Inside Ballarat Revealed: Hidden Histories, Shared Together at the heart of Heritage Festival

A new exhibition at the Mining Exchange is unfolding as the 2026 Ballarat Heritage Festival gets underway from Thursday 21 May to Sunday 24 May.

Ballarat Revealed is the headline exhibition of the program, inviting visitors to step inside one of our most significant heritage buildings and experience the city’s history through a fresh and layered lens.

It reflects the depth and complexity of Ballarat’s story, including the enduring cultural significance of the Yarrowee/Yaramlok and the experiences of diverse communities who have called Ballarat home.

Inside, visitors will move through a series of immersive installations and carefully curated displays, including an opportunity to walk beneath a dramatic recreation of Ballarat’s historic Chinese Arch from 1901, reflecting the contribution and presence of Chinese communities on the goldfields.  

The exhibition also features Wadawurrung Deep Time, developed in partnership with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, offering an important perspective on the cultural history of the region.

Rare historic maps, photographs, letters and original documents sit alongside significant artefacts, providing insight into the city’s transformation over time.  

Among these are original editions of The Chinese Advertiser, Australia’s earliest bilingual Chinese-English newspaper first published in Ballarat in 1856.

While grounded in history, Ballarat Revealed also highlights broader themes of migration, innovation, resilience and social change. It has been designed to guide visitors through these ideas, offering glimpses into individual stories while encouraging reflection and personal connection.

Importantly, the exhibition invites community participation, with visitors encouraged to share their own family stories, photographs and memories as part of an ongoing effort to uncover and preserve Ballarat’s hidden histories.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the exhibition isn’t just about looking back, it’s about what we carry forward.

“This is an exhibition that asks people to slow down and really look,” she said.

“You might come in curious and leave seeing Ballarat differently, and that’s what makes it so powerful.”

In addition to the exhibition, visitors can explore a wide range of festival favourites and new events across the city, from exhibitions, talks and tours, to music, food and entertainment for visitors of all ages.

See Ballarat Revealed: Hidden Histories, Shared Together at the Mining Exchange from 1-4pm on Thursday 21 May and 10am-5pm from Friday 22 – Sunday 24 May.

For more information and to view the full festival program, visit ballaratheritagefestival.com.au.