page_title: Ballarat Central
section_title: Parks and open space
hierarchical_section_title: Ballarat Central / Parks and open space
caption_attribution_description: English: The large, grassed median strip of Sturt St, the main street of Ballarat, Australia
context_page_description: Ballarat Central is the central locality of Greater Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. The population of Ballarat Central at the 2016 census was 5,328, making it the third most populous in the urban area. It is the administrative headquarters for the City of Ballarat as well as the Ballarat Base Hospital and health services and home to the city's major religious institutions and a major retail, commercial and inner city residential area.
  It is the third oldest settlement in Greater Ballarat. Planned as a permanent settlement shortly following the initial gold rush, it was formerly known as Ballaarat West or the new township of Ballaarat.
  The boundaries are Lexton, Drummond, Talbot and Pleasant Street to the west; Sebastopol, Hill, Hummfray and Steinford Street to the south; Peel Street to the east and Serviceton Railway Line to the north.
  Ballarat Central is important historically to the development of the city as well as for its Victorian era architecture and much of its area is covered by Heritage Overlays.
context_section_description: With the exception of Sturt Street Gardens, and small squares at Civic Hall, Camp Street, Bridge Mall and church grounds there is very little accessible recreational space in Ballarat Central.
  There are just two sports ovals on the Western Oval on the western fringe and Hickman Street Oval on the southern fringe.
caption: Sturt Street Gardens
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