Ballarat Things to Do Tips by BerniShand

THE GOLD MUSEUM

Next to Sovereign Hill is the Gold Museum, admission price is included with the Sovereign Hill ticket, or you can pay A$6.80 just to visit here, the museum is open from 9.30 to 5.20
I wish we had gone in here before we went into Sovereign Hill, it gives you some great background information about the life and times of some local prospectors

It is a very interesting well laid out museum, and tells the story of mining in the area, and many pieces of locally found gold are on display, some nuggets found very recently, so its still out there folks ! you just have to find it !

SOVEREIGN HILL VISITOR INFORMATION

Sovereign Hill is open daily from 10am to 5pm
admission costs AUD27 for adults, there are reduced prices for children and family tickets are available
the ticket price includes admission to the Gold Museum next door
the site is accessable for wheelchairs, though some areas are a bit bumpy
there are food outlets and a bar, or you can bring a picnic
there is a spectacular sound and light show in the evenings [ not Sundays, except during school holidays ] which is staged all around the town, and tells the story of the miners rebellion at the Eureka Stockade, we couldnt see this as it was booked up, for bookings ring 03 5333 5777

Address: Sovereign Hill, Bradshaw Street

Phone: 03 5331 1944

Website: http://www.sovereignhill.com.au

THE GOLD MINE

you can actually go inside the gold mine when you visit Sovereign Hill, there are regular tours [ there is an extra charge for this ] you can also see the gold processing machinery in operation, including the large stamper battery and the smelting furnace

gold is harvested from quartz by crushing the rock in the stamper battery, the powder is them washed over copper plates coated with mercury
the gold dust sticks to the mercury and then the amalgam is heated, the mercury evaporates and is condensed to be re-use, this leaves the pure gold behind

RIDE ON THE STAGECOACH

For 3 dollars you can have a ride around Sovereign Hill on an authentic Cobb & co stagecoach
I had wanted to ride in one for ages, but having done it I wonder how people managed to travel such long distances in them, it was SO uncomfortable ! and there was very little room inside...........the thought of travelling all day in one, through the dusty Australian countryside would be enough to make me want to stay at home

PAN FOR GOLD

When you visit Sovereign Hill grab a pan at the stream and learn to pan for gold, there will be someone on hand to show you how its done, then just pick your spot and get panning
The stream has gold dust in it, also several nuggets ! whatever you find you can keep, so you may be lucky

But dont get too carried away, there are lots of things to see and do here, you dont want to spend ALL your time looking for gold.......

or do you ?

Address: Sovereign Hill

SOVEREIGN HILL

Walk back in time to the days of the gold rush and see a reconstruction of a mining settlement
its all here,
a tent with the flap open, peek inside, it looks like someone has just left
a small house with a miners wife cooking stew for dinner
the Chinese quarter, you can tell how little or how much success the miners have had by the few comforts inside their tents

wandering around are miners, ladies and mine owners, dont worry about law and order because the Redcoats are here, muskets loaded........cover your ears when the flag is raised ! those muskets are VERY loud !

Address: Sovereign Hill, Bradshaw Street

Directions: look out for the signposts

Phone: 03 5337 1100

Website: http://www.sovereignhill.com.au