Best Event Venue Melbourne - Ballara Receptions
Looking for a unique event space that’s elegant, versatile, and easy to reach? Ballara Receptions is one of the most trusted names in venue hire.
Nestled in Eltham, just 30 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, our estate combines the charm of a countryside retreat with the convenience of city access. Whether you’re planning a wedding, elopement, christening, baby shower, corporate function, or even a funeral or memorial service, Ballara offers the perfect setting for every occasion.
Discover why so many people searching for event venues, event spaces for hire, and affordable venue hire, choose Ballara to host their milestone moments.
Why Choose Ballara for Your Event Space in Melbourne
Versatile Indoor & Outdoor Event Spaces
Ballara’s beautifully maintained estate provides a variety of event spaces to suit any style :
- A charming chapel with stained-glass windows for intimate ceremonies
- Peaceful outdoor areas, including a lakeside jetty, a romantic gazebo, a courtyard, and landscaped gardens
- A grand reception ballroom for elegant gatherings
- Scenic backdrops across the estate gardens, lakes, fountains, and enchanting night lighting
Whether you need a small, intimate hall or a large function space, our flexibility makes Ballara an outstanding choice for event venues and unique event spaces near you.
Exclusive Use & Seamless Experience
When you book Ballara, your event has the exclusive use of our entire estate, so you’ll enjoy total privacy and uninterrupted celebrations.
Our all-inclusive packages cover venue hire, catering, styling, coordination, and more. This makes Ballara a top choice for those searching for affordable venue hire that saves time, effort, and stress.
Prime Location - Close to the CBD
Ballara is located in Eltham, a short drive from the CBD, making it accessible for your guests from across the city and surrounding suburbs.
You’ll enjoy the serenity of a garden venue without giving up the convenience of being close to the city’s central hubs and other venue options.
Trusted for Memorable Events
For decades, Ballara has hosted weddings, engagements, functions, and milestone celebrations. Our experienced team ensures each occasion is smooth, elegant, and unforgettable, whether it’s a micro wedding, a corporate gala dinner, or a baptism or funeral service.
Types of Events We Host
Ballara is a multi-purpose event venue designed to suit a wide range of occasions
Weddings & Elopements
Christening & Baptism
Birthday Parties & Anniversaries
Baby Shower
Corporate & Business Functions
Funeral Venues
If you’re exploring options like beach wedding venues, engagement party venues or rooftop venue hire, you’ll find Ballara’s gardens, lakeside views, and a romantic chapel offer an equally breathtaking alternative with more privacy and convenience.
Types of Packages We Offer
- Wedding & Elopement Packages : Comprehensive packages covering your ceremony, reception, catering, décor, and on-day coordination.
- Celebration Packages : Perfect for christenings, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.
- Corporate & Function Packages : Designed for corporate gatherings, including catering, AV equipment, and event management support.
- Custom & Seasonal Packages : Ideal for weekday events, themed functions, or special promotions. We also offer seasonal discounts for selected dates.
Our packages often include :
- Exclusive use of the estate
- Access to indoor and outdoor event spaces
- Dedicated event coordinator
- Full catering service with custom menu options
- Venue styling and décor packages
- Flexible add-ons to bring your vision to life
Our packages often include :
- Stress-Free Planning : One team handles everything for you
- Flexible & Affordable : Packages tailored to your vision and budget
- All-Inclusive Value : Catering, décor, and coordination included
- Transparent Pricing : No hidden costs or unexpected surprises
faq
Venue hire varies depending on location, size, and services offered. At Ballara, we provide transparent pricing with packages tailored to your event type and budget.
A venue hire contract is a legal agreement between you and the venue. It outlines the date, time, costs, inclusions, cancellation policy, and responsibilities of both parties to ensure clarity and protection.
We provide ample free parking on site. A small accommodation is available on the property, and there are plenty of nearby hotels and guesthouses.
Absolutely. Ballara is an all-in-one Melbourne event centre, with indoor and outdoor spaces plus a reception hall.
Yes. We cater to both small gatherings and larger functions, customising each event to suit your style and preferences.
To organise a christening in Australia:
Choose a church or venue that hosts christenings.
Book your date and complete any church requirements.
Arrange ceremony details, such as baptismal items, readings, and music.
Plan a celebration or reception, which can be at a venue like Ballara.
Christenings are typically held in churches, chapels, or religious venues. Many families also choose event venues or reception halls for a combined ceremony and celebration.
The cost of a christening depends on the venue, catering, and extras. Venue hire with catering can start from a few hundred dollars for small gatherings to several thousand for larger celebrations.
A baptism is a religious rite of initiation into the Christian faith, often involving water. A christening is a type of baptism where the child is formally given their name during the ceremony. In many cases, the terms are used interchangeably.
Funeral costs vary depending on the type of service, venue, and burial or cremation. On average, a funeral in Melbourne can range from $4,000 to $15,000, with simpler options available at lower costs.
The most affordable funeral options typically include direct cremation or simple burial services, which remove extras like elaborate ceremonies, catering, or venue hire. Many families choose smaller venues or community halls to reduce costs.
Our estate offers unique Melbourne event spaces with landscaped gardens, a lakeside jetty, romantic outdoor spots, and a dedicated team focused entirely on your event.
The team was incredibly organised, professional, and attentive throughout the entire planning process and on the day itself. They made everything run smoothly, allowing us to relax and truly enjoy our wedding.
Our guests are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how delicious the food was. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate such a special day.
Thank you to the entire Ballara team for helping create memories that we will cherish forever. We highly recommend Ballara Receptions to any couple looking for a magical wedding venue.
A massive thank you to Popy and the whole team at Ballara for making our day so seamless and special. Popy was incredible to work with, and she was spot on - the food was absolutely fantastic!
I also want to give a special shoutout to our concierge, Julie, who looked after my wife on the day. Her attentiveness, warmth, and help behind the scenes made a world of difference and kept everything running beautifully.
If you want a flawless, stress-free, and truly magical wedding day, we cannot recommend Ballara highly enough. Thank you so much!
I would say if you have any function book with Ballara.
From the very start of the process, from arranging meetings, to organising the last minute details, there was sense of efficiency and professionalism in their communication. Ballara truly listened with attention and care to our wishes and offered expert suggestion to what would best bring our vision into reality. Their adaptability to accommodate our needs and requests (even alterations on the day itself) were first-class and really contributed towards the event being received so well by guests.
We felt safe with Popy and the team directing operations and, in hindsight, wouldn’t have entrusted anyone else to realise our dream.
From our initial tour, to the food tastings and expo days and finally to our big day, we have loved visiting and coming to Ballara every time.
Tanya, Christine and Popy have been incredible to be in contact with, no question is a silly question and they made us so secure knowing that they are experts at what they do and that they will ensure our day is perfect!
We had Popy as our function manager for the day, she was attentive and made sure the day ran smoothly with our vendors.
Special shoutout to Hannah who was the bridal assistant for the day, Hannah made sure my train was held and tidy, that myself and my husband were fed and drinks. Hannah even came and assisted with bustling my dress before the reception! Hannah was such a gem and my genuine highlight of Ballara and their commitment to our weddings.
Finally, every single guest could not stop talking about how amazing the food was and how much they also loved all the photo opportunities! The garden was so perfect and everyone loved it.
Thankyou so much for providing such a beautiful space for our big day, I would choose Ballara again and again.
All of our guests loved the venue, and could not stop commenting on how professional everything was, and how amazing the food was!
There are different packages to choose from, different upgrades and add-ons, and both indoor and outdoor ceremony options.
You don't need to leave the venue between ceremony and reception to take photos as there are countless photo locations on the property!
To anyone thinking of booking their own wedding at Ballara, you won't regret it!
Thank you so much to the team at Ballara!!
I was given Aleisha as my coordinator for the wedding day, and she was an absolute gem. I was so blessed to have her and concierge Hannah by our side. They made sure everything ran smoothly, were so professional and understanding, and handled the day with such care. Aleisha even allowed my husband and I to dance a little overtime because of all our reception surprises and photos, she truly made me so happy.
I cannot recommend this venue enough. I would get married again next week if I could😂 We loved them! A true 10/10 venue, team and overall experience!
Thank you so much ladies for making our dream wedding a reality✨🫶🏽
TJ, wedding videographer
A huge thanks to the amazing chefs for preparing such wonderful meals that our guests absolutely loved. Special thanks to Hannah, who consistently checked on us throughout the day and ensured that all our needs were met with such care and attention.
As an Asian couple, we deeply appreciate how the Ballara team, especially Tanya went above and beyond to accommodate our traditions, making everything flow seamlessly. From the stunning ceremony setup to the thoughtful creation of envelopes for our guests, every detail was executed with perfection.
We would highly recommend Ballara Receptions for their exceptional service, professionalism, and dedication to creating masterpiece weddings.
Thank you once again for everything!
Warm regards,
S & L
They go over and beyond for you and are so accommodating.
The whole team are incredible. Our guests raved on to us about how amazing the venue itself was as well as how incredible the food was. Special mention to our wedding coordinator Popy and Tiarna who were incredible on the day of the wedding. Popy ensured our wedding day ran smoothly and attended to all our guests. Tiarna was with us the whole night getting us whatever we needed and made sure we were well taken care of. Could not recommend Ballara highly enough for a wedding or any other function. Beyond grateful to them. Thanks for making our special day one we will never forget.
The food was amazing, my guests are still talking about the food and the amazing garden and how beautiful the venue is.
Thank you to Popy especially, for managing our function smoothly, she was very organised and lovely to work with.
I cannot recommend Ballara enough to everyone!
Plan Your Perfect Event with Ballara
Ready to make your event unforgettable? At Ballara Receptions, we create seamless, stylish celebrations tailored to you.
Book a tour today to explore our gardens, chapel, and reception spaces.
Request a free quote to find the perfect package for your occasion.
Enquire today and let us help you celebrate in one of the most unique event spaces.
