The Farmer's Wife first opened her doors in November 2015 after discovering the beautiful old 1880s building earlier that year. Triple-fronted bay windows on either side of the big old front door proudly standing on the original bluestone porch were all it took for Bec Mason to fall in love. Instantly she knew this Farmer's Wife had a destiny within the walls of this grand old girl. And so the story begins Bec Mason first began her career as an interior designer cultivating her flair for decoration and design with her own sense of style, never one to follow trends, she always strayed from the mainstream crowd with an almost whimsical and romantic look on life. Bec developed her career in various roles as a homewares buyer within the retail industry, satisfying her love of product, window dressing, and merchandising design. Then after a wet and rainy day mushrooming in the pine forests of Creswick with her much-adored Farmer, she discovered the beautiful old store and dreamed about all the wonderful things she could bring to the little town of Creswick and the rest they say is history. The store is a reflection of Bec's style, always seeking simplicity, quality, and the enduring beauty of things from the past. This combination of beautiful quality clothing and homewares with her eclectic mix of preloved treasures provides the unique shopping experience that is The Farmer's Wife.

At Provincial Home Living Ballarat, we have crafted an inspiring collection of homewares and furniture to transform your home into an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. A place where time slips by, a place where you and your loved ones can relax in the warmth of your surroundings. We believe your home can be a place that evokes pride and passion, as well as a place that invites relaxation and harmony. Provincial Home Living helps you create your sanctuary with homewares and furnishing that are distinguished by their timeless style and reliable quality at an affordable price. We pursue timeless style that transcends passing fashion or trends from provincial destinations around the globe. Designed in Melbourne, manufactured around the globe, Provincial Home Living will nestle in your heart. Provincial Home Living originated in Wangaratta's Reid Street early in 2002 where the Provincial founders owned a small store. Beginning as a hobby, the generic manchester store reopened it's doors with a fresh outlook on retail, bringing a new approach in homewares and furniture which was readily embraced. Following the success of the Wangaratta store, a site became available in Bendigo, then Ballarat and so the Provincial Home Living adventure really began. The journey continued through the years and country Victoria opening another seven stores. The concept of the products and the presentation was refined and then inroads were made into Melbourne, Canberra and Albury. In 2012 the first superstore was opened in Adelaide, followed by another in Mornington, Victoria. The opening of our first Sydney store in December 2013 and most recently the opening of two Brisbane stores in 2016. In just over 20 years Provincial Home Living has grown from one small country store to a large business with 35 stores across Australia and the aspiration to open more superstores. Provincial Home Living is still proudly family owned and managed.

Astec is a unique organisation with its staff qualifications and backgrounds combining to provide a skill base that can source and custom fit equipment to suit you, the client. We are a group of like minded, highly skilled and qualified individuals that make up an altruistic business that has supported Ballarat and district for more than 25 years. We provide very special solutions for very special people and these qualities are available to all customers, no matter what the requirement. Astec also stocks a large array of the Shoprider, Invacare, Merits and Trek Electric Mobility Scooters. Our range of Daily Living Aids is vast and provides many solutions for those tasks that become increasingly difficult as we age. These also can at times need some modification to suit the client. In conjunction with occupational therapists we have designed and produced many one-off assistive items. Astec operates a large modern workshop with trained technicians where all aspects of equipment repair are carried out in house. Our technicians also travel throughout the region from Melton to Horsham, Bendigo to Warrnambool and all towns in between, completing repairs onsite or collecting items when the work needs to be completed in the workshop.