Ballarat has some wonderful architecture. Unlike many other gold boom towns, the Ballarat fields experienced sustained high gold yields for many decades, which can be evidenced to this day in the city’s well preserved mid 1850’s public buildings, churches, mansions and family homes. Many of these homes retain glorious gardens and the roses, in particular, are a sight to behold.
Recent infamy has drawn attention to the large concentration of pedophile priests, including the convicted Gerald Risdale, Paul Ryan and Cardinal George Pell. Ballarat founded the Loud Fence movement, where brightly coloured ribbons represent support for victims of child sexual abuse by institutions such as the Catholic Church. Three days after the royal commission findings into child sexual abuse were made public, the Ballarat Catholic Diocese made the decision to cut off the ribbons from St Patrick’s Cathedral. The ribbons went back up and remain to this day. The Loud Fence movement has now spread around the world.
maryannsholidays 
Ballarat looks and sounds wonderful
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