Sovereign Hill: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
Adding local short description: "Open-air museum in Australia", overriding Wikidata description "open-air museum recreating an 1850s gold mining township in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, Australia" |
||
| (87 intermediate revisions by 59 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}} |
|||
| ⚫ | '''Sovereign Hill''' is an [[open |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} |
|||
{{More citations needed|date=December 2014}} |
|||
[[File:1 ballarat sovereign hill aerial panorama 2018.jpg|thumb|350px|Aerial panorama of Sovereign Hill]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | '''Sovereign Hill''' is an [[open-air museum]] in [[Golden Point, Victoria|Golden Point]], a suburb of [[Ballarat]], Victoria, Australia. Sovereign Hill depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851 and has become a nationally acclaimed tourist attraction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/35504bc71d3adebcca256cfc0082c2b8/5a7b59e10a6c6b8fca257123000383a7!OpenDocument|title=Media Release: SOVEREIGN HILL CLAIMS NATIONAL TOURISM AWARD|date=2009-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023211539/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/35504bc71d3adebcca256cfc0082c2b8/5a7b59e10a6c6b8fca257123000383a7!OpenDocument|archive-date=23 October 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is one of Victoria's most popular attractions and Ballarat's most famous.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitballarat.com.au/?id=ballarathistoricceme |title=Attractions, Restaurants & Accommodation |publisher=Visit Ballarat |date=26 April 2016 |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> |
||
Set in the |
Set in the Australian 1850s, the complex is located on a 25-hectare site that is linked to the richest [[alluvial]] [[gold rush]] in the world. The site comprises over 60 historically recreated buildings, with costumed staff and volunteers, who are able to answer questions and will pose for [[photo]]s. The recreation is completed with antiques, artwork, books and papers, machinery, livestock and animals, carriages, and devices all appropriate to the era. |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
The second-largest gold nugget in the world was found in Ballarat in the [[Red Hill Mine]] which is recreated in Sovereign Hill. The [[Welcome Nugget]] weighed 69 kg,(2,200 ounces) and comprised 99.2% pure gold, valued at about 10,596 [[Australian pound|pounds]] when found, and worth over US$3 million in gold now, or far more as a specimen. |
|||
The idea of Sovereign Hill was floated in Ballarat in the 1960s, as a way to preserve historic buildings |
The idea of Sovereign Hill was floated in Ballarat in the 1960s, as a way to preserve historic buildings and to recreate the gold diggings that made the city. The complex was officially opened to the public on 29 November 1970.<ref>{{cite web|author=简体 |url=http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/?id=backgroundofsovereig |title=Family Tourist Attraction, Goldrush, Fun for Kids, Day Trip from Melbourne |website=Sovereignhill.com.au |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> |
||
Main street is a loose reconstruction of Main Street, [[Ballarat East, Victoria|Ballarat East]] which was once the settlement's main street, consisting of timber buildings. It was consumed in a large fire during the 1860s and a more substantial town centre planned around Sturt and Lydiard Street in Ballarat West. |
Main street is a loose reconstruction of Main Street, [[Ballarat East, Victoria|Ballarat East]] which was once the settlement's main street, consisting of timber buildings. It was consumed in a large fire during the 1860s and a more substantial town centre planned around Sturt and Lydiard Street in Ballarat West. |
||
==Attractions== |
==Attractions== |
||
[[ |
[[File:Sovereign Hill Ballarat 0018.jpg|thumb|right|A bakery and other assorted shops on main street.]] |
||
The gold diggings are the centre point of the complex, featuring a winding [[Creek (stream)|creek]] in which visitors are able to pan for real |
The gold diggings are the centre point of the complex, featuring a winding [[Creek (stream)|creek]] in which visitors are able to pan for real gold. This area is surrounded by tents and buildings contemporary to the early years of the gold rush. A recent addition to Sovereign Hill is the Gold Pour where pure gold valued at $300,000 is melted and poured into a three-kilogram bullion bar. |
||
There are two mines which have guided tours at regular intervals. The Red Hill Mine is a self-guided tour that tells the story of a group of Cornishmen and their discovery of the [[Welcome Nugget]]. The Sovereign Quartz Mine runs 40 |
There are two mines which have guided tours at regular intervals. The Red Hill Mine is a self-guided tour that tells the story of a group of [[Cornishmen]] and their discovery of the [[Welcome Nugget]]. [[The Sovereign Quartz Mine]] runs 40-minute guided tours and features several underground displays. Above ground it also features steam-driven machinery for pumping water and processing the ore. More recently an attraction titled "Trapped" has been added. This exhibit, which is set in series of above-ground concrete structures designed to look like tunnels from within, tells the story of the [[New Australasian Gold Mine disaster]] at [[Creswick, Victoria|Creswick]] in 1882. Twenty-two miners died because of the collapse and flooding of the New Australasian No. 2 Mine. This is still considered one of Australia's worst mining disasters. Australia's worst mining disaster was the Mount Keira Mine Disaster in 1902 which killed 96 workers. |
||
Main Street is lined with shops, two hotels and a theatre. There is a [[blacksmith]]'s workshop, stables, photography studio, [[apothecary]], bakery, jeweller's shop, grocer, tentmaker, [[tinsmith]], bank, post office, candle-dipping shop, lolly shop, [[nine-pin bowling]] saloon and library. Behind Main Street there are a number of period cottages which are open for visitors. There are also four schools where children in school-groups dress in period costume and attend as a child of the 1850s. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[File:Sovereign Hill underground mine train censored 20160725.jpg|thumb|The train in Sovereign hill.]] |
|||
==Mine tram== |
|||
The Sovereign Hill mine tram, opened in March 2008, is an inclined tramway that takes tourists into the mine for a tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/media/uploads/Sov_Hill_fact_sheet_2.pdf |format=PDF |title=Sovereign Hill Fact Sheet |website=Sovereignhill.com.au |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> Each tram is 1.35 metres wide and 1.55 metres high, and can carry 33 passengers. The tram goes through a flap, and enters a dark tunnel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sovereignhill.com.au/news/article/the-secret-chamber |title=The Secret Chamber Journey underground into the depths of a gold mine |website=Sovereignhill.com.au |access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> |
|||
===Stations=== |
|||
The Sovereign Hill mine tram has 3 stations – the top station, and two bottom stations. The two bottom stations are located in the mine, and the top station is located in a small hut, which has 2 platforms and a tram per platform. The two bottom stations only has a single platform, as each mine tram goes to a different section.<!-- Since the two trams are driven by a driver and separate cables, it is technically not a funicular. see http://www.amcconsultants.com/digging%20deeper%20articles/ride-the-inclined-tramway--> |
|||
==See also== |
|||
* [[Chilean mill]], a replica of which has been constructed at Sovereign Hill open-air museum in [[Ballarat]]. |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
==Bibliography== |
|||
Frost, W (2005) Making an edgier interpretation of the Gold Rushes: contrasting perspectives from Australia and New Zealand. ''International Journal of Heritage Studies'', 11 (3), pp. 235–250. |
* Frost, W (2005) Making an edgier interpretation of the Gold Rushes: contrasting perspectives from Australia and New Zealand. ''International Journal of Heritage Studies'', 11 (3), pp. 235–250. |
||
Evans, M (1991) Historical interpretation at Sovereign Hill. ''Australian Historical Studies'' 24 (96), pp. 142–152. |
* Evans, M (1991) Historical interpretation at Sovereign Hill. ''Australian Historical Studies'' 24 (96), pp. 142–152. |
||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{commons category}} |
{{commons category}} |
||
* |
* {{Official website|http://www.sovereignhill.com.au}} |
||
{{coord|37|34.507|S|143|51.954|E|type:landmark_region:AU|display=title}} |
{{coord|37|34.507|S|143|51.954|E|type:landmark_region:AU|display=title}} |
||
{{Australian Theme Parks}} |
{{Australian Theme Parks}}{{Museums and galleries in Victoria (Australia) |
||
}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:1970 establishments in Australia]] |
[[Category:1970 establishments in Australia]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Mining museums in Australia]] |
[[Category:Mining museums in Australia]] |
||
[[Category:Gold mining]] |
|||
[[Category:Museums established in 1970]] |
[[Category:Museums established in 1970]] |
||
[[Category:Open-air museums in Australia]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
Latest revision as of 19:07, 4 October 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2014) |
Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Sovereign Hill depicts Ballarat's first ten years after the discovery of gold there in 1851 and has become a nationally acclaimed tourist attraction.[1] It is one of Victoria's most popular attractions and Ballarat's most famous.[2]
Set in the Australian 1850s, the complex is located on a 25-hectare site that is linked to the richest alluvial gold rush in the world. The site comprises over 60 historically recreated buildings, with costumed staff and volunteers, who are able to answer questions and will pose for photos. The recreation is completed with antiques, artwork, books and papers, machinery, livestock and animals, carriages, and devices all appropriate to the era.
