Thought you knew all the famous people from Ballarat? Think again.
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We have compiled a list of some of Ballarat’s most famous exports over the last couple of centuries, listed in alphabetical order.
Ranging from the obvious sporting heroes in Tony Lockett and Steve Moneghetti, to the political types of Steve Bracks and John Curtin, Ballarat certainly has a lot to be proud of.
Now, it must be noted that this list is sourced from the Wikipedia page ‘List of people from Ballarat’ (cue the horrified gasp of horror from teachers and academics), but nevertheless we felt it gave a solid cross-section of Ballarat’s history.
It is far from definitive – there are certain to be some names that you feel should be included.
So, have your say below. Who have we missed out on?
The top answers will help us formulate a follow-up story about who deserves to be on the page.
Happy scrolling and continue to the bottom to post your comment.
Reginald Ansett (13 February 1909 – 23 December 1981)
Businessman and founder of Ansett Airways.
Reginald Ansett was born in Inglewood but his business life took off in Ballarat. In the 1930s he began a service car operation between Ballarat and Maryborough, carrying passengers and small items of freight.
When this proved uneconomic, he switched the Ansett Motors operation to a Ballarat to Hamilton service, which soon blossomed into Ansett Airways.
Henry Bailey (9 September 1876 – 26 July 1962)
Henry Bailey was the Victorian Minister of Lands and Water Supply from 1924-1932.
He was born and educated in Ballarat, attending St Patrick’s College.
Peter Blackburn
Peter Blackburn is most famous for his athletic exploits as a dual Olympian and four times Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in Badminton.
Still lives in Ballarat today and is an active member of the community.
Geoffrey Blainey (11 March 1930 – present)
Geoffrey Blainey, one of Australia's most eminent historians, was appointed the foundation Chancellor of the University of Ballarat (UB) in 1993 after an illustrious career at the University of Melbourne.
The Geoffrey Blainey Auditorium at Federation University is named in his honour.
Sir Henry Bolte (20 May 1908 – 4 January 1990)
The 38th and longest serving Premier of Victoria.
Henry Bolte was born in Ballarat, but lived in Skipton until he was 24. Attended Skipton Primary School and boarded at Ballarat Grammar.
Ray Borner (27 May 1962 – present)
Ray Borner is arguably Ballarat’s greatest ever basketballer.
An Australian Boomers basketball player and four-time Olympian, he was inducted into Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was awarded the Order of Australia medal on Australia Day in 2009.
Can still be seen shooting hoops at the Minderdome today.
Steve Bracks (15 October 1954 – present)
The 44th Premier of Victoria
Bracks was educated in Ballarat at St Patrick's College and the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (now the Federation University), where he graduated in business studies and education.
John Button (30 June 1933 – 8 April 2008)
Born in Ballarat, John Norman Button was an Australian politician, who served as a senior minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor governments.
Raffaello Carboni (1817-1875)
Raffaello Carboni was an Italian migrant who arrived on the Ballarat goldfields in 1853.
His book, The Eureka Stockade, was the only complete first-hand description and analysis of the causes of the attack on the Eureka Stockade
Sir Albert Ernest Coates (1895–1977)
Sir Albert Ernest Coates(1895–1977) was an Australian surgeon and soldier. He served as a medical orderly in World War I serving on Gallipoli and as a senior surgeon for the Australian Army Medical Corps in World War II in Malaya.
He was born in Mt Pleasant and still has the annual Albert Coates Oration named in his honour.
John Curtin
The 14th Prime Minister of Australia from 1941 to 1945 and the Leader of the Labor Party from 1935 to 1945.
Was born in Creswick in 1885 and is renowned as one of the town’s finest exports.
Henry Daglish (18 November 1866 – 16 August 1920)
Henry Daglish the sixth Premier of Western Australia and the state's first Labor Premier.
He was born in Ballarat on 18 November 1866.
Jacqueline Dark
Jacqueline Lisa Dark (also Jacqueline Moran) is an Australian operatic mezzo-soprano.
She was born in Ballarat and attended the University of Ballarat from 1986 to 1988, receiving a Bachelor of Science (Physics) and a Graduate Diploma of Education in 1989.
Kimberley Davies
Kimberley Davies is famous for playing Annalise Hartman on the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1993 to 1996
She lived in Napoleons between the ages of two and 14 years, and attended Ross Creek Primary School and Ballarat Clarendon College.
Bob Davis (12 June 1928 – 16 May 2011)
Played with the Geelong Football Club in the VFL from 1948 to 1958.
Born in Golden Point and played junior football for Clunes, Davis became most well-known for his post-football media career.
Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919)
Alfred Deakin was the inaugural Federal Member of Parliament for Ballarat and second Prime Minister of Australia.
Roger Donaldson (15 November 1945 – present)
Roger Donaldson is an Australian-born New Zealand film director, producer and writer whose films include acclaimed 1981 relationship drama Smash Palace and a run of titles shot in theUnited States, including Kevin Costner starrers No Way Out and Thirteen Days, and 1997 disaster movie Dante's Peak.
Harold Edward “Pompey” Elliott (19 June 1878 – 23 March 1931)
“Pompey” Elliott was a senior officer in the Australian Army during the First World War. Elliot also served as a Senator in the Australian parliament.
He was born in Charlton but was educated at Ballarat Clarendon College where one of the school houses, "Elliott", is now named after him.
Had a statue erected in Sturt Street in 2011.
Warren Ellis (1965 – present)
Warren Ellis is a musician and composer. He is a member of several groups: Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He has also composed film scores with Nick Cave.
He was born in Ballarat in 1965.
Frank Fenner (21 December 1914 – 22 November 2010)
Professor Frank Fenner was an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology. His two greatest achievements are cited as overseeing the eradication of smallpox, and the control of Australia's rabbit plague through the introduction of Myxoma virus.
He was born in Ballarat in 1914 but his family moved to Adelaide in 1916.
David Fleay (6 January 1907 – 7 August 1993)
David Fleay was an Australian naturalist who pioneered the captive breeding of endangered species, and was the first person to breed the platypus in captivity.
He was born in Ballarat and was a student and, briefly, a teacher at Ballarat Grammar.
Duncan Gillies (January 1834 – 12 September 1903)
Duncan Gillies was and Australian colonial politician and was the 14th Premier of Victoria.
A Scotsman, he travelled to Australia in 1852 and elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Ballarat West in 1861, holding this seat until 1868.
David Hirschfelder (18 November 1960 – present)
David Hirschfelder is an Australian musician, film score composer and performer. As a musician he has been a member of Little River Band and John Farnham Band.
He was born in Ballarat in 1960.
David Hobson (18 November 1960 – present)
David Hobson is an Australian opera singer and composer.
He was born in Ballarat in 1960 and has been one of Australia’s best opear sinegrs for almost 30 years.
Thomas Hollway (2 October 1906 – 30 July 1971)
Thomas Tuke "Tom" Hollway was the 36th Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1947 to 1950, and again for a short period in 1952.
He was born in Ballarat, the son of local merchant of the same name who would go on to become mayor of Ballarat, and Annie Nicholl. He was educated locally, at the Macarthur Street School and Church of England Grammar School.
Craig Revel Horwood (4 January 1965 – present)
Craig Revel Horwood Australian-British dancer, choreographer and theatre director in the United Kingdom.
He was born in Ballarat.
Peter Lalor (5 February 1827 – 8 February 1889)
Needs no introduction to almost any Ballarat person.
Peter lalor an activist turned politician who rose to fame for his leading role in the Eureka Stockade, an event controversially identified with the "birth of democracy" in Australia. He is famous for being the only outlaw to make it to parliament.
Ash Lieb (August 22, 1982 – present)
Ash Lieb is an artist, writer and comedian, known for his absurd surreal humour and art.
He was born in Ballarat in 1982 and went to Damascus College and University of Ballarat.
Frank Little (30 November 1925 – 7 April 2008)
Frank Little was the sixth Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne. He was appointed by Pope Paul VI on 1 July 1974 and retired in 1996; succeeded by George Pell.
