Cr Tracey Hargreaves elected as Ballarat Mayor for 2025/26

Ballarat City Councillors have elected Cr Tracey Hargreaves as Mayor and Cr Ben Taylor Deputy Mayor for 2025/26.

The Mayoral Election took place at Town Hall on Monday night. 

This will be the second term as Mayor of Ballarat for Cr Hargreaves following the 2024/25 term, while it will be Cr Taylor’s third time as Deputy Mayor.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Shannen Mennen performed the Welcome to Country at the meeting.

After the vote, the new Mayor was presented to the Town Hall Chambers in the official Mayoral robes and chains, accompanied by the Sovereign Hill Red Coats.

To conclude the election, the traditional ringing of the heritage Alfred Bells at Town Hall took place.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Hargreaves said she was thrilled to be re-appointed to the role and looked forward to continuing to serve the Ballarat community.

"It is an enormous honour to serve as Mayor for a second term and I want to acknowledge the support from my Council colleagues, my family, friends, City of Ballarat staff and my Delacombe ward residents," she said.

"I look forward to continuing to build strong and authentic leadership in this role.

"I am committed to achieving our Council vision to be Victoria’s heritage city and leading the way as a safe, sustainable, innovative and inclusive community, that is a great place to live."

Many family and friends attended the council meeting in the public gallery, while the meeting was also streamed online.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves and Deputy Mayor Cr Ben Taylor will be presented to Ballarat in an official proceeding on the steps of Ballarat Town Hall at 9am on Tuesday 11 November 2025 alongside the Town Crier Hedley Thomson.