Walk through Ballarat’s CBD and the tech presence is visible in ways it wasn’t five years ago. Co-working spaces, tech company offices, and startup events are part of the city fabric.

What’s driving this growth, and is it sustainable?

The Numbers

Hard numbers on regional tech employment are imperfect, but directional trends are clear:

• Multiple tech companies have expanded Ballarat headcount in the past two years
• Co-working space occupancy has increased significantly
• Federation University tech program enrollment is stable to growing
• Tech meetup attendance has doubled since 2022

This isn’t hype. Something real is happening.

Drivers of Growth

Several factors are contributing:

Melbourne Housing Crisis

The biggest driver may be Melbourne’s housing affordability collapse. Workers priced out of Melbourne homeownership look to regions. If they can work remotely, they can live in Ballarat.

“Every person who moves here for housing and brings their tech job contributes to local economy and community, even if their employer is in Melbourne.”

Remote Work Normalisation

The pandemic proved remote work works. Companies that would never have hired regional employees now do routinely.

“Three years ago, I couldn’t get hired for a Melbourne role from Ballarat. Now I have three offers from companies that don’t care where I sit.”

Quality of Life Value

Some people aren’t priced out of Melbourne—they’re choosing to leave. Quality of life preferences have shifted.

“I could afford Melbourne. I choose Ballarat. Better house, more space, slower pace, more time with family.”

Local Company Growth

Several Ballarat-founded tech companies have reached scale where they’re hiring locally.

“We started with five people. Now we’re twenty-five. That growth is mostly local hiring.”

Government and University Investment

Federation University has maintained commitment to technology education. Council has invested in infrastructure and support programs. State government has funded regional tech initiatives.

These investments create foundation that commercial activity builds on.

What’s Different About 2025

Regional tech growth isn’t new—it’s been discussed for decades. But several things are different now:

Infrastructure is adequate. NBN, while imperfect, provides workable connectivity. Starlink fills gaps.

Talent is accumulating. Each year adds graduates, relocators, and career changers to the regional talent pool.

Success stories exist. Companies have proven you can build serious businesses from Ballarat. Proof removes doubt.

Community has formed. Tech meetups, professional networks, and informal connections create the community aspects of working in tech.

Melbourne is worse. Traffic, housing costs, and congestion have worsened. The gap between Melbourne and regional life has widened.

Challenges Remaining

Growth doesn’t mean problems are solved:

Talent competition is fierce. More tech activity means more competition for limited local talent.

Career ceilings exist. Some career paths still lead through Melbourne. Not everything is achievable locally.

Connectivity gaps persist. NBN varies significantly by location. Poor internet areas remain.

Investment access is limited. Venture capital mostly flows through Melbourne. Regional founders must travel and prove more.

Network density is lower. Accidental encounters and spontaneous collaboration happen less than in Melbourne tech clusters.

The Sustainability Question

Is Ballarat tech growth sustainable, or a temporary pandemic artifact?

Arguments for sustainability:

• Structural drivers (housing, remote work) aren’t reversing
• Local ecosystem is building capabilities that compound
• Young people are choosing regional tech careers
• Companies are investing in permanent regional presence

Arguments for caution:

• Some remote workers may drift back to cities
• Economic downturn could reduce overall tech employment
• Not all remote-work experiments will succeed
• Growth rate may slow even if absolute size continues increasing

My assessment: the foundation is real, but growth rate will moderate. Ballarat won’t become a tech hub rivaling Melbourne. But it will be a meaningful technology centre with genuine career opportunities.

What Would Accelerate Growth

Several developments would help:

More senior talent. Currently easier to hire junior than senior. More experienced leadership locally would unlock company growth.

Investment presence. A regional investment fund or more Melbourne investors actively looking at Ballarat would accelerate startups.

Corporate anchors. Large companies establishing significant Ballarat operations would change talent dynamics.

Improved connectivity. Full fibre coverage would remove remaining infrastructure constraints.

Stronger education links. Deeper integration between Federation University and tech employers would improve talent pipeline.

For Those Considering Ballarat

If you’re a tech worker or company considering Ballarat:

Tech workers: Opportunities are real. Salary may be lower but lifestyle benefits are significant. Remote work for Melbourne companies while living in Ballarat is viable.

Companies: Talent exists but competition for it is real. Building presence takes time. Starting with a few hires and growing gradually works better than attempting immediate significant presence.

Founders: Building from Ballarat is proven possible. Investor access requires Melbourne relationships. Local community is supportive.

Looking Ahead

Ballarat’s tech trajectory depends on many factors—economic conditions, remote work trends, housing markets, individual company decisions.

But the direction is established. Ballarat has tech activity at a scale that’s self-sustaining. Even if growth slows, the sector won’t disappear.

For a city that reinvented itself from gold rush to manufacturing to education, adding technology to its economic mix feels like natural evolution.

The future is being built, one company and one career at a time.