Sovereign Hill at Ballarat is a theme park with setting in the 1850s, modelled after the gold rush era, from the school to shop, to the activities and trade of that time.
It is about ninety minutes drive from Melbourne city.
When you entered the “town”, you will be led to the main street with lots of different shops. One of the first shop we entered was the confectionery shop selling lollies and chocolate.
As we walked further, we reached the Poppet Head, which is used as an observation tower in the park.
We climbed the twenty metres tall shaft to enjoy the view of Ballarat.
One of the highlights in Sovereign Hill is the Red Coat Soldiers. The soldiers dressed in red will parade in the “town” and then perform the firing. At the end of the performance, you can pose with these handsome soldiers for a photograph.
We continued to explore the “town”.
There were some interesting building in the “town”, like the Empire Bowling Saloon.
You can enjoy a game of bowling here. Everything is very primitive. Unlike our modern days, the pins are manually re-set, bowling balls are manually retrieved. You will get to do more exercises playing the bowling here.
In the town there are houses of the 1850s design, featuring each rooms with furniture
and a school and on-going “classes”.
We attended a “class” at the Ragged School too.
During the 19th century, people used to rear their own live stocks, you will spot birds like the turkey, animals like the goat and horses in the town.
The demonstration that you might not want to missed is the Gold Pouring.
The demonstrator will show you how the gold is melted to pouring them over the mould to setting it and get the end product, gold. It is very interesting.
Other interesting activity is gold panning, try your luck at the Digging Creeks and if you are lucky, you may find gold.
There are also some other interesting building, like the Chinese quarters and the Chinese temple.
It is a fun attraction for the family with especially children. For adult like me, I find it very educational, getting to know the life back then and how gold were mined and how the final gold bar was made.
Sovereign Hill, Barat
Bradshaw Street, Ballarat
Opening Hours
Soverign Hill – Daily 0900 to 1700, except Christmas – closed
Gold Museum – Daily 0930 to 1730, except Christmas – closed
Note: Both Soverign Hill and Gold Museum are closed on Christmas
Admission
Click here for the details
Getting There
By Train:
- Ride the V/Line train from Southern Cross station and alight at Ballarat station, then transfer to the Gold Rush Special. Tickets can be purchased either online or at the V/Line sales outlet
By Car
- The most convenient way to get to Sovereign Hill
Link to check out before you go: