Ballarat
The Victorian city that will be plastered in ads to stop violence against women
After three women were killed in two months in the region, Ballarat will be saturated in advertising for four years.
- by Rachel Eddie
Latest
Police found a phone in the mud. Now they hope for a breakthrough in the Samantha Murphy search
The first physical clue to the missing Ballarat mother’s fate has emerged. Police are investigating whether it contains data that might give them answers.
- by Tony Wright
Updated
Missing person
Phone found in fresh search for Samantha Murphy’s body
A police source, speaking anonymously owing to the sensitivity of the investigation, is confident the phone belonged to the 51-year-old mother.
- by Lachlan Abbott
The married couple who regularly compete in jousting tournaments
A mutual passion for donning medieval-style armour led couple Rodney and Liberty Deaman to the perfect, albeit unusual, shared hobby.
With nerves of steel, the couple who joust together, stay together
A mutual passion for horses and medieval sports led couple Rodney and Liberty Deaman to the perfect, albeit unusual, shared hobby.
- by Carolyn Webb
This private school has banned water bottles from classrooms. Here are the results
Ballarat Clarendon College is trialling the removal of water bottles from some classrooms, and says it has improved results so far.
- by Stephen Brook
Driver in Lamborghini crash also accused of killing spectator at burnout event
A Ballarat mechanic has been refused bail after crashing into a house six months after he was involved in a fatal crash at a car festival in regional Victoria.
- by Erin Pearson
22-year-old admits to killing his grandmother with mattock
A man who bludgeoned his own grandmother to death in the family’s garage has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a Ballarat court.
- by Tara Cosoleto
The quiet country town twice thrust into the spotlight this month by death
The busiest Clunes typically gets is during its annual Booktown festival in March. Now tragedy has left it swarming with journalists.
- by Lachlan Abbott and Melissa Cunningham
Exclusive
Crime
Mick Murphy spends hours every day searching for his wife, Samantha
About 1000 people gathered in Ballarat on Friday evening to protest over violence against women after the deaths of three women this year – all allegedly killed by men.
- by Gillian Lantouris and Wendy Tuohy
A card in the woods and a heartbreaking message to a beloved daughter
Nestled into flowers in a scorched patch of bushland is a note from Hannah McGuire’s family containing two words the women of Ballarat desperately need to hear.
- by Wendy Tuohy