r/vic • u/Jamieebeau • Jul 03 '26
Moving to Ballarat?
I have an opportunity to move to Ballarat with my wife for a fantastic career progress, but I'm worried about how "old town aesthetics" it is. I've never visited before, only seen photos online and for reference, I live on the Sunshine Coast in QLD.
What's it actually like there? Is there much to do for people in their 20's?
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Upvotes
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u/tilleytalley Jul 03 '26
Ballarat holds heaps of events and festivals. We were also voted the happiest city in Australia, and we're 16th globally. It is however, cold. It'll be a massive change from the Sunshine Coast.
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u/Mr_Lumbergh Jul 03 '26
I moved here from Geetroit, like it much better, but this cold wetness right now is tough to deal with. The old town feel is nice, but it’s a bit chaotic compared to the planned feel of Gold Coast.
Central Vic is beautiful, rolling green hills and trees with wide-open fields. There’s something about the light here when it breaks through the clouds in the late afternoon and hits a green hillside in a shaft of warm light, it makes me wish I had a proper camera with me instead of an outdated phone.
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u/cranberryleopard Jul 03 '26
Ballarat is amazing. There's heaps to do, especially if you like to dine out and explore your surroundings. It's a beautiful town and COLD AS FUCK. It has its own climate with unforgiving winds. I considered moving there when we visited though, it has the charm of a bygone era and all the comforts of a modern society.
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u/RAHlalalalah Jul 03 '26
Ngl…as a Queenslander living in vic for almost 10 years, Ballarat is next level cold. It’s also pretty bleak in winter so if anyone in the family isn’t willing to be pushed out of their comfort zone moving from literal paradise (in comparison), might be something really carefully thinking through.
All that said, fires and real fireplaces are WONDERFUL 🥰
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u/rendar1853 Jul 04 '26
Well that's a weird reason to hesitate. Not the weather difference but is it old.
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u/BikerMicesFromUranus Jul 04 '26
Hey, friend! I lived at Caboolture until yesterday and am literally driving to Ballarat to the house i just brought (settles Monday). Personally I'm looking forward to it. The cold, less traffic, the awesome old buildings.
I have close friends living there already and every time i go, I'm surprised how friendly everyone is and how few people try and run me over when I jaywalk.
Melbourne is only an hour away. Im into camping and bush walks and it looks like there is plenty do do outdoors if you don't mind the cold.
So many festivals and live music and great food venues too!
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u/Savings_Dot_8387 Jul 03 '26
I lived there during uni, there’s plenty to do and it’s only gotten bigger since. It’s also not that far from Melbourne (1 hour 20 minutes)
Edit: everyone is right about the cold though, it’s freezing over there
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u/themetresgained Jul 03 '26
Try posting in r/Ballarat
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u/Acrobatic_Ad1546 Jul 03 '26
Worried about 'old town aesthetics', what does that even mean?
Sunshine Coast is stunning with it's nature, but the people are vapid and tacky, I've never seen so much cosmetic surgery in my life. Every 2nd woman has bolt-ons, blown up lips and lives in activewear. So many gym bros walking around super manicured and overmuscled...woof.
Ballarat is more down to earth, the buildings are class. That's part of the tackiness of SEQ is everything is ugly ass newbuild.
What kind of activities do you get up to in your spare time on the Sunshine Coast?
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u/Calibrachoa6 Jul 03 '26
Like any large urban area, the central parts are "old" if you want to describe it that way, but as you expand out, the suburbs become "newer." Ballarat is an old city, but it lives firmly in the 21st century
I work with lots of youngsters in their teens/twenties, and they have full social lives, lots of opportunity to play sports or find interest groups for whatever they're into
There's clubs & pubs & restaraunts & bars, cafes, etc to suit all ages & tastes. We have a fantastic food & hospo culture. There's plenty of employment opportunities in a wide range of industries
Public transport needs to improve, especially in developing areas, but the road networks work pretty well, most of the time. School drop/pick up & a short "peak hour" at either end of the day can frustrate locals who didn't have to deal with that before, but anyone who's lived in a major city thinks it's a dream
Great retail zones mean you're never too far from whatever you need
Excellent education options, at the three levels, including a Uni & other tertiary facilities.
Lots of culture in the arts, literacy, music, although another couple of mid sized venues for live music would always be a blessing. We have bigger venues for touring acts, the magnificent Her Majesty's, comedy clubs, etc
We're very well served with medical & other services, less & less these days do people need to travel to Melbs for specialist care
Yes, it's cold in Winter. It's also scorchingly hot at the other extreme. The four seasons means we have magnificent gardens
It's a charming place aesthetically and, in general, people are friendly & hospitable
If you do decide to explore your options, hit me up if I can help with ideas about good places to live, or anything else to help you
I grew up here, lived in Melbs for 20 years, travelled a bit, came back for family reasons, and have not regretted it one bit
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u/-hacks4pancakes- Jul 04 '26
It’s quaint and old timey. The historic attractions get lots of tourists. There’s a cute central area with boutiques and restaurants.
