Close encounter ... (left and right) the climb into Bendigo's Central Deborah Gold Mine is not for claustrophobes.

Tunnel vision

Chris Vedelago digs deep in search of tales from the mines and secret drinking haunts underground.

  • Contains:

For old times' sake

Historic buildings and gardens will open for the city's heritage weekend, Sandy Guy reports.

  • Contains:

Gardens defy dry

In 1943, the American cartoonist Robert Ripley of Ripley's Believe it or Not fame dubbed Ballarat's Old Curiosity Shop "the queerest house in Australia".

  • Contains:

In step with the doomed

As darkness falls, David Adams joins a walking tour of a town said to be the country's most haunted.

  • Contains:
Statue of Queen Victoria in front of the Town Hall

Ballarat

Ballarat
Historic gold mining city of great elegance and charm.
The blue-and-white Southern Cross flags which flutter throughout Ballarat symbolise the strong association of the city with the Eureka Rebellion - an event with great resonance in Australian history - and thus with its goldmining past.

  • Contains:
Panning for gold at Sovereign Hill

Ballarat - Fast Facts

Ballarat
Historic gold mining city of great elegance and charm.
The blue-and-white Southern Cross flags which flutter throughout Ballarat symbolise the strong association of the city with the Eureka Rebellion - an event with great resonance in Australian history - and thus with its goldmining past.

  • Contains: