Ballarat

Ballarat, or BALLAARAT, a thriving town of the colony of Victoria, next in importance to Melbourne. Owing its rise to the discovery of gold there in June 1851, it is a famous gold-field, and in fact the oldest but one of all the gold-fields of the colony. It is 100 miles WNW. of Melbourne, and 58 miles NW. of Geelong, with both of which it is connected by rail. It lies in the centre of one of the richest gold-fields in the world; the geological formation of the district is Silurian on primitive slate and sandstone. Ballarat, or Ballarat West, and Ballarat East, separated by the Jarrowee Creek River, are separate municipalities. The town is lighted with gas, well supplied with water, and has connection with all the other railways in the colony. It is the see of Protestant and Roman Catholic bishops. Many of the shops and public buildings are handsome, and there are more than 80 miles of made streets. Amongst the public buildings are several hospitals, mechanics' institute and library, free public library, city-hall, theatre, two town-halls, over 40 churches, two colleges, several grammar and denominational and many state schools, and 300 inns and hotels. Amongst the industries are iron-founding, brewing, distilling, with flour and woollen mills. Three daily newspapers are published. When the surface diggings became exhausted after the first rush in 1851, deposits of gold were found at greater depths, and now there are mines as deep as some of our English coal-pits, with steam pumping and all the requisite machinery. The miners in 1854 made a stand against unjust taxation, and in the conflict which ensued many lives were lost and much property was destroyed. The 'Welcome Nugget,' the largest ever found, was discovered in 1858 at Bakery Hill. It weighed 2217 oz. 16 dwt., and was sold for £10,500. The 'Lady Hotham,' found near Canadian Gully, weighed 1158 oz. 2 dwt. Some 6500 men are still employed at the gold-fields, 700 of whom are Chinese. The surrounding district is well adapted for farming and sheep-breeding. Pop. (1891) Ballarat, 24,257; Ballarat East, 16,592; total, 40,849.