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G’day Ballarat! Autumn is officially here and it's making a mark already. Ballarat now has its own Monopoly board and I'm keen to check out the streets and places that made the cut. Also we've got a local couple making delicious handcrafted lemonades that are spreading faster than a good rumour.

Lastly, we now have 53 people attending the Dinner Club on Tuesday 31st, and I couldn't be more excited about it. It's going to be great.

– Luciano Devoto
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Ballarat has been turned into its own Monopoly edition, with local landmarks and businesses replacing the usual streets.

Spots like Lake Wendouree, Sovereign Hill and Kryal Castle are on the board, so the game ends up feeling like a tour of the city rather than a generic version with a new name.

The selections were shaped with input from locals and council, which explains why it leans into recognisable places instead of random picks

It’ll be interesting to see what people make of it now that it’s out in the wild.

One of Ballarat’s accommodation spots has just landed silver at the national tourism awards, which puts it right up there with the best in Australia.

Sovereign Park Motor Inn took out second place in the 4 to 4.5 star category at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, following a year of upgrades across guest experience and sustainability.

It’s a pretty solid result for a local operator, especially considering these awards are the top level for tourism businesses in the country.

The Ballarat Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2026 season this Sunday with Journeys Through Space and Time, a family concert built around big, dramatic pieces designed to bring the orchestra to life for younger audiences.

The program pulls from some genuinely memorable works, from Holst's The Planets to The Sorcerer's Apprentice. About 75 minutes, no interval, and under 12s get in free.

Sun 29 March, 2:30pm at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts. Tickets from $15 for students, $35 adults, and $60 for a family of four.

With most of our readers being women, this one felt worth including, so I’m keen to get your thoughts on it.

From July, Victorians aged 18 and over will be able to access the contraceptive pill at around 850 participating pharmacies without a prescription. The consultation with a pharmacist will be free, though patients will still pay for the medication.

The Pharmacy Guild has welcomed the move. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has raised concerns, saying it conflicts with a recent Therapeutic Goods Administration finding that the pill should remain prescription-only.

Fuel prices shifting around can make it hard to know when to stop and fill up. Here are the five cheapest spots around town as of yesterday arvo:

Here’s the cheapest U91 around town:

A Ballarat couple, Eoghan and Kayla began making lemonade at home using a family recipe, and it's grown into a full range of non-alcoholic drinks now stocked in local venues.

Just 4 months ago, Rebellion Drinks Co. started with a simple idea: small-batch lemonade and specialty drinks using real ingredients, no concentrates, no preservatives, and no carbonation. Every bottle is made by hand locally, from mixing through to labelling.

And for every five cases purchased by local outlets, the profit funds a sixth case donated back to the community. Commercial sales driving community impact, built right into how they operate. Congrats guys!

Ballarat Life is 100% free, independently owned and operated. We research and curate interesting local stories and list over 100 events in our calendar every week to keep you connected to what's happening in your city. Your contributions go toward keeping it going so we can have more fun and build more community. I appreciate any and all support, my friends! - Luciano

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Until next Thursday!

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