History
[edit]The second-largest gold nugget in the world was found in Ballarat in the Red Hill Mine which is recreated in Sovereign Hill. The Welcome Nugget weighed 69 kg,(2,200 ounces) and comprised 99.2% pure gold, valued at about 10,596 pounds when found, and worth over US$3 million in gold now, or far more as a specimen.
The idea of Sovereign Hill was floated in Ballarat in the 1960s, as a way to preserve historic buildings and to recreate the gold diggings that made the city. The complex was officially opened to the public on 29 November 1970.[3]
Main street is a loose reconstruction of Main Street, Ballarat East which was once the settlement's main street, consisting of timber buildings. It was consumed in a large fire during the 1860s and a more substantial town centre planned around Sturt and Lydiard Street in Ballarat West.
Attractions
[edit]
The gold diggings are the centre point of the complex, featuring a winding creek in which visitors are able to pan for real gold. This area is surrounded by tents and buildings contemporary to the early years of the gold rush. A recent addition to Sovereign Hill is the Gold Pour where pure gold valued at $300,000 is melted and poured into a three-kilogram bullion bar.
There are two mines which have guided tours at regular intervals. The Red Hill Mine is a self-guided tour that tells the story of a group of Cornishmen and their discovery of the Welcome Nugget. The Sovereign Quartz Mine runs 40-minute guided tours and features several underground displays. Above ground it also features steam-driven machinery for pumping water and processing the ore. More recently an attraction titled "Trapped" has been added. This exhibit, which is set in series of above-ground concrete structures designed to look like tunnels from within, tells the story of the New Australasian Gold Mine disaster at Creswick in 1882. Twenty-two miners died because of the collapse and flooding of the New Australasian No. 2 Mine. This is still considered one of Australia's worst mining disasters. Australia's worst mining disaster was the Mount Keira Mine Disaster in 1902 which killed 96 workers.
Main Street is lined with shops, two hotels and a theatre. There is a blacksmith's workshop, stables, photography studio, apothecary, bakery, jeweller's shop, grocer, tentmaker, tinsmith, bank, post office, candle-dipping shop, lolly shop, nine-pin bowling saloon and library. Behind Main Street there are a number of period cottages which are open for visitors. There are also four schools where children in school-groups dress in period costume and attend as a child of the 1850s.
A number of workshops at Sovereign Hill display traditional trades such as coachbuilder, wheelwright, tinsmith, blacksmith and farrier.
AURA is a son et lumiere show depicting the story of gold. It is run at night for a length of 90 minutes, using only sound and lights.
Mine tram
[edit]The Sovereign Hill mine tram, opened in March 2008, is an inclined tramway that takes tourists into the mine for a tour.[4] Each tram is 1.35 metres wide and 1.55 metres high, and can carry 33 passengers. The tram goes through a flap, and enters a dark tunnel.[5]
Stations
[edit]The Sovereign Hill mine tram has 3 stations – the top station, and two bottom stations. The two bottom stations are located in the mine, and the top station is located in a small hut, which has 2 platforms and a tram per platform. The two bottom stations only has a single platform, as each mine tram goes to a different section.
See also
[edit]- Chilean mill, a replica of which has been constructed at Sovereign Hill open-air museum in Ballarat.
References
[edit]- ^ "Media Release: SOVEREIGN HILL CLAIMS NATIONAL TOURISM AWARD". 23 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009.
- ^ "Attractions, Restaurants & Accommodation". Visit Ballarat. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ 简体. "Family Tourist Attraction, Goldrush, Fun for Kids, Day Trip from Melbourne". Sovereignhill.com.au. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Sovereign Hill Fact Sheet" (PDF). Sovereignhill.com.au. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ^ "The Secret Chamber Journey underground into the depths of a gold mine". Sovereignhill.com.au. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
Bibliography
[edit]- Frost, W (2005) Making an edgier interpretation of the Gold Rushes: contrasting perspectives from Australia and New Zealand. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 11 (3), pp. 235–250.
- Evans, M (1991) Historical interpretation at Sovereign Hill. Australian Historical Studies 24 (96), pp. 142–152.
External links
[edit]