The City of Ballaarat was a local government area covering the inner suburbs of the regional city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of 34.52 square kilometres (13.3 sq mi), and existed from 1855 until 1994.

City of Ballaarat
Victoria
Location in Victoria
Population35,500 (1992)[1]
 • Density1,028.4/km2 (2,664/sq mi)
Established1855
Area34.52 km2 (13.3 sq mi)
Council seatBallarat Central
RegionGrampians
CountyGrenville, Grant
LGAs around City of Ballaarat:
Ballarat Ballarat Bungaree
Ballarat City of Ballaarat Bungaree
Grenville Sebastopol Buninyong

History edit

The spelling of the name was a source of constant confusion. It originated from two Aboriginal words "balla arat", meaning "resting place". The municipality used the spelling Ballaarat as part of its corporate description, but the town itself came to be known as Ballarat.

Ballaarat originated in two boroughs, incorporated two years apart; the Borough of Ballaarat was first incorporated on 10 December 1855, becoming a town on 10 October 1863 and a city on 9 September 1870. The Borough of Ballaarat East, meanwhile, came into being on 1 May 1857 and became a town on 23 August 1872. It was divided into North, Central and South wards in 1889. On 25 May 1921, the town merged into Ballaarat, which was redivided into four wards. On 2 April 1930, the combined entity absorbed part of the Shire of Bungaree.[2]

On 6 May 1994, the City of Ballaarat was abolished, and along with the Borough of Sebastopol, the Shire of Ballarat and parts of the Shires of Bungaree, Buninyong, Grenville and Ripon, was merged into the newly created City of Ballarat.

Wards edit

The City of Ballaarat was divided into four wards on 25 May 1921, each of which elected three councillors:

  • Lake Ward
  • Park Ward
  • Black Hill Ward
  • Eureka Ward

Towns and localities edit

* Council seat.

Population edit

Year Population
1954 39,945
1958 42,280*
1961 41,037
1966 41,650
1971 39,778
1976 37,863
1981 35,681
1986 34,806
1991 34,501

* Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.

References edit

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victoria Office (1994). Victorian Year Book. pp. 49–52. ISSN 0067-1223.
  2. ^ Victorian Municipal Directory. Brunswick: Arnall & Jackson. 1992. Accessed at State Library of Victoria, La Trobe Reading Room.

External links edit

37°33′S 143°51′E / 37.550°S 143.850°E / -37.550; 143.850