Sovereign Hill

Saturday:
We, about twelve of us, spent the day at Sovereign Hill, Australia’s foremost outdoor museum. Sovereign Hill recreates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of international fortune-hunters rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of riches.

By day, Sovereign Hill is where Australia’s history comes to life! It's just like stepping back in time – from the hustle and bustle of Main Street where costumed ladies and gents parade their new-found wealth, to the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings where you can pan for REAL gold. No facades here, it is the real Mc Coy, authentic to the last.

We saw a spectacular $50,000 gold pour and ventured underground on a fully-guided gold mine tour. There were horse-drawn coaches touring the Township. There were working shops, hotels, schools, a theatre, crafts, a wheelwright, a candle maker, a confectioner and steam-driven machinery.

The streets were a theatre, where we were entertained by costumed goldfields characters who acted out scenes from the 1850s. It is not surprising that is was voted Australia's Best Historic and Cultural entertainment venue.

The Gold Museum, across the road was fantastic and we finished with a barbie organised by our hosts. We all had to sing our national anthem but I had the words of 'Danny Boy' ready and everyone joined in-there wasn't a dry eye in the house! I was very tired as I followed Sherry and Ian home to their beautiful house in the outback, just outside the nearby town of Cheswick.