Discover city’s booze-fuelled birth

A WALKING – and drinking – tour focused on the historic relationship between Ballarat and alcohol is part of this year’s Heritage Festival program.

The Drinks That Made Ballarat will be led by writers Max Allen and Richard Cornish, and local Zac Hill, on Wednesday 22 May from 6.30pm.

According to the pair, the night will share the story of the “booze-fuelled birth of colonial Ballarat” in an entertaining, indulgent, atmospheric and relaxed way.

“To walk Ballarat at night and go from historic building to historic building, enjoying foods and alcohol drinks that tell stories of this city’s past will be so much fun,” Allen said.

The pair have been working with local distillers, a brewery and chef, to create a unique experience.

“Itinerant Spirits are producing a special gin for the event,” Cornish said.

“Dollar Bill Brewing is recreating a beer from the gold rush era, while Liam Downes from Black Cat Truffles is recreating flavours once common during the 19th century.”

The walking tour has three groups and starts and finishes at Itinerant Spirits within The Goods Shed.

Other featured locations of the tour are the Old Ballarat Gaol at Federation University’s Camp Street campus, the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute, The Crypt, and the city’s cobbled laneways.

The evening concludes with a group drink at 9pm.

“They’ll step inside heritage buildings to explore the history of Ballarat’s own tradition of beer, sparkling shiraz and whisky along with colonial-era dishes recreated especially for this event,” the pair said.

Tickets are at bit.ly/3wtHs4s. Those attending are encouraged to dress warmly and to wear comfortable walking shoes.

Allen and Cornish are stalwarts of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.