It was generally always "double a" until the local government amalgamations in 1994, when the new City of Ballarat was proclaimed. The "double a" spelling is used less now, but many local organisations like the Crafts Council and the Astronomical Society still stick to tradition by continuing with the original spelling. Both spellings are currently officially recognised, and therefore both are used throughout this Web site.


"Ballarat - The American Connection".

Some interesting facts connecting Americans and Ballarat (including American Civil War veterans buried in the area). There's also a ghost town in California called Ballarat.


Shenandoah - Ballarat's Connection to the American Civil War.

No visit to Victoria was complete without a journey to the Ballarat goldfields. In February 1865 a group of officers from the Confederate warship Shenandoah were guests at the "Buccaneer Ball" at Craig's Hotel.


"The Titanic Link"

The Titanic Memorial Bandstand, erected in Sturt Street in 1915, is one of only two memorials in Australia to the bandsmen who went down with the ill-fated liner. A silhouette of the ship forms part of the weather vane on top.


"The 1956 Olympic Games"

Yuille's Swamp, today known as Lake Wendouree, was the site of the canoeing and rowing events at the 1956 Olympic Games.