Ballarat
On the Yarrawee River in the southwestern portion of Australia's Great Dividing Range, Ballarat is a small city of 85,000 persons approximately 65 miles northwest of Melbourne. The third-largest city in the state of Victoria, Ballarat owes its origins to one of Australia's most manic gold rushes (in 1851, in which more than 20,000 hopefuls moved to the then town in a matter of months). Gold was found for several decades by the lucky, after which Ballarat did not become a ghost town but continued to thrive as a regional business hub. Known for its Victorian architecture, today it still attracts newcomers, many working in its growing renewable energy businesses, which supplement Ballarat MICE venues with local custom. There is no commercial airport in Ballarat, so groups would fly to Melbourne Airport (MEL), which is also known as Tullamarine. Approximately 70 miles southeast of Ballarat, the airport has both flights all around Australia and also to Europe Asia, Middle East and to Los Angeles on two carriers, United and Qantas. MICE venues include the Ballarat Lodge & Convention Centre, which does an admirable job at looking after larger meetin…