Ballan
Small rural centre on the Werribee River north of Melbourne
Ballan is a small rural centre located 78 km north west of Melbourne on the Western highway.

A man named Von Steiglitz took up land in the area in 1838 and named the site of the town after Ballan in Ireland. By 1851 gold had been found nearby at Dolly's Creek and, for a brief time, the area was covered with enthusiastic gold prospectors.

The town has some small reputation for its mineral springs although, obviously, it has not enjoyed the same high profile as places like Hepburn Springs and Daylesford which lie just to the north.

Ballan has not fared very well in literature. In his autobiography 'The Road to Gundagai', Graham Innes wrote of the town in the 1920s: 'Ballan itself was ungracious and unlovely. There were two streets: one was the main Melbourne to Ballarat highway and the other ran at right angles up to the railway station. The prevailing impression was of openness, dissonance and a ramshackle unplanned confusion as if the town had been thrown down in a hurry.'

Things to see:  

Oldest House in Town
The old house next to the Ballan Hotel is probably the oldest standing house in the town. It dates from around 1850.

Caledonian Park
Located on the eastern edge of the town the Caledonian Park is a pleasant place to stop. The visitor can go for a swim or have a picnic.

Brisbane Ranges National Park
The Boar Gully bush camp is a pleasant woodland area which is a good base for bushwalking. There are several campsites, toilets, a picnic area and a water supply. To get there head south on the Anakie Road. 18 km from Ballan is Mt Wallace. Turn left here onto the Bacchus Marsh Road and follow it east for 6 km until you see the signposted turnoff on the right which leads to the camping area. If you wish to camp in the park it is necessary to contact the Anakie office first, tel: (03) 5284 1230. For further information on the park see the entry on Anakie or contact Parks Victoria on 131 963.

	Hotels
	Ballan Hotel 139 Inglis St Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 1204
	Commercial Hotel Inglis St Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 2032
	Hudsons Hotel Inglis St Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 1105
	Caravan Parks
	Ballan Caledonion Caravan Park Jopling St Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 1462 Rating: **
	Life's Crossroad Resort Daylesford Rd Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 1666 Facsimile: (03) 5368 1994 Rating: **1/2
	Restaurants
	La Porchetta Pizza Restaurant Lot 1 Western Hwy Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 1054
	Cafés
	Ballan Central Cafe 131 Inglis St Ballan VIC 3342 Telephone: (03) 5368 1370