— What You Can Expect —

Sovereign Hill is a living museum presenting the story of Ballarat as a gold rush boomtown. Gold was discovered here in 1851, triggering the greatest alluvial gold rush the world has ever known. The sleepy pastoral settlement of Ballarat grew rapidly into a fine provincial city built on the wealth derived from its gold.

Covering 15 hectares of a former gold mining site, Sovereign Hill's Outdoor Museum brings the gold rush to life through a living township with over 18 scheduled activities happening throughout the day, you can find yourself panning for real gold, witness musket firing, see boiled lollies, wheels, and candles being made all before your very eyes.

The Outdoor Museum enjoys international renown as a living museum featuring rare trades, working machinery, exhibits, and costumed interpreters.

Daily activities include:

- The Diggings Tour
Explore Life on the early Goldfields hosted by a costumed interpreter.

- The Red Hill Mine Tour
Discover the dark, dangerous world of deep lead mining and witness the discovery of the famous “Welcome Nugget”.

- Gold panning
There’s real gold to be found in The Diggings and it’s yours to keep! Make sure you stop by the Waterloo store and purchase a gold bottle to protect your precious find.

- Musket Firing
Our Troopers will tell you about law and order on the goldfields and demonstrate to you how to load and fire a musket.

- Sweet Making
Discover how boiled lollies are made in the traditional way and enjoy a sample at the end of the demonstration.

- Gold Pour
Pure gold is melted to 1,000 degrees Celsius and poured into a mould to create a pure Gold Ingot.

- Candlemaking
Be mesmerised by the enticing scents of our 19th-century candle factory and watch our candle makers in action.

- Bowling
Set up the skittles and try your hand at 9-pin bowling.

- Wheelwrighting
Watch our skilled craftsmen create hubs, and spokes and assemble coach wheels using traditional 19th-century methods.

Step back in time as you enter Sovereign Hill

Experience the livelihood of the 19th century and learn all about the Victorian gold rush