The City of Ballarat is about 110 km NW of Melbourne in the Central Highlands region of VIC. It is home to nearly 90,000 people (2007 figures) and along with Bendigo, is one of the largest inland cities.
Getting there
From Hoppers Crossing, we took the M1 in the direction of Melbourne and then the M8. We later discovered that we could have taken a shortcut and saved ourselves about 20 minutes by using the C702 (Derrimut Road - Leakes Road - M8). Alternatively, you can travel on the M1 towards Geelong and take the A300, which is what we did on the way back. Driving time was the same both ways: 1.5 hours.
The day we visited, it was super hot. I'd forgotten to pack enough hats, so only Beth's scalp was saved from frying.
What's good to see and do at Sovereign Hill?
Pan for gold
Beth and CA spent a good deal of time (along with a lot of other hopefuls) kneeling by the stream sifting panfuls of silt and looking for gold. Me, I was busy hunting for shade for J and myself.
Later, we were told that SV actually puts $300 worth of gold dust into the stream once a week. Of course, they didn't say which day they do that!
Find out what you're worth
One of the museums has this weighing scale which lets you calculate (for just $1) your weight and what that's worth in the gold equivalent today.
Explore the Red Hill Mine
This one's not suitable if you're claustrophobic, have poor night vision (as I do) or other health conditions. Leave bulky backpacks and strollers outside.
Your journey starts with a descent down a flight of stairs into the mine, then you walk single file along a narrow tunnel that sometimes goes completely dark. I was glad Beth was holding my hand! A recorded voice tells you where to go and there's a holographic reenactment of the discovery of the second largest gold nugget ever found in Ballarat.
Walk around the replica of a village and see what life was like in the 19th century
Beth was tickled to meet a Mr J. Taylor, who was out and about with a carton of milk with one hand when a policeman invited himself into his house!
We also visited the local school, the church, the Victoria Theatre, the foundry, the gold smelting works where we watched goldsmith transform liquid gold into a 3 kg gold ingot.
Too hot to walk?
Take a coach ride. At least you'll be too high up to smell the horse poo that litters the streets!
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