BALLARAT, a city of Grenville county, Victoria, Australia, consisting of 3 municipalities : Ballarat city, Ballarat East, Sebas topol. It lies at an elevation of 1,416 ft. on the plateau which here forms the "Great Divide." Close by, on the east, a sharp rise leads up a further 500 ft. to the Warrenheip plateau (mainly volcanic : Mt. Warrenheip: 2,463 ft.). The climate is bracing— temperate in summer and rather cold in winter (ay. temp. c. 56° F) ; the average annual rainfall is 26.8 in. The intensely folded (Ordovician) slates and sandstones which form the country rock were highly mineralized. Gold was discovered in 1851 and Bal larat quickly became one of the foremost mining towns of Australia, its early history being marred by one of the few inci dents involving bloodshed in the mining history of Australia. The surface (alluvial) deposits were soon worked out and thereafter reef-mining prevailed. The steady quality of the ore permitted mining to considerable depths (2,000 ft. and over) and gold to the value of over /70,000,000 has been obtained. The fields are now, apparently, nearly exhausted. The clays derived from the ancient rocks of the uneven and sparsely-timbered uplands afford good farmlands while the volcanic soils of the Warrenheip plateau are exceptionally fertile. Potatoes and oats are extensively grown and mixed farming is carried on. The wools of the district have always had a high reputation. Ballarat (pop. is the largest inland city in Australia. It possesses fine gardens, pleasure parks (including Lake Wendouree) and public buildings. A mar ket and commercial centre for a wide and prosperous area, Ballarat has also railway engineering works, woollen mills, etc., a good electric service (trams, light, etc.) and water supply, and is a noted summer resort for residents of Melbourne (74 miles by rail) .