Sovereign Hill
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Sovereign Hill is a popular attraction, depicting Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold, in 1851. It is located at Ballarat, Victoria within Australia. First officially opened on 29 November 1970 on a 25 hectare site liked to the richest alluvial goldrush in the world. Sovereign Hill is an interactive museum which has been proven to be popular with children and adults alike.
Set in the Australian 1850s, the complex comprises over 60 buildings that are known to have existed during that time, and have been historically recreated with great accuracy. The park is "inhabited" by costumed volunteers, who are able to answer questions and will pose for photos. The recreation is completed with antiques, artwork, books and papers, machinery, livestock and animals, carriages and devices all appropriate to the era.
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[edit] Features
The Diggings is one of the centre points of the complex, featuring a winding creek in which visitors are able to pan for real gold. This area is surrounded by tents and shacks contemporary to the early years of the gold rush, as well as a beautiful Buddhist Temple.
There are two mines which have guided tours at regular intervals. The Red Mill Mine tells the story of two Cornish brothers and their experiences on the goldfields by using a sound and light show. Sovereign Quartz Mine runs guided tours and features several underground displays. It also features steam-driven machinery for pumping water and processing the ore.
The Main Street is lined with shops, two hotels and a theatre. There are horse and carriage rides that last for around 7 minutes and give visitors a good tour of the park.
Among the shops on Main Street there is also a blacksmith's workshop, stables,photography rooms (where you can dress up in old style clothing and take photos) apothecary, two bakeries, a jeweller's shop, grocer, tentmaker, milliner, woodturner, tinsmith, pottery, bank, post office and library. The candlestick maker’s shop at the top end of the street is a great place for the children, who can see candles being made and coloured and for a few dollars you can make your own colourful candle.
Backing onto Main Street is Brown's Confectionery Manufactory where guests can see 1850s style lollies being made.
At the Southern end of Main Street is the Empire Bowling Salloon, where guests can play a free game of nine-pin bowling.
In the back streets of Sovereign Hill there are lots of miner's cottages, which visitors are able to walk through.
A recent addition to Sovereign Hill is the $80,000 gold pouring session where you can see pure liquid gold melted and poured into a three kilogram bullion bar.
Sovereign Hill has two schools where children in school-groups can dress up in period costume and attend as a child of the 1850s. The children would be taught how to write in calligraphy, girls would learn to sew and boys learn to work in a small factory. Discipline, food and even games are appropriate to the era.
Quality practical crafts on display include the Coachbuilders & Wheelwrights workshops, which feature beautiful 1850s era coaches being constructed using traditional methods. There is also a Blacksmith and Farrier complex, currently ran by prominent local artist and blacksmith, Tim Bignell.
The second largest gold nugget in the world was found at Sovereign Hill. Dubbed the Welcome Nugget as it was a welcome return from the lack of gold, it was displayed for a time for a price, with proceeds going to charity. Eventually it was minted in London. It was 69 kg in weight and contained 99% pure gold. That's 2,200 ounces of gold, worth about 10,500 pounds then, and worth nearly $700,000 US now. The nugget was found by a Cornish miner in 1858.
[edit] Blood on the Southern Cross
Blood on the Southern Cross is a multi-million dollar sound-and-light show depicting the Eureka Stockade story of 1854. Run at night for a length of 80 minutes, with over 3,000 lights, and being fully automated, it is one of the biggest attractions in the area.
[edit] Accommodation
Sovereign Hill also offers four-star accommodation within the grounds. If you plan to stay in one of the three styles of rooms you will receive a discounted price on entry to the park.
