Ballarat is becoming an increasingly popular choice for people from Melbourne who want to buy land and live off-grid. The area offers affordable property, and its location just over an hour from the city makes it ideal for those looking to escape the suburbs without going too remote.

Thanks to improvements in off-grid solar technology — especially the reliability of solar panels in Ballarat’s climate — there’s now little need to pay for costly grid connections. Instead, many new landowners are building a shed or small home and installing a full off-grid solar setup. It’s a straightforward and far more affordable solution.

For a typical family of 2–3 people, a 10kW off-grid solar system will generally cover year-round needs and cost around $30,000. In comparison, connecting to the grid can cost between $30,000 and $60,000 — and sometimes over $100,000 in rural areas. With solar panels Ballarat homeowners now rely on performing well in the region’s cool winters and sunny stretches, going off-grid is quickly becoming the smarter and more economical choice.