One of the reasons that I now live in Brisbane is that I spent the last four years of my schooling in Ballarat and I have no desire to ever be that cold again. (it's probably quite balmy in comparison to much of the UK or USA).

Ballarat is a very beautiful city and retains many fine examples of public buildings, banks, hotels and homes from prosperous times of the gold rush and subsequent agricultural booms. It has fine Botanical Gardens which are home to Australia's only population of wild red squirrels.

As for Black Jack, the best known Australian with that name wa 'Black Jack' McEwen who was Prime Minister after the 'death' oh Harold Holt. His bust along with all of Australia's PM's is located in the Ballarat Gardens. McEwen wasn't born in Ballarat btu an amazing number of his predecessors came from that area.

BTW the official name for the local government was the City of BALLAARAT and in my youth there were still a number of premises bearing the longer name.

As for the outlaw, never heard of him, which makes me think that possibly my memory is shot, he was a minor felon, or the work of fiction. A betting man would put his money on the first option.

Almost forgot, the Ballarat Art Gallery is home to a very fine collection of Australain Impressionist paintings - and of course the original flag of the Southern Cross - first hoisted at the battle of Eureka Stockade, about 15 minutes stroll from the city centre.

Regards, John