Best Arts and Culture Places in Hepburn Springs

"In store at the oldest regional art museum in the country is a complete survey of Australian fine art. Every period is accounted for, from colonial to contemporary: Starting in the late 19th century, there are works by Jane Sutherland, Louis Buvelot, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Rupert Bunny and Walter Withers. And just some of the major 20th-century artists represented at the Art Gallery of Ballarat are Sidney Nolan, Fred Williams, Arthur Boyd and William Dobel."

"A place to find the odd, the amusing and the interesting,” The Lost Ones is a contemporary art gallery which prides itself on salvaging lost arts and crafts and championing forgotten voices. Located in a Masonic temple, which dates back to the early 1870s, The Lost Ones is a place for exhibitions, performances, art classes and workshops that hope to pass on endangered art skills and techniques, such as lace making, making dyes from plants, bookbinding and more."

"Hidden under an art gallery in an old Masonic Temple, the Lost Ones Basement Bar is hard to find, and equally hard to leave. Here, classic elegance meets mysterious, eclectic charm...if you can find it!. The bar has an extensive wine, beer, spirits and cocktail menu, as well as light meals."

"As a part of the University of Ballarat Arts Academy, the Post Office Gallery is an educational resource that showcases artwork from the students and staff of FedUni’s Arts Academy, as well as local and emerging Australian artists. Dating back to 1909, the collection includes paintings, graphics, contemporary prints, ceramics and sculptures. These recommendations were updated on September 16, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh."

"It is located in the cultural district of Ballarat, and gives off a unique vibe. If you want to learn more about the art and culture of Ballarat, just head over to the Post Office Gallery as it is filled with some of the finest pieces that are hung up on its walls. There are also a lot of exhibitions that are always going on in the gallery."

"Gallery on Sturt is a retail art gallery featuring the work of local and regional artists, as well as original and limited edition artwork from distinguished Australian and European artists. Exhibitions rotate on a monthly basis, and the gallery includes 2D and 3D work. Sturt also provides custom framing and fine-art printing services, all of which is done on-site."

"Located 4km (2.5 miles) from the centre of Ballarat, on the western shores of Lake Wendouree, the Ballarat Botanical Gardens covers 40 hectares (99 acres) and is one of Australia’s most remarkable cool climate gardens. Opened in 1857, the gardens are more than 150 years old and feature mature trees, a modern conservatory, a heritage statuary pavilion and the Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial. Divided into three zones, the gardens include a Victorian pleasure garden and the Prime Ministers Avenue, which features bronze busts of every PM since the Federation."

"From the lake, pebbled paths lead to the historic Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The gardens were planted in the 1860s, and on your visit, you can soak up the beauty of the grand floral displays, heritage oak trees, Italian marble statues and the iconic Prime Ministers Avenue. There are free guided tours departing from the Conservatory, and a nursery on-site where you can purchase plants to take home."

"Ballarat’s Botanical Gardens are one of Australia’s most significant cool climate gardens. Located about four kilometres from the centre of town on the shore of Lake Wendouree, they cover 40 hectares and are a popular heritage and recreation destination for residents and visitors. The Gardens are open all day, all year, and until 9pm from October to April, and are free to enter."

"The large body of water on Ballarat’s west shoulder has been around since the 1850s when a patch of swamp was dammed to create a source of drinking water for the nascent town. Spreading over 238 acres and mostly shallow, the lake was adapted for water sports down the years, and hosted the rowing and canoeing events for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The islands and reedbeds are an important habitat for waterbirds, and 166 different species have been recorded here, so don’t be surprised to pass a bird-watcher or two."

"Just like Sovereign Hill, Lake Wendouree has a little bit of history to its name. It originally started as a stream that grew into a swamp and not before long, a lake. Lake Wendouree was first opened to the public in 1864 for recreational purposes and is an artificially created urban lake that is located in the heart of Ballarat."