A crowd including deputy mayor Cr Jim Rinaldi, councillor Belinda Coates and Ballarat Council CEO Justine Linley lit candles as the sun went down over the city.

The vigil began with an introduction from Marianne Hendron of Women's Health Grampians, who welcomed everyone "to honour and pay respect to the life of Tamara Farrell who so shockingly and sadly lost her life in this town, our town."

After a minute's silence, she said: "Tomorrow is International Women’s Day and one of the themes is 'more powerful together'.

"I think we can all sense the power of us all being here together and sharing sorrow, sadness and the desire for a safe community."

Following her words Ballarat's Bar Choir gave an acoustic rendition of Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars.

Ms Farrell was killed a few weeks after moving to Ballarat and only days before her 32nd birthday. At the time of her death she had been working for Ballarat Coachlines. The company described her as an "excellent employee, who was always friendly and hard working", while her friends remembered her as "absolutely lovely."

She was the second woman to die violently in the city in the space of four months after the death of Dannyll Goodsell in Mount Pleasant last October.

A 22-year-old Altona man, Shaye Kotiau, remains in custody charged with Ms Farrell's murder, while his sister, 19 year-old Kaye Kotiau, was charged with being an accessory to murder and released on bail.

The vigil was organised by Women’s Health Grampians, Twin Hearts, Reclaim the Night, Feminist Action Ballarat, Bar Choir and councillor Belinda Coates. It took place with the approval and knowledge of her family.

Co-organiser Catherine Farrah said: "I hope the family, if they are able to see this in any way, found it respectful and can get some solace that the community stands behind them at this unimaginable time."

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