Archives Archives

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade- Victorian Chapter organised an official trip/tour to Ballarat from Tuesday (16th June 2015) till Wednesday (17th June 2015) for members of the Victorian Consular Corps. The Dean of the Consular Corps (Dr Rameez) and the Ambassador of Ethiopia joined in the trip that lasted for 2 days.

 

Ballarat - Background

 

Steeped in history, Ballarat is Victoria’s largest inland city, founded on the wealth of the famous Victorian gold rush, a legacy that continues today in Ballarat’s grand architecture and streetscapes.

Located 110 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, Ballarat is a major manufacturing, health, retail and education centre, and the principal service centre for the eastern part of the Grampians Region.

Ballarat represents both historic and contemporary regional Victoria. The city contains a mix of established residential and greenfield areas, with a number of historic streets and houses in the central part of the city.

Ballarat has a traditional background in manufacturing which remains an important industry including the manufacture of transport equipment, sugar and confectionary and the processing of food and vegetables. However, a number of other industries including health care, retail, education, financial services and construction are also strong contributors to the city’s output and employ a growing number of residents.

Strategic local partnerships with the growing information technology sector and tertiary institutions are contributing to the increasing importance of Ballarat as a knowledge centre. Tourism is also important as an industry, thanks to the city’s gold rush history.

 

The travel itinerary:-

 

1. Site Visit: Gekko Systems

321 Learmonth Rd. Ballarat VIC 3350 Australia

 

Gekko Systems specialises in the design, development and distribution of innovative mineral processing equipment and systems. Gekko's mission is to achieve successful installations and step-change benefits for its customers through technical leadership, strong service delivery and efficient modular plant design and build.

 

2. Site Visit: Ballarat Wildlife Park,

Corner of York & Fussell Streets, Ballarat East

 

Greg Parker established Ballarat Wildlife Park on a 16 acre site in Ballarat East in 1985. The park specialises in native Australian animals and exotic reptiles and is popular with both domestic and international tourists.

 

3. Site Visit: City of Ballarat Town Hall,

Council Chamber, Ballarat Town Hall

 

Ballarat is one of Australia’s fastest growing regional centres, with population growth nearing two per cent and a projected population of more than 128,000 by 2026. Ballarat is in a key strategic position at the centre of some of Victoria's most important freight, tourist and commuter transport routes.

 

4. Site visit and briefing: Sovereign Hill 

Australia’s foremost outdoor museum, Sovereign Hill recreates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of international adventurers rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of fortune. A Reception was also held at Charlie Napier Hotel, Sovereign Hill to introduce the Consular Corps to key business, government and civic representatives from Ballarat and the surrounding region. 

The Consular Corps were treated to a live performance; the story of the Eureka Rebellion retold nightly by ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’, Sovereign Hill’s acclaimed sound-and-light spectacular.

 

5. Site visit: Hakubaku Australia,

7 Waringa Drive, Mitchell Park

 

Hakubaku Organic Noodles relocated to Ballarat from Japan in 1996 after searching the world for the best flour in the world to manufacture high quality Japanese Udon noodles. The company supplies the domestic and international markets.

 

6. Site visit: Albins Off Road Gear,

Albins Performance Transmissions, 24 Wiltshire Lane, Delacombe

 

Albins Performance Transmissions boasts over 30 years international experience as an Australian market-leader and exporter of extreme duty motorsport products using in events such as the Dakar Rally, Baja 1000, Australian V8 Supercars, European and Australasian Rally Championships.

 

7. Site visit: Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E)

102 Stawell Street South, Ballarat

 

Located on the site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E) explores the story of Eureka as a significant part of the struggle for peoples’ rights in Australia and around the world. Combining contemporary technology with historic objects, the role of the people as the centre of democracy is explored.