Living History on Lydiard Street

Established in 1853 during the height of the Victorian Gold Rush, The George Hotel is the second licensed venue in Ballarat and one of the city's enduring heritage landmarks.

For more than 170 years, The George has stood at the heart of Ballarat's story. Gold miners, merchants, travellers, entertainers, locals and generations of families have passed through its doors, making it a place of

hospitality, connection and community.

Imagine Ballarat in the 1850s—horse-drawn coaches arriving from Melbourne, prospectors returning from the diggings and merchants seeking their fortunes. The George was here through it all.

The hotel also holds a connection to the events surrounding the 1854 Eureka Rebellion, when authorities and officials gathered here as Ballarat's history unfolded nearby. Originally built as the wooden George Inn, the hotel was rebuilt in 1902 by renowned local architects E & B Smith. The magnificent three-storey brick building and its rare three-tier cast-iron verandah remain iconic

features of Ballarat's heritage streetscape.