Ballarat mourns four women killed in three years as violence mural grows
Ballarat's She Matters mural, with 38 new faces since March 2026, records four women killed locally in three years.
The mural on Hancocks Lane displays faces of more than 200 women lost to violence. The mural began tracking deaths in January 2024 and also includes earlier cases from the Ballarat region.
In the final week of August, two women died in the area. One was allegedly killed by a man in Bacchus Marsh.
Founder Sherele Moody said adding each new face brings deep difficulty for her team. On average, one woman a week is killed by an intimate partner across Australia.
This rises to roughly one a day when including deaths by suicide following domestic or sexual violence. Ballarat's family violence rate remains higher than the state average.
Last year, 2,947 people were involved in incidents. The mural faces ongoing vandalism and weather damage.
It needs constant repair to stay respectful and visible.
- 38 since March 2026
- Faces added
- Four in three years in Ballarat district
- Women killed
Why it mattersThe visible toll shows how widespread violence against women is in a single region. It helps drive conversations about prevention and community responsibility.
AustraliaAustralia records one femicide per week; Ballarat's rate is notably high. The mural and Telethon support efforts aim to shift community culture and support survivors.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 9 d ago
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