The town of Ballarat was at the centre of Victoria’s 19th-century gold rush and this ten-hectare, open-air museum relives those heady days. Far from being kitsch, it’s a genuinely engaging time machine, occupying an original mining site, complete with original mineshaft and recreated streetscapes based on detailed historical sketches.

Set aside at least half a day to explore, snooping around period shops, panning for gold and catching some of the engaging demonstrations. These shed light on everything from blacksmithing to Victorian-era dining (see the website for the schedule).

In the evening, Sovereign Hill reopens for Aura, a sound-and-light extravaganza recounting the creation story of the area’s Wadawurrung people and the history (and effect) of the gold rush itself.

Practical Info

Bradshaw St, Ballarat

Opening hours: Daily 10am-5pm

Admission: Adult/child $39/20

sovereignhill.com.au

How to get there

Ballarat is 115km northwest of Melbourne.

Car: From Melbourne, take the Western Hwy (M8).

Train/Bus: V/Line runs trains between Melbourne and Ballarat. Sovereign Hