which his racehorse "Nimblefoot" won the 1870 Melbourne Cup. In the dream, when he approached the jockey to congratulate him, Craig asked why he was wearing a black armband. The jockey replied "because the horse belonged to Walter Craig who died three months ago". So Craig backed his horse heavily but expected not to see the win. The story was well known and even appeared in a newspaper a day before the Cup. Nimblefoot did indeed win the race at long odds. The jockey was wearing a black armband for Craig who had died three months earlier.</p> <p><em>Written by David McGonigal. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/discover-beautiful-ballarat.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

International Travel

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Exploring the history of Bendigo, Castlemaine and Ballarat

<p>Education tourism is all very well but it never occurred to me that it would mean I'd have to spend more than two hours 85 metres underground. We're at Central Deborah Gold Mine in the heart of Bendigo and my inner claustrophobe is rearing its anxious head.</p> <p>We're on a winter road trip to the Victorian Goldfields, exploring the gold rush history of Bendigo, Castlemaine and Ballarat, our itinerary inspired by my son's school curriculum, in particular the gold rush history of the mid to late 19th century.</p> <p>We start our journey on the Goldfields Express steam train that runs between the historic township of Maldon and its larger neighbour, Castlemaine. Entering the carriages is like stepping back in time, with spacious compartments, polished wood, leather studded seats, an open observation deck at the front (where we're splattered with condensing steam) and an on-board cafe, staffed by volunteers, serving killer hot chocolates and a decent pot of tea. There are even old-fashioned cardboard tickets through which the conductor punches a hole.</p> <p>The remains of the diggings in and around Castlemaine require a bit of imagination, even with the help of a local volunteer guide. While there's no gold, there are still plenty of gems including, at the Eureka diggings, a water-collecting rock created by the traditional owners of this land centuries earlier, and the poignant reminder of the harshness of life and omnipresence of death, with tiny children's graves marked by stones at Pennyweight Flat Cemetery in Chewton.</p> <p>The tour at Central Deborah is a highlight. Kitted up in overalls, gumboots, helmets, earmuffs and headlamps we descend in an industrial lift 65 metres underground, and follow our guide, Georg, through a warren of humid underground tunnels and stope workings that were mined for 103 years and still contain gold veins. We scramble down to the next level of the mine, to a depth of 85 metres, via a series of ladders.</p> <p>Georg keeps up an engaging and informative banter as he points out the various drills and explosives that were used at different times in the mine's history to blast the quartz reefs and extract the gold.</p> <p><strong>Mines and pies</strong></p> <p>We stop in a hollowed out area furnished with refectory tables and benches. Lunch is a double-header pastie with meat and veg at one end, and sweet apple at the other, baked specially for the mine by Bendigo's famous Gillies Pies. Apparently it was the wives of Cornish miners who invented the pastie so that the miners could hold the twisted crust with their filthy hands, eat the pastry casing and its contents and then throw the crust away.</p> <p>You can go even deeper if you're game, with a longer tour taking you 228 metres underground in a miners' cage to the lowest level of the mine. Next time, maybe.</p> <p>Returning to the surface two and a half hours later, we watch gold being poured in a recreated blacksmith's workshop and view exhibits of mine equipment and other historical paraphernalia.</p> <p>Central Deborah also serves as the terminus for the city's hop-on-hop-off Vintage Talking Tram, which trundles its way through the city centre with commentary on every destination of interest including the highly acclaimed Art Gallery, the Joss House Temple and the fascinating Golden Dragon Museum, which displays historical and cultural ephemera from the original Chinese immigrants who came to try their luck on the diggings, and their descendants.</p> <p><strong>Embracing the chill</strong></p> <p>Winter is generally not the most popular time to visit the Goldfields, but the regional tourism authorities are tackling that challenge head-on and embracing the chill. As long as you've got beanies, gloves and accommodation with heating you'll be fine.</p> <p>From Bendigo we drive to Ballarat to take part in some of the activities for the inaugural Winterlude festival including ice skating and tobogganing in a temporary ice rink in the main street. This year's festival (June to July) is expected to be bigger and better.</p> <p>We take a short break from history at Ballarat Wildlife Park where we hand feed kangaroos, watch birds of prey take flight, meet Crunch the five-metre salty and a very friendly wombat called Patrick who has his own Facebook page with 46,000 followers.</p> <p>Sovereign Hill is Ballarat's jewel in the crown, where we explore mines, try our hand at gold panning and give the cradle a rock. With staff in period costume, it is a little like Disneyland without the rides but as an opportunity to tap into the gold rush past it's second to none. We learn how to fire a musket, go bowling with 19th-century balls and skittles and eat our body weight in boiled sweets.</p> <p><strong>Book early to secure a place</strong></p> <p>Some attractions including the mine tours need to be booked early in the day to guarantee a place and cost extra on top of pricey tickets so it's not a cheap day out. In the winter school holidays its night-time Winter Wonderlights adds a fairytale element with Christmas lights, fake snow and carollers dressed in Victorian garb.</p> <p>The true highlight of Sovereign Hill, though, is the Blood on the Southern Cross sound and light show, which starts in a theatre, takes you on foot through the diggings and ultimately to an outdoor auditorium and massive, purpose-built set where the story of the Eureka Rebellion is dramatically retold. It's spectacular theatre with a clever script, lighting and special effects but not an actor in sight. The kids are forced to listen and think and, importantly, tap into their imaginations. This is educational tourism at its finest, and is absolutely mesmerising.</p> <p>Have you ever been to this beautiful part of Australia?</p> <p>Share your story in the comments.</p> <p><em>Written by Sally Webb. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/10-of-the-best-art-galleries-in-australia/">10 of the best art galleries in Australia</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/life-in-the-clouds-a-dream-in-yarra-valley/">Life in the clouds a dream in Yarra Valley</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/04/mcg-melbourne-greatest-stadium-in-world/">Is the MCG the world’s greatest stadium?</a></span></em></strong></p>

