Sovereign Hill

The Township, 1854 to 1861

The buildings and businesses of the Township are based on those which grew in the late 1850s to service the miners. Much careful research has gone into each building, and particular activities centred upon it.Highlights: Visit the shops or watch the craftsmen work at their ancient trades, many of which are now dying out. Pay a call at the schools and cottages. Ride on a coach. Talk to the costumed people who portray the diggers and townspeople of the period. There are free shows in the theatre on most days of the week. The Diggings, 1851 to 1855

Thousands of people came from all over the world to gather up the surface alluvial gold. They constructed elaborate pieces of mining machinery to separate the gold from the gravels of buried creeks. They built simple dwellings for shelter and warmth. In the Red Hill Gully Diggings you can see how miners lived and worked during the first years of the goldrush.Highlight: Pan for gold - you may be lucky!

The Mining Museum, 1860 to 1918

On the boundary of the Township stands an imposing poppet head surrounded by the steam-driven surface installations of a turn-of-the-century quartz mine. This is part of the Mining Museum which carries the story of 'winning gold' beyond the 1861 period. Highlights: Visit the Mine Information Centre opposite the poppet head, where you can learn more about the steam-operated machinery in our Mine. Take a tour below ground through a 600 meter long tunnel. Here you will see displays and dioramas illustrating the development of mining techniques, and showing the conditions under which the miners worked.

You will enjoy the history and people in this great attraction and it should be on the top of your list when you come to Melbourne Victoria and many day tours are always available daily.