2025 - 11th Ballarat Foto Biennale - Walking Tour & Pub Lunch
About this event
NOTE - RACV Members save 15% off festival passes with the code RACV2025
Pound the streets in the historic inner precinct of Ballarat, visiting the multiple locations hosting exhibitions for the 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFO). Travel via public transport is possible. First action will be to collect FREE maps of the displays (indoor and outdoor) at the Biennale Office on Lydiard Street (just up the street from the Station); which is also a venue for some of the smaller exhibitors.
GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Grade 1: Easy 7 km circuit walk (graded according to the AWTGS: Australian Walking Tracks Grading System) on flat and well-sealed walkways.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Ballarat is home to the National Centre for Photography (NCFP) housed in the old Union Bank building on Lydiard Street North. It's the base for the team behind BIFO.
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale was founded in 2005 and attracts significant international and Australian photographers as one of Australia's pre-eminent photographic festivals. The multiple exhibitions, both free and ticketed, are housed in various historic buildings, laneways and cafes. Full details of the program are available online at ballaratfoto.org. Most exhibitions are open daily from 10am to 5pm.
The featured ticketed events this year include two exhibitions by internationally based artists that may be of interest to NOMADS Members:
- ENNINFUL x MAPPLETHORPE an exclusive event to BIFO. This selection of Robert Mapplethorpe’s work is curated by Edward Enninful OBE, Ghanaian-born British editor and stylist who was Editor in Chief of British Vogue and European editorial director for Conde Nast magazines, and
- Campbell Addy’s major solo exhibition, an Australian exclusive by the British-Ghanaian fashion photographer featuring a newly conceived set of photographs, original paintings and a short film shot on location in Ghana.
BOOKING:
- Ballarat Foto Biennale: Book for Sunday 5 October. Check ballaratfoto.org for details of purchasing 1-day passes to visit the multiple ticketed events.
- Nomads: Book by Friday 3rd October. To register, click on Get Tickets.
Unsure if you've already booked with The Nomads? Click View my bookings.
MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10:45am at the Ballarat Railway Station, Lydiard Street North. Travel options are (1) by train (see details below) or (2) driving and parking on the fringes of the Ballarat CBD, as on-street parking in the CBD is time limited and fees may be payable.
MAP REFERENCES:
- Southern Cross Station - Melway map 1A grid A7 | Google map goo.gl/maps/s6DUsRG8CWz2K97eA
- Ballarat Station - Melway map 611 grid A12 | Google map goo.gl/maps/KjS3JEEYfng9UvaE7.
DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 114 km, approximately 1 hour 25 minutes to drive, 1 hour 29 minutes by public transport.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The trip is on the train departing Southern Cross Station at 9:15am arriving at 10:41am. It's suggested that we gather in the first carriage (North Melbourne end). Return trains depart Ballarat every 40-minutes, for example: 3:24pm, 4:04pm, 4:44pm, 5:24pm and 6:04pm.
FOOD: A booking will be made for a 12:30pm lunch at Aunty Jacks Brew Pub, 315-317 Mair Street, Ballarat (opposite the Ballarat Civic Centre) for those interested. Otherwise do your own thing in between visiting exhibition sites.
COST:
- Trains: Weekend fares for Myki money are capped at $7.60 (Full) and $3.80 (Concession & Seniors) per day.
- Ballarat Foto Biennale: Full day pass $42 | Concession day pass $36
APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking shoes and dress according to the weather forecast.
LEADER: Garry Oliver | Email LeaderGarryO@nomads.org.au if you have any questions.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.
Image: Garry Oliver
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