Mayor’s Message - Friday 25 April 2025

After its immense success in 2024 it is hard to believe that this year’s Ballarat Marathon could be even better, yet it certainly seems to be shaping up that way.

With double the number of entrants of last year, this weekend will see our city become centre stage to thousands of distance runners, completing a course that showcases our beautiful and historic streetscapes.

Excitingly, around 80 percent of the marathon entrants are visitors to our town, and with each entrant comes family and friends, all looking for places to eat, stay and play. Our accommodation is at capacity and many local businesses are participating in promotions and offering entertainment throughout the course, ensuring supporters are spread around all parts of the event.

Early predictions forecast an injection of at least $3.1 million into the Ballarat economy from this weekend alone, demonstrating how important events are to our city.

Though it’s not just hospitality businesses that benefit from the Ballarat Marathon. A key component of the event is fundraising, with the Ballarat Health Services Foundation as the headline charity partner. A target of $90,000 has been set and I know we will all be watching closely, following their success in achieving this milestone.

As individuals, we can’t overlook the health and lifestyle benefits that this event inspires in us. We may not all be marathon runners, but we feel the buzz that sporting events generate. Whether you choose to walk, run, ride or get active in some other way, the Ballarat Marathon sends a strong message of promoting health and wellbeing in our community.

To all who are participating, good luck and congratulations – whatever your outcome, your efforts have not gone unnoticed. To our Ballarat residents, I hope you can come out and enjoy the event – it will surely be something to behold.

For all the details on the marathon including road closures, fundraising information and special promotions at local businesses visit ballaratmarathon.com.au

- Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves