Ballan

With the scenic Werribee River meandering its way through the centre of this picturesque town, Ballan lies situated 80km west of Melbourne just off the Western Freeway. With a small but growing population, Ballan is centrally located. Once a stopover on the goldfields route, Ballan has maintained its historical roots with places of interest including churches, the Mill House, railway station, Mechanics Hall and the Court House. It is an evolving community with many local businesses, community groups, sporting clubs and a lively arts community.

History

A man named Von Steiglitz took up land in the area in 1838 and named the site of the town after Ballan in Ireland and its quaint old stone houses trace back to those early days.  Just out of town, Emily Park homestead is a living link to the squattocracy, while the Ballan Hotel first opened its bar door in 1851. Also in 1851 gold had been found nearby at Dolly's Creek and, for a brief time, the area was covered with enthusiastic gold prospectors.

As the population increased Ballan grew as a service town. Initially there was the "Werribee Hunt", a changing post for Cobb & Co, the Little Blue Store postal facilities and St Johns Anglican Parish to attend to the spiritual needs of the settlers.

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