Sovereign Hill situated in Ballarat is an outdoor living museum which recreates the conditions of Ballarat’s early Goldfields. Set across 64acres of hillside, Sovereign Hill represents the Gold rush era of 1850’s and succeeded in recreating the crafts and trades existed on those days with live demonstration given at blacksmith’s forge, the candle works, the wheelwright’s plant, the coach builder’s and the confectionery factory.
Sovereign Hill was officially opened on 29th November 1970 and soon became the most popular tourist attraction of Ballarat. To create real life scenarios, costumed ladies and gents in their goldrush era attires join the visitors to have a chit chat along the way.
There is an opportunity to pan for gold near the creek and keep what you find – usually nothing. A diggers tent village is recreated here with a Chinese settlement closer by, including a joss temple. There is an underground gold mine tour which requires extra payment to experience what it was like to work in a mine.
The entry fee to sovereign Hill also covers for entry to nearby Gold Museum which has displays on the History of Ballarat and its tryst with the yellow metal. The entry fee for an adult is nearly $60, which makes it an expensive affair for most families to be here. A cheaper alternative is to visit Ballarat Town which still carries a lot of its Gold rush era charm.
At Night, Sovereign Hill presents 90 minutes of spectacular light and sound show, “Blood on the Southern Cross”, the story of the 1854 Eureka Uprising. “Death on the Goldfields”, a lamplight tour leads into the darker side of goldfields life.
The Main Street at Sovereign Hill was loosely modelled on the Main Street at Ballarat East which was consumed in a large fire in 1860.
Details
Address: Bradshaw Street, Ballarat, Victoria 3350
Contact Email: enquiries@sovereignhill.com.au Web
Web: www.sovereignhill.com.au/
Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm every day except Christmas Day.
During daylight saving, Sovereign Hill is open until 5.30 pm
