As darkness descends on Saturday May 6, Sovereign Hill will come alive for a Corroboree under the stars. Immerse yourself in the history and living culture of the oldest continuous culture in the world with mesmerising performances, dances and stories from the Wadawurrung people and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Ballarat.
Corroborees have a long history in the goldfields of Ballarat, dating back to the 1860s when they were performed as a form of entertainment for miners. Given its location on a former 15 hectare gold mining site, Sovereign Hill Lake is the perfect spot for this Australian Aboriginal dance ceremony that honours and celebrates important traditions.
The audience won't just be spectators at the Corroboree, they’ll be part of the performance. Make your mark on the stage backdrop by adding a colourful handprint in wet ochre, humankind’s first natural clay paint pot. Then settle in and watch the performance unfold with traditional dance, song, language and storytelling from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community who have called the Ballarat region home for the past 60,000 years.
Don’t forget to bring a rug for a picnic under the stars with bush-inspired snacks plus hot and cold drinks from Sovereign Hill Cafe. Limited seating is also available if you get there early with doors opening at 5:30pm for a 6pm start. Tickets are $15 for children and $25 for adults with family packs also offered.
Return to Sovereign Hill in daylight to explore a series of heritage, arts, culture and food trails this autumn. The Outdoor Museum is a living township with diggings, underground mines, costumed characters, coach rides, 1850s shops, dwellings and more. Plan your next adventure at Sovereign Hill here and book tickets to the Corroboree online here.