Ballarat

Ballarat is the Williamsburg of Australia. It was a small town that boomed to 10,000 in a few months once gold was discovered in 1851. The Boer war resulted in a great loss of man power and the mines filled up with water and the town was abandoned.   Today it has been restored and demonstrations go on showing how candles were made, carriage wheels were lathed, gold was made into ingots, etc.  Chris' mom and dad took me and we had a great time noting we were all born in the same year.  We took a wagon ride and went through an under ground mine where a huge gold nugget was found. Visited their charming log home before returning.