Ballarat - Eureka Trail Walk

The Eureka Trail is a 3.5km one-way historical walk through central and eastern Ballarat, following as closely as possible the route taken by police and soldiers on their way to the Eureka Stockade in the early hours of 3 December 1854.

The walk begins near the former Police Camp at the intersection of Lydiard Street and Sturt Street. It passes through Ballarat’s historic city centre, follows sections of the Yarrowee River and continues through old residential and gold-mining areas before finishing at the Eureka Centre and Eureka Stockade Memorial Park in Eureka.

Historical maps and records were used to recreate the route. Interpretive signs along the trail describe significant places and events connected with the Eureka uprising. Along the way, walkers can see grand nineteenth-century buildings, surviving miners’ cottages, sections of the Yarrowee River and remnants of Ballarat’s gold-mining landscape.

The walk finishes at the site traditionally associated with the Eureka Stockade, where visitors can explore the memorial park and monuments. The Eureka Centre is located beside the park, although admission charges apply to enter the museum.

The trail is mostly through developed urban areas and includes paved paths, shared trails, footpaths and road crossings. It is a one-way walk, so walkers need to return along the same route, arrange transport from the Eureka Centre or use local public transport.

Distance: 3.5km one way or 7km return.
Time: Allow approximately 1–1.5 hours one way.
Grade: Easy.
Start: Near the intersection of Lydiard Street and Sturt Street, Ballarat Central.
Finish: Eureka Centre and Eureka Stockade Memorial Park, 102 Stawell Street South, Eureka.

The Eureka Trail forms part of the much longer 44km Eureka Track between Creswick and Mount Buninyong.