DAY 3 - SOVEREIGN HILL

A fantastic day was had at Sovereign Hill where we immersed ourselves in the stories and culture of Ballarat’s first fabulous decade following the discovery of gold in 1851. Exhibits and stories of the great Australian gold rushes, and their importance to our national heritage, inspired us all.

Some of the highlights included a guided tour which commenced with a short trip underground (about 20 metres) where we navigated the tunnels and learned about the Chinese who came to Ballarat to seek their fortune. Some of the tunnels were more than 350 metres underground. The whole day was action-packed, especially trying our luck at panning for gold. In the Gold Smelting Works we witnessed a $160,000 pure gold ingot being poured. 

We were all smiles thinking it was officially holiday time… until the school bell rang and we found ourselves in front the Head Mistress of 1854 who we had to call Ma’am. She was a hard task-mistress who had the boys and girls line up in their respective lines in height order from shortest to tallest. We learned to use a nib and ink as we had to comply with the three s’s… size, scale and slope. Certain boys were labelled sinister lads as they had used their left hands. In the day, they would have had their left arm tied behind their back until they learned to write with their right.

There were people in period costume, as well as various re-enactments throughout the day. One of the ‘bobbies’ was keen to question our boys. He thought Ethan and George were dodgy characters. The Red Coat soldiers fired their muskets in a historical display. Pies, sausage rolls and delicious pastries were consumed with the wood-fire bakery a crowd favourite.