| Sovereign Hill is an outdoor theme museum in Ballarat, about 120 km from
Melbourne. Here we see the 'old' ballarat as it existed during gold rush
from 1851 until late in the 19th Century. These times were very important
for the state of Victoria. Unlike New South Wales there were no convicts
sent to Victoria just free settlers and gold was the reason they came.
At Sovereign Hill there are not only period buildings but also the machines
and little things common to life and living 120 years ago and the town
is populated by real people (actors) you can chat with and discover how
they lived during the gold rush. |
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-News, great news! Gold discovered in Australia! | 
At the begining of the rush gold literally lay on the ground.
Diggers panned and cradled for gold in the sand around creeks and rivers. | 
Ania and I tried to find some gold too but it's probably a little too late... | 
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| The 'easy' gold from the surface disappeared quickly. Soon the 'diggers' realised that gold could be found only underground along the creek beds and deep under the ground along quartz rock 'reefs'. |
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Property of Witkowsky family - obvious 'Polish accent'. Ania is happy about it! | 
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| Without petrol engines, horses were essential at
the diggings. Ballarat didn't develop steam engine powered mines until much
later. |
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Puddling machine. It was developed to break up and separate stiff clays from gravel. |
| Most of the diggers lived in tents, and only the
richest could afford such a luxury as a hut. At the diggings everything
was incredibly expensive - no one wants to build houses or shops for trade.
Everyone who arrives here runs for the GOLD! |
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Sovereigh hill, p1 - Diggins
Sovereigh hill, p2 - The Township
Sovereigh hill, p3 - Trades in town in XIX century
Sovereigh hill, p4 - Gold mines |
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