Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Horse in the Park

Soverign Hill, Ballarat – A Day At The Gold Mining Town

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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill

 

It is about ninety minutes drive from Melbourne city.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - A view of a road

 

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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Poppet Head

 

We climbed the twenty metres tall shaft to enjoy the view of Ballarat.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - View from Poppet Head

 

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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Musket Firing

 

We continued to explore the “town”.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - A view

There were some interesting building in the “town”, like the Empire Bowling Saloon.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Church, Fire Station & 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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Bowling

 

In the town there are houses of the 1850s design, featuring each rooms with furniture

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - A bedroom

 

and a school and on-going “classes”.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Ragged School

 

We attended a “class” at the Ragged School too.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - A Turkey

 

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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - A goat

 

The demonstration that you might not want to missed is the Gold Pouring.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - 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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Final Gold Bar

 

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.

 

Soverign Hill, Ballarat - Sovereign Hill - Gift Shop

 

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:

Souvereign Hill Website

V/Line Tickets and Time Tables information