Ballan

History

The Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nations are the traditional owners of the land that is today's Ballan. In April 1838, (18161876) took up a pastoral run situated on the Werribee River's right riverbank. He named it Ballan. His brother John Lewis von Stieglitz (18091868) occupied the adjoining run, Ballanee. The two von Stieglitz brothers were some of the first European settlers in the Port Phillip District. The township of Ballan was surveyed in 1850 and named after von Stieglitz's run. Gold was found in the area in 1851, which brought an influx of prospectors during the Victorian Gold Rush. The Ballan Hotel dates from the gold rush period in 1851. The town became an important staging point for coaches travelling to the Ballarat goldfields. The post office in the township opened around September 1853, although two earlier offices in the area were named Ballan. Ballan Primary School was established on 8 January 1855. The first Mechanics' Institute in Ballan was built in 1861, with the current Mechanics' Institute built on land purchased in 1881, although the façade was demolished and rebuilt in 1922. The building houses the library for the town and a hall. St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Ballan was officially opened in July 1866. On 15 November 2003, a Sprinter train travelling to Ballarat was derailed between Ballan and Gordon, injuring 61 people when it hit a stationary vehicle on a country railway crossing.

Most-observed species

• wombat bush-pea

  Pultenaea reflexifolia (J.H.Willis) de Kok · Magnoliopsida
  3,526
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,795
• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  1,617
• Crimson Rosella

  Platycercus elegans (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  1,547
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

  Cacatua galerita (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  1,508
• Red Wattlebird

  Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw, 1790) · Aves
  1,312
• New Holland Honeyeater

  Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  1,208
• Little Raven

  Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 · Aves
  1,207

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2023-05-28
  5 km W of Mickleham, Australia
• M 3.1 — 2013-05-01
  7 km NW of Clifton Springs, Australia
• M 3 — 2010-03-30
  4 km NNE of Portarlington, Australia
• M 2.8 — 2003-02-02
  9 km N of Trentham, Australia
• M 2.7 — 2001-12-31
  10 km SW of Kilmore, Australia