Step back in time to the 1850s and absorb the bygone world of the 1850s Gold Rush

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The decor around the museum is so detailed. They've really thought of everything!
The decor around the museum is so detailed. They've really thought of everything!

Looking for a fun day out near Melbourne?

Experience the Ballarat Gold Rush by heading over to Sovereign Hill!

This charming, immersive museum has replicated what life was like in Gold Rush Victoria. You’ll be able to step back in time and see what life was like in history. Learn about the working conditions in the gold mine, pan for gold, and experience the excitement of this immersive museum!

The perfect one-day trip from Melbourne

Distance from Melbourne: 1.5 hours 

Sov Hill

Sovereign Hill is only about an hour away from Melbourne CBD, making it a convenient day trip from the city.

It’s a great tour which will give you a fascinating insight into what life was like during Gold Rush in Australia! Welcome to this fascinating slice of Victorian history, not too far from Melbourne!

There are heaps of family-friendly, fun activities at this iconic museum, such as:

  • Gold Panning
  • Getting your photo taken Victorian style
  • Wander around the town and explore traditional Victorian-style buildings
  • Exploring a real gold mine

Gold Panning

This could be your eureka moment! Pan for gold in the river using the traditional gold panning technique

Try your hand at panning for real gold!
Try your hand at panning for real gold!

Gold panning is all in the wrist. It’s a technique that separates sediment and rocks from nuggets of gold.  Historically, people required a license to pan for gold. But not anymore! Search for gold nuggets at Sovereign Hill and pan for real gold.

How does Gold Panning work?

Simply dig your shovel into the rocks, and then pile what you find on top of your pan. Then, when you’re ready, you can pile it onto your gold pan. Shake the gold pan around with water, and lightly dip the end of the pan into the water to remove the larger rocks. Keep repeating this until the sediment is really small, and you should spot tiny nuggets of gold!

The Life of a Miner

Find out about the tough conditions of mining life

Imagine going on a real tour of a quartz mine? With the Sovereign Hill quartz mine tour, you’ll be able to descend underground and discover real stories of real-life miners.

It’s shocking to think of how miners used to work in such harsh conditions! Find out about the super-harsh conditions of the mines and how the miners used to be restricted to small conditions for a long time.

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Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward began with a passion for travel and turned it into a thriving tourism business. He co-founded Sightseeing Tours Australia after starting out as a tour guide in Melbourne. Cameron delights in helping visitors get the most from their trip to Australia. Whether he's leading tours or writing about his favourite places, Cameron loves sharing his local insight with fellow travellers.

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