1. Drysdale horses pulling along a horse and cart at Sovereign Hill
    Photograph: Supplied | Sovereign Hill
  2. Man inspecting a gold nugget
    Photograph: Supplied
  3. A woman in an 1850s outfit behind the counter in a sweet shop
    Photograph: Supplied
  4. A depiction of an eaglehawk
    Photograph: Supplied
  5. A Chinese-style temple with a projection of a man on it
    Photograph: Peter Glenane
  6. A dark scene with a mining poppet lit up
    Photograph: Peter Glenane

Sovereign Hill

Ballarat's outdoor gold rush museum continues to delight locals and tourists with its authentic 1850s experiences
  • Things to do
  • Ballarat
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Time Out says

Update 19/11/2020: Sovereign Hill has reopened to the public but some experiences remain unavailable due to current restrictions. Check with the venue for details.

Sovereign Hill is where history comes to life. The ten-hectare outdoor museum is sort of an antipodean version of Westworld, sans the homicidal robots and hedonistic atmosphere. Sovereign Hill genuinely makes learning about Victoria’s gold rush history fun, whether you’re panning for gold in the creek or dipping your own candle. 

You’ll find Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, a goldfields town roughly 90 minutes drive from Melbourne (the town is also serviced by a VLine train from Southern Cross Station). Once you step through the admission building into the recreated 1850s town you’ll find yourself surrounded by characters in historically accurate costumes, horse and carts and attractions that reveal what life was like during one of Victoria’s, if not Australia’s, most significant historical periods. 

You can spend hours meandering through the streets and exploring each building, however, it is worth looking at demonstration times and going in with a plan, too. See blacksmiths take to the anvil, confectioners create old school boiled sweets and even witness the spectacular gold pour where $160,000 of gold is melted and turned into a three-kilogram bullion.

Other daytime highlights at Sovereign Hill include the old-timey photography studio (dress up and get a sepia photograph with your friends) and underground mine tours. Then at night time come back for the outdoor show Aura.

Aura goes right back to the beginning of gold. All the way back the beginning of everything in fact. The immersive after-dark theatrical experience can be divided into three parts. First guests are treated to a (frankly, mind-bending) 3D film that takes you back to the big bang and the formation of all elements – including gold. 

Guests then hop on an open-air bus for a short, Jurassic Park-esque drive through Sovereign Hill to the outdoor amphitheatre for a creation story from the land’s traditional owners, the Wathaurong people. Hear about Bunjil the eaglehawk through a magical projection show – the colourful, luminous projections against the dark bushland bring the story to life and remind us that Ballarat's history is not just that of the gold rush.

Finally, Aura takes you into a third theatre for the pièce de résistance; the story of Ballarat – the story of gold – from just before European invasion to the bloody Eureka Stockade and the aftermath. The 90-minute experience is filled with dazzling visuals and dramatic special effects; don’t be too concerned if you hear gunshots or see buildings spontaneously catch alight.

Details

Address
39 Magpie St
Ballarat
Melbourne
3350
Price:
$46.80-$58.50
Opening hours:
Daily 10am-5pm (except Christmas Day)

What’s on

Winter Wonderlights

It’s time to dig out your winter woollies and make the drive to Ballarat, because Sovereign Hill is hosting an illuminated extravaganza this July. That’s right, the annual Winter Wonderlights program is back for another year and this edition promises to bring a bumper schedule of nighttime activities. Until July 27 (including the school holidays), the much-loved outdoor Gold Rush museum will once again transform into a whimsical winter wonderland, with dazzling new light installations, warming fires, cosy food and drink options, family-friendly activities, live music and more. Walking through a 19th-century town is always a fascinating experience, but the addition of Christmas music, faux snowfalls and glowing projections on the shopfronts of the main street takes the Sovereign Hill experience to a whole new level. If exploring after-dark works up an appetite, then warm up with a delicious two-course hearty meal at the Charlie Napier Hotel. Enjoy a festive serving of roast turkey and glazed ham with all the trimmings, followed by dessert.  Your Winter Wonderlights ticket includes entry into regular Sovereign Hill activities during both the day and evening. Book your tickets online here to avoid missing out. Looking to get lit in Melbourne? Here is everything illuminated and glowing in our city this winter.
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