This data taken from weatherspark.com shows a difference of four degrees C in summer and two degrees C in winter between the two cities. This is mainly due to the higher altitude (height above sea level) of Ballarat at 441 m compared to Bendigo at 213 m. There has been a rule of thumb data that showed winter time temperatures decreased by between 0.70 C to one degree C for every 100 m in altitude. This puts paid to the claim that British and US scientists were able to measure earth’s average temperatures from so fewer weather stations in 1988. Satellite data was available in 1979 but not preferred over ground level stations

Dr. Hansen, who records temperatures from readings at monitoring stations around the world, had previously reported that four of the hottest years on record occurred in the 1980’s. Compared with a 30-year base period from 1950 to 1980, when the global temperature averaged 59 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature was one-third of a degree higher last year. In the entire century before 1880, global temperature had risen by half a degree, rising in the late 1800’s and early 20th century, then roughly stabilizing for unknown reasons for several decades in the middle of the century. Surprising that Al Gore would promote NOAA’s ridiculous 62 Degrees Fahrenheit posted in the UPI link below.

Record warm intensified in early 1998 – UPI Archives

Global Warmth In ’88 Is Found To Set a Record – The New York Times