However, Weatherzone meteorologist Ben McBurney said Sunday’s 29 degrees would be much cooler than the 38 degrees expected towards the end of the week.

“Ballarat will have some of the hottest days since last summer coming on Friday and Saturday,” he said. 

At Eureka Swimming Pool on Sunday, board shorts out-numbered budgie smugglers as 400 people enjoyed a splash. 

Barry and Sarah Brennan took their two children Rex, 6, and Todd, 4, along for the day.

“It gets them out of the house, I suppose,” Mr Brennan said. 

“It’s great to see so many kids out and about doing physical exercise as opposed to being inside playing video games.”

Young Todd said he liked coming down to the pool to jump into the water, moments before bombing into the children’s pool.

Nathan Oldaker, from Tasmania, was visiting relatives in Ballarat and brought his nephews along to the pool for the day.

“It’s a great day for a swim,” he said.