ABOUT BALLARAT
We've put some information together for guests of The Yuilles: Ballarat B&B to help plan their trip. For further help see Visit Ballarat and Trip advisor. You can also visit the information centre upon arrival; the staff are very friendly and helpful!
Webster Street and Lake Wendouree
Yuille Street is off Webster Street which is one of the oldest streets in Ballarat. Webster Street takes you straight to Lake Wendouree (1km walk). It’s a nice walk to the lake, passing a dog-friendly café with some of the best coffee in Ballarat at the Webster’s Market. You can also take in some of the Victorian era architecture!
At the lake, you can stroll through the picturesque Ballarat Botanical Gardens. They are the oldest inland botanical garden in Victoria, dating to 1857. The gardens house the Prime Ministers Avenue which includes a bust of Australia’s 28 prime ministers since federation in 1901, up to Tony Abbott in 2015. However, the high rate of Prime Minister turnover in recent years has drained the historic bequeathed funds for the busts, so it may be a while between drinks for Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.
Webster's Market
Botanical Gardens
The Prime Ministers Avenue
Adventure Playground at the lake
Ballarat Cafés
Ballarat has a thriving coffee culture, with top picks for cafés shown on the map.
Ballarat Restaurants
If you’re not heading out to a particular place, we’d recommend walking down Armstrong St and then Sturt St, and you’re bound to find something that takes your fancy.
Also check out Visit Ballarat and Trip adviser.
Pub style
Pub with Two Names
Previously the Peter Lalor Hotel, named after the leader of the Eureka Stockade. This pub reopened early 2018. Since then, we've had guests say it's been some of the best pub meals they’ve had. Worth a look.
Hop Temple
With Melbourne ally way vibes, this tucked away joint is always bustling, and has a great selection of craft beers.
Irish Murphy's
Great meals, another local and guest favourite.
The Freight
Good pub meals, special mention for their chicken wings!
Sporting Globe
Great place to watch the match!
Other
Griffin Burgers
Ballarat locally founded burger joint.
Mr Le
Vietnamese bakery, nice banh mi!
Cafe Merakas
Ethiopian restaurant run by a lovely man.
Meigas
Brilliant Spanish food
Aroma of India
Run by a North Indian family, great food!
Mr Jones Dining
Great Asian fine dining
All you can eat Japanese
Pizza
The Forge Pizzeria
Popular Pizza place around the corner from The Yuilles
Eureka Pizza
Classic Italian restaurant
Main Bar
Groovy vibes and gourmet pizzas.
Cinema/
Theatre
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Her Majesty’s Theatre a magnificent heritage theatre built in the Gold Rush. (10 minute walk)
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Regent Cinema built in 1930, another impressive venue (7-minute walk)
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ShowBiz Cinema (Delacombe) (10 minute drive)
Shopping
Supermarkets
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Aldi. 3 minutes' walk. Turn right out of the house then right into Webster St.
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Coles/Safeway. 6 minute drive. Little Bridge St, Ballarat
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IGA Cnr Sturt/Pleasant St. 4-minute drive away from the city centre toward Lake Wendouree
Central Square
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A complex with Myer, Target, Post Office and many other specialty shops. 10-minute walk (750m)– turn left out of the house, left down Mair st and turn right at Armstrong st.
Bridge Mall
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Big W and lots of specialty shops near Coles. 13-minute walk (1km). Turn left out of the house across the roundabout and left at the lights (Sturt St) and keep walking till the end of Sturt St
Markets
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Rotary Club Market. (Trash and Treasure) Every Sunday 10am
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Lake Wendouree Farmers Markets 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month, 9am to 1pm.
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Creswick Market. (20 km north of Yuille St) 3rd Saturday of each month. 9am to 1pm
Bars & Clubs
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Mitchell Harris Wine Bar (Doveton st)
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Hop Temple (Armstrong st)
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The Comfort of Strangers (Mair St)
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Uptown Ballarat (Lydiard St)
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The Faux Social Club
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The Bluestone
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Karova Lounge
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The Sporting Globe
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The Deck Ballarat
Medical Information
Ballarat Base Hospital Emergency 1 Drummond St North
Eureka Medical Center 14 Albert St
Bulk billing service that takes walk-ins. Open 7am-8pm weekdays, 8am-8pm weekends.
MedicAid 23-25 Raglan St North
Two blocks up from Yuille st. Bulk billing, Open 9am-7pm weekdays and 9am-5pm weekends. Appointment can be made over the phone: 5332 3355
UFS Medical 202 Doveton St N
Opposite Aldi on Creswick Rd
GP Visits are $80 5364 9100
Around the clock medical assessment from a registered nurse.
1300 60 60 24
Attractions
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Ballarat City Library (Doveton St – behind Yuille St. 2 minute walk). They have a number of children's activities including story time.
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Mechanics Hall Library. Classic Gold Rush Period library Sturt St. Check out the Reading Room and Twilight Talks. There is always something interesting at the Mechanics!
Sovereign Hill is a living museum that recreates a Gold Rush town. A ten minute drive from Yuille St along Main Rd. Plenty of free parking . You can also walk to the railway station where there are frequent buses (take route 21). There are many things to see and do inside so allow plenty of time (ie all day). Food is available inside and not too expensive, but there are lots of tables and BBQ’s if you'd like to take your own lunch. Entry to Sovereign Hill includes entry to the Gold Museum across the road, often overlooked but well worth the visit. Sovereign Hill closes 5-5.30pm each day but opens in the evening for a Blood on the Southern Cross night show where a miner’s uprising is reproduced.
The Ballarat Wildlife Park approx. 10 km from Yuille St on the Melbourne side of town. There are lots of native animals and hand feeding the kangaroos is a treat.
Museum of Australian Democracy in Eureka (MADE)
MADE is a museum often overlooked by visitors but well worth a visit. The original Eureka flag is a highlight.
Ballarat Fine Arts Gallery (Lydiard St)
This is a great, small, but impressive regional art gallery that is free to enter. Free tours run twice daily.
Ballarat Walking Tours (Lydiard St)
There are some fascinating walking tours of Ballarat
The Ballarat Botanical Gardens are famous for the avenue of busts of Australian prime ministers. An unusually large number of Australia’s prime ministers including Alfred Deakin, James Scullin, John Curtin, Robert Menzies were from Ballarat or held seats here. The Prisoner of War Memorial near the Gardens is worth a visit. There is a great children’s playground there too.
Public transport
Ballarat has bus services that use the myki system, although short term cards can be bought on the bus. The major bus exchange is at the Ballarat train station. Bus route 21 takes you to Sovereign Hill. Use PTV journey planner to plan your trip. Uber and Ola also operate in Ballarat, although taxi rates are competitive.
Outside of Ballarat
Creswick
Creswick is a charming town 17 minutes away from The Yuilles. It houses the Creswick Woollen Mills, founded in 1947 by Polish migrant Paul Ryzowy. It is the last coloured woollen spinning mill of its type in Australia. Enjoy the shop, tours, the cafe, and a pat of the alpacas! Creswick also has some great walking trails.
Daylesford
Daylesford is also only 40 minutes from The Yuilles, (and 25 from Creswick), so a perfect daytrip!