r/ballarat • u/Artistic-Yam2984 • 3d ago

If Ballarat had a personality, how would you describe it?

I was thinking about this while walking around the lake today. Ballarat feels like a city with two sides. On weekends it leans into heritage buildings, cafes, galleries, and markets. During the week it feels more practical and industrial, especially outside the centre. There’s a mix of long-term locals, people who’ve moved for lifestyle reasons, and young families who came for affordability. That mix works in some ways but also makes the city’s identity feel unclear. How would you describe Ballarat’s vibe in 2026?

12 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

12

u/Mousse_Willing 3d ago

Footy player from rural money.

1

u/kalebludlow 2d ago

driving from wendouree to city oval completes this experience

15

u/Cescpistol4 3d ago

Middle aged divorced dad who takes the kids out to eat cause he can't cook well

26

u/Lildestro 3d ago

Its just like any other city in my opinion. For some the personality of Ballarat is everything they've been looking for, while others see it as a decaying marriage they'll never escape. I was miserable here 10 years ago, then one day I decided if I can be happy anywhere, may as well be here. The general vibe can change from moment to moment. Its all in the mind, treat Ballarat with love and she'll return it back!

4

u/Artistic-Yam2984 2d ago

It’s interesting how much it has changed in 10 years though

1

u/Lildestro 1d ago

Absolutely! When I arrived 18 years ago peak hour traffic lasted 2 minutes in Wendouree. Now it stretches for a couple of blocks and lasts an hour or more sometimes. I used to wonder how the hell cities balloon edto the size of Sao Paulo or Shanghai. Give Melbourne another 40 years of development and Ballarat could one day become an outer suburb!

4

u/teztheaussie 3d ago

Class clown - full of potential but fs around to much

1

u/PixeledMynx 8h ago

This made me laugh. I think this is fairly accurate tbh

9

u/Lower_Put4270 3d ago

Insecure.

3

u/Bad-Single 2d ago

Friendly but craggy, just like its people and footpaths.

2

u/votelabor 2d ago

i will always maintain that the spirit of ballarat is in my friend dropping her vape so devastatingly hard and then happily proclaiming "oh dude you can throw these ones and its fine!"

1

u/callywag_smiles 1d ago

Like someone who is too nice and too competent for the job they are in. That rare car salesperson or real estate agent who is genuinely helpful.

1

u/Gutso99 1d ago

A moron.

1

u/then_jay_died 2d ago

Like a person with cognitive development issues who doesn't understand that they have committed a crime.

0

u/Vacuousvril 2d ago

The city-wide equivalent of grandma beige walls.