Ballarat Public Art Walk - Lake Wendouree

Ballarat Public Art Walk - Lake Wendouree created by City of Ballarat

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Summary

The City of Ballarat has the largest collection of outdoor artworks in regional Australia. We have highlighted just a few of the public artworks that can be found around Lake Wendouree.

Description

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This walk highlights some of the public artworks you can find in Botanical Garden's and along the walking track that circles Lake Wendouree.
Works that highlight important moments in Ballarat's history and recognise the contributions of its residents.

The walk begins at Murrup Laar inthe North Gardens Indigenous Sculpture Park, past the Adam Lindsay Cottage and through the Botanic Gardens home to the Prime Minister's Avenue, a collection of bronze representation of all Australia's Prime Ministers.

Next on the trail is the Australian Ex Prisoners War Memorial at the end of the gardens from where you cross the road to the lake and arrive at the Olympic Precinct where the rowing and canoeing events were held in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Further along is the Rustic Fountain, restored in 2015, it was built to commemorate the first water supply in Ballarat. The walk ends at the Ned Williams Monument, a drinking fountain that was built by Ned's friends in 1901 celebrating his enthusiasm for rowing.

You can Download the Lake Wendouree Walk here or Collect from the Ballarat Visitor Centre in the Ballarat Town Hall.

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Points of Interest

1. Murrup Laar 'Ancestral Stones' by Deanne Gilson (Wadawurrung )

A traditionally built stone hut in the middle of a circle of basalt standing stones, marked with ceramic plates reflecting the stories and symbols of dreaming, memory, men and women’s business.

2. Adam Lindsay Cottage

Adam Lindsay Gordon was a British-Australian poet, horseman, police officer and politician. He was the first Australian poet to gain considerable recognition overseas.

3. Ballarat Botanic Gardens

Home to a remarkable collection of mature trees and a large number of public artworks including the Prime Minister's Ave, a collection of bronze portraits & the Stoddart collection.

4. Australian Ex Prisoners War Memorial

This memorial to Australian Prisoners of War is dedicated to more than 36,000 Australian men and women were held captive as prisoners by the enemy during the Boer War, WW1, WW 2 and the Korean War.

5. Olympic Precinct

The Olympic Precinct was developed to commemorate Ballarat's involvement in Melbourne's 1956 Olympics. The rowing and canoeing events took place at Ballarat's Lake Wendouree.

6. Ballarat Paralympic Sports Avenue

The Ballarat Paralympic Sports Avenue is believed to be the first memorial to honour Paralympians in regional Australia. The design embodies The Paralympic motto of “spirit in motion”.

7. Rustic Fountain (1879)

The Rustic Fountain was built to commemorate the first water supply to Ballarat. This organic, volcanic stone structure is similar to ones which were erected in the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne.

8. Ned Williams Monument (1901)

The Edward King (Ned) Williams monument, originally a drinking fountain in memory of the avid rowing enthusiast and community member. It was restored to create a new urn top piece in 2020.