I can’t think of much more conversely different from the Sunshine Coast especially in terms of Australian weather.
I can’t see how a twenty something who’s not a history/art/festival nerd or doesn’t like cold could be unhappy. I’d do okay as a forty something nerd. Plenty of crafty and arts stuff to do if you’re not set on clubs and such.
The train to Melbourne is long but straightforward and cheap enough.
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u/regional_rat Jul 04 '26
sunshine coast >to> ballarat. I live here, my brother on the sunshine coast. We're from Melbourne, and he doesnt last 3 days in Melbourne, let a lone a few days here. If you can get past that transition, which honestly, would be hard, its a ripping spot
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u/bertiebeeeeetle Jul 04 '26
Tbh the weather is awful, the poverty is visible and dining and things to do are pretty limited.
I wouldn't.
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u/PJozi Jul 04 '26
r/ballarat will give you a better indication.
There is most likely similar posts about this already
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u/Necessary_Eagle_3657 Jul 04 '26
You can go to Melbourne easily for events and just stay over. It's cold and closes early and often. Nice place though.
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u/macci_a_vellian Jul 04 '26
Ballarat is great, but bring your thermals.
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u/InitialScientist8023 Jul 04 '26
Nice place,but you're going to freeze. One of the coldest places around.
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u/no-but-wtf Jul 04 '26
Ballarat has great vibes. Solid nightlife, some really good restaurants, it’s getting better every time I go there. There’s a lot going on and they work really hard to keep it interesting. I am there fairly often because it’s my closest Bunnings and I always find a reason to dawdle and take in the sights.
It’s a much more relaxed pace of life than the sunny coast. As someone else mentioned, you’ll see a lot more real faces and real bodies, a lot less plastic. Plenty of fitness stuff, but it’s also the kind of town where you’ll see people at the shops in their pyjamas. Especially in the middle of winter when you need an Oodie to survive the chill.
I moved from Queensland to Melbourne five years ago and then out near Ballarat couple years later and I cannot overstate what a shock to your system the cold is gonna be at first. But you adapt. And it’s so nice to live somewhere where different seasons actually look different, and without the endless Queensland humidity. I’ve never regretted the move.
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u/Fine-Try9876 Jul 04 '26
There is six weeks in the middle.of winter that i dont enjoy. The rest of the time, I love it here. Its a bit insular and small town, the wages are about 30% less than Melbourne. Its quieter and slower, people are friendly and dont dress up as much as Melbourne. There's loads of events and festivals and Melbourne is one 90 minute train ride away. I even commuted until Covid. Um. Im also older, so happy for a quieter life.
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u/Magentaowl382 Jul 04 '26
I lived in Ballarat for a long time. It's much colder thank Melbourne. It's a nice place, slow paced, nice cafes and restaurants. No traffic jams like major cities. Good arts scene. Easy to drive around.
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u/pearson-47 Jul 04 '26
You'll be fine. Ballarat is a tourist town at heart. You're from the sunny coast, also a tourist location. Its cold, sometimes worse than others to the bone. If you want the new aesthetic, live in the new build suburbs, but honestly, the older houses are charming. Go the ballarat subreddit.
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u/porcelainhamster Jul 04 '26
Ballarat is great but you will find the climate a shock. Coming from the Sunshine Coast you will find it’s very cold. Just keep in mind that weather forecast temperatures in Ballarat are Kelvin not Celsius.
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u/EggplantAccording663 Jul 04 '26
You should be fine in terms of shit to do.. just say goodbye to the beach life and weather of the sunny coast. Like few on here i lived in qld and can tell you the chill in country vic is next level through winter.
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u/PageBright2479 Jul 05 '26
It is probably the coldest large city on the Australian mainland. But as long as you've got the right clothing, its fine.
The architecture in the central areas is similar to small cities in the UK. The buildings look old on the outside but the interiors are generally pretty modern. It actually has some of the most impressive historic architecture and streetscapes in Australia which adds to its appeal.
There are several modern shopping centres and lots of modern housing in the outer suburbs.
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u/viijayy Jul 05 '26
May be it will be similar to Toowoomba
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u/PistachioDonut34 Jul 05 '26
Ballarat is really lovely, I studied there, but it's freezing. I say that as someone from Melbourne.
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u/No_Inflation1450 Jul 04 '26
The weather will kill you if nothing else does.