"Mini Profile Series No. 18 - Rails Around Ballarat - Building & Infrastructure"
By Steve McNicol
Paperback cover 28 pages colour & black/white photos
INTRODUCTION
The history of the Victorian Regional City of Ballarat goes back to 1837 when the first European settlers arrived in the area. By 1838 the first hut was erected, but it wasn't until 1851, after the discovery of gold, that the population in the area significantly rose. By that time the settlement had taken on the name of Ballaarat. The present spelling of Ballarat, although commonly used much earlier, wasn't officially adopted until 1996.