Introducing our municipalities
City of Ballarat
Population: Approx 116,000
Area: 739 square kilometres
Ballarat is a regional city that prides itself on its liveability. Located 90 minutes' drive from Melbourne, Ballarat is home to some of Australia's most renowned educational institutions, a high-quality healthcare system, a robust manufacturing industry and job opportunities across a multitude of sectors. Combine this with its thriving arts and culture scene, fine food and wine, and acclaimed festivals and attractions, and residents have a solid foundation to build their life anew. With a history steeped in rich indigenous culture and a bold claim to gold rush fame, Ballarat is truly built on gold. Residents can launch their career, raise a family, escape the hustle and bustle, build community and discover their newfound passion all in one place. Towns include Buninyong, Learmonth, Waubra and Addington.
Central Goldfields Shire
Population: Approx 13,000
Area: 1532 square kilometres
Located at the geographical centre of Victoria, the Central Goldfields Shire is within one hour’s drive of the regional centres of Ballarat and Bendigo and just two hours from Melbourne. Maryborough is the major business centre with a population of around 8,000. Other towns include Bealiba, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Majorca, Talbot, Bowenvale-Timor, Daisy Hill – all of which feature iconic heritage architecture. Agricultural industries are spread across the municipality and include grain, sheep grazing and broiler farming. The municipality is also home to major manufacturing, infrastructure, agricultural, freight, printing and food production companies. Residents have access to affordable housing and a wide variety of health services, schools and recreational facilities.
Golden Plains Shire
Population: Approx 20,000
Area: 2705 square kilometres
Situated between Geelong and Ballarat and within a stones’ throw from Melbourne, the Golden Plains Shire is vibrant and beautiful and is populated with passionate residents and progressive businesses. Its sweeping landscapes, award-winning businesses and rugged bush landscapes combine with historic townships and growing communities to make for a wonderful place to live or visit. Rich in gold mining history and character, the small towns and communities throughout the shire provide for a rural lifestyle. These towns include Smythesdale, Dereel, Napoleons, Teesdale and Bannockburn. While the shire has a strong tradition of wool and grain growing, intensive animal farming (particularly poultry and pigs) is becoming increasingly common. Growth in the home-based business sector provides healthy employment opportunities and is the largest employer in the shire. Gourmet food producers and winemakers also call the area home.
Hepburn Shire
Population: Approx 16,500
Area: 1473 square kilometres
Hepburn Shire is located close to Melbourne in Central Victoria and includes the towns of Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford, Hepburn Springs and Trentham. It is renowned for its native forests, mineral springs reserves and waterways, botanical gardens, volcanic plains with rich soils, gold, and many spectacular heritage buildings. The shire is a popular tourist destination that has a reputation for indulgence and relaxation, festivals and outdoor recreational activities. It has a vibrant and diverse welcoming community that is well serviced by schools and childcare, recreation facilities, libraries, hospitals and shopping precincts. Agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and construction contribute about half the shire’s economic output. Construction contributes the most of any sector, while the health care and social assistance industry employs the most people.
Moorabool Shire
Population: Approx 16,000
Area: 2110 square kilometres
Moorabool Shire is a fast-growing semi-rural municipality nestled between Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. It is picturesque and friendly with the vibrancy of an active, growing community. Moorabool Shire provides a welcome change of pace to the hustle and bustle of the city and is just 45 kilometres away from Melbourne. It strikes the perfect balance between enchanting terrain and a vibrant community. This thriving agricultural region is abundant with a diverse range of produce. It is home to 64 localities and towns including Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Gordon and Blackwood. Moorabool Shire is one of the fastest growing areas in Victoria. There is a rising number of enterprises and services such as retail, manufacturing, health, community services, education, property and a growing arts and culture corridor.
Pyrenees Shire
Population: Approx 7,000
Area: 3500 square kilometres
Sharing its name with the famous French mountain range, the Pyrenees region is just 30 minutes west of Ballarat and just under two hours from Melbourne. The shire’s towns are located at the foothills of the Pyrenees State Forest and Mt Cole State Park surrounded by picturesque mountains and grazing country. These towns include Avoca, Beaufort, Waubra, Moonambel, Landsborough, Snake Valley, Lexton and Amphitheatre. It is a region full of tranquil and inspiring natural attractions including the Mount Buangor National Park, Pyrenees State Forest, Mount Cole State Park and St Arnaud National Park.
The region’s relaxed and safe lifestyle, and employment opportunities, are a major drawcard for residents. The shire has a diverse economy with key sectors including sheep, grains, beef cattle and wine. Other industries include a range of community services, retail, manufacturing, transport and construction. Various private and public infrastructure projects are underway in the region including wind farms, road and rail projects that are creating new investment potential.
