Ballan

Ballan is a township in a rural hinterland 70 km north-west of Melbourne on the railway to Ballarat. The Western Freeway bypasses Ballan about one km to its north. The Werribee River and two tributaries are near Ballan.

Its name originated from the birthplace of Robert von Stieglitz in Northern Ireland. Von Stieglitz took up a pastoral run in the district in 1836 and named it Ballan. A brother, John, had the Ballanee run, and the homestead and outbuildings constructed by a later owner are on the Register of the National Estate.