I grew up in Melbourne but the family moved to Warrnambool when I was a teenager. At the time I hated it with a passion and moved back to Melbourne as soon as I could so I didn't really live there for too long. However, in hindsight I see all the good things about the place and highly recommend it as a place to live or bring up children.
- not *too* far from Melbourne with the new Geelong Bypass
- not too big, not too small
- beach and town together
- lots of young families moving into the area in recent years , positive growth and lots of potential new friends
- has a university therefore it keeps the young people in the place and keeps the town fresh

I am personally very happy living in Melbourne but think W'bool is a pretty good option and I really enjoy visiting the grandparents there with DDs. I also know that most of the people I knew who grew up there are very attached and keen to move back to raise their family. I think this says something.
... thanks heaps JR for that but sadly W'bool is further to travel from for us to get to the north side of Melb where my family live and would be further for DP to get to work then from Ballarat.
That story sounds familiar i have met many couple's that grew up here in Ballarat that have come back to settle down with their young families, i think also it helps to have family nearby for these people if their family still lives here !!