He completed his secondary education as a boarder at St Patrick's College, Ballarat.
Tony Lockett (9 March 1966 – present)
Tony “Plugger” Lockett certainly doesn’t need an introduction.
Lockett is the highest goal scorer in the history of the VFL/AFL with 1,360 goals in a career of 281 games, starting in 1983 with the St Kilda Football Club and ending in 2002 with the Sydney Swans.
Lockett won the coveted Brownlow Medal in 1987, becoming the first and only full forward to ever win the award.
Last year he was inducted as a ‘legend’ into the AFL Hall of Fame.
He studied at Wendouree Technical School.
Michael Malthouse (17 August 1953 – present)
Despite a solid VFL career, Mick Malthouse is best known for his long coaching career at four clubs.
Coached a record 718 VFL/AFL games – the longest record in the game’s history.
Was born and raised in Wendouree West.
Russell Mark (born 25 February 1964 – present)
Russell Mark is one of Ballarat’s most successful Olympians, winning a gold medal for trap shooting in 1996 and a silver in 200.
He was educated in Ballarat, Victoria at the Brown Hill Primary School (1969 - 1974) and Ballarat East High School (1975 - 1981).
In 2001, Mark was pre-selected as the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Ballarat.
Sir Douglas Menzies (7 September 1907 – 29 November 1974)
Sir Douglas Ian Menzies was an Australian judge, serving as a Justice of the High Court of Australia. He was also Chancellor of Monash University from 1968 until his death in 1974.
He was born in Ballarat.
Sir Robert Menzies (20 December 1894 – 15 May 1978)
Sir Robert Menzies was Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister to date, at over eighteen years total, his second term of sixteen years being the longest continuous term ever served.
Originally from the western districts of Victoria, his formal education began at Humffray Street State School in Bakery Hill, Ballarat before going to Grenville College.
Steve Moneghetti (26 September 1962 – present)
Mona lives and breathes Ballarat to this very day.
The famed marathon runner is best known for his 1994 Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Can still be spotted around Lake Wendouree almost every day.
Leslie Morshead (18 September 1889 – 26 September 1959)
Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead was an Australian soldier, teacher, businessman, and farmer, whose military career spanned both world wars.
He attended Mount Pleasant High School, where he was appointed a junior teacher in 1906.
Hilda Rix Nicholas (1 September 1884 – 3 August 1961)
Hilda Rix Nicholas (née Rix, later Hilda Rix Wright) was an Australian artist.
Cardinal George Pell (8 June 1941 – present)
Cardinal George Pell has been in the spotlight of the entire world this year, due to his position as Cardinal at The Vatican and his involvement in the hearings at the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse.
Was born in Ballarat and attended St Patrick’s College.
Drew Petrie (15 October 1982 – present)
Has played 293 AFL games for North Melbourne and could break the magical 300-game milestone this year.
Was born in Ballarat and played for Ballarat Swans and North Ballarat Rebels as a junior.
Rosina Raisbeck (28 July 1916 – 23 December 2006)
Phyllis Rosina Raisbeck, MBE, was an Australian opera and concert mezzo-soprano singer. Her fine voice was basically a dramatic mezzo, with a warm middle register supporting strong top notes.
She was born in Ballarat but grew up in Maitland and Newcastle, New South Wales
James Scullin (18 September 1876 – 28 January 1953)
James Scullin was an Australian Labor Party politician and the ninth Prime Minister of Australia from 1930-1931.
He was born in Trawalla in 1876 before moving to Mt Rowan in 1887.
Henry Sutton (1855-1912)
Sutton studied and then lectured at the Ballarat School of Mines and was credited with a number of inventions, included what is believed to be the first front wheel drive vehicle in the world.
Hugh D.T. Williamson (1901-1985)
Hugh Williamson was an Australian banking executive and philanthropist.
Post-retirement he applied the profits from his extensive investments to support his community interests, which included the Salvation Army and the trust of the Victorian Arts Centre. Through Williamson's will, the Hugh Williamson Foundation was established in 1986, and distributes more than A$1M per year.
He was born in Ballarat.