Wendouree retail strip shifts toward mixed-use lifestyle hub

Three mixed-use developments on Howitt Street in Wendouree opened their ground-floor tenancies this month, adding eight new retail spaces to the strip between Norman Street and the railway line.

The changes arrive as Ballarat City Council finalises its 2026-2027 neighbourhood plan, which directs infrastructure spending toward outer suburbs that have recorded population growth above the regional average. Local residents now travel shorter distances for weekday meals and weekend fitness classes instead of driving into the CBD.

New venues anchor daily routines

The Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre on Howitt Street extended its hours to 9 pm on weeknights in April, pairing lap swimming with a new adjacent cafe that opened last week. Further east, the former post office building at 142 Howitt Street now houses a bakery and a small yoga studio, both leased through the council's pop-up program that began in 2025. These additions sit within walking distance of the Wendouree Shopping Centre, whose car park recorded 12 percent more vehicles on Saturday mornings compared with the same period in 2024.

Council data released in June shows median rents for ground-floor commercial space on Howitt Street rose from $320 per square metre in 2023 to $410 this year. The same report notes 47 new business licences issued in Wendouree between January and May, the highest quarterly total since 2019.

Practical steps for locals

Residents can check the Ballarat City Council website for the next round of pop-up grants, which closes applications on 31 August. Early morning parking remains free along the western end of Howitt Street before 9 am, while the aquatic centre offers a $12 day pass that includes access to both the pool and the new cafe seating area.