International Travel

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Ballarat silverbeet tart

<p>"The area may be famous for gold, but there’s also some great local produce available around Ballarat, and an ever-increasing slow-food culture. This original tart recipe includes some of the best ingredients available in central Victoria. For the pastry I used Powlett Hill flour brought home by my husband after shearing sheep on the Campbelltown property. For the filling I purchased silverbeet from Spring Creek Organics in Navigators, free-range Green Eggs from Great Western and Creswick-grown garlic from the Lake Wendouree Smart Living Market. However, I think the Meredith Dairy marinated goat’s cheese and Mount Zero kalamata olives from the Grampians are the heroes of the dish. Even my fussy children will eat it!" - <em><strong>Jean Flynn, Ballarat, Victoria</strong></em></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>1 ½ cups plain flour</li> <li>100 g cold butter, cubed</li> <li>2–4 tablespoons cold water</li> </ul> <p><em>Filling</em></p> <ul> <li>1 tablespoon olive oil</li> <li>¾ bunch silverbeet (leaves and stalks), chopped</li> <li>2 garlic cloves, finely chopped</li> <li>½ cup grated parmesan cheese</li> <li>16 kalamata olives, pitted and halved, plus extra, to serve</li> <li>2 eggs, lightly beaten</li> <li>150 g marinated goat’s cheese</li> <li>Sliced or quartered tomatoes, to serve</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>To make the pastry, put the flour in a large bowl and rub the butter in using your fingertips. Gradually add the water and mix using a butter knife to form dough.</li> <li>Bring together to make a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.</li> <li>Meanwhile, make the filling. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the silverbeet stalks and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until soft. Add the garlic and silverbeet leaves and cook, stirring occasionally, for a further 10–15 minutes, or until the leaves are wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.</li> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C.</li> <li>Lightly grease a 24 cm tart tin. Roll the dough out on a floured bench top to a circle large enough to fit the base and side of the tin, and carefully line the tin with the dough.</li> <li>Spread the parmesan evenly over the dough base and top with the cooked silverbeet and the olives. Pour the beaten egg over the filling and crumble the goat’s cheese over the top.</li> <li>Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until cooked through and golden on top. Serve warm with fresh tomatoes and extra olives.</li> </ol> <p><img width="161" height="195" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21491/australia-cooks-cover-image_161x195.jpg" alt="Australia Cooks - Cover Image" style="float: right;"/></p> <p>Do you have a great tart recipe? Share it with us in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Jean Flynn. Recipe courtesy of Australia Cooks edited by Kelli Brett, published by <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/australia-cooks-hbk" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>ABC Books</strong></span></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/pea-basil-and-eggplant-tart/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Pea, basil and eggplant tart</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/03/frittata-mushrooms-kikorangi/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Frittata with grilled field mushrooms and kikorangi</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/01/mushroom-tart/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Mushroom tart</strong></em></span></a></p>

Food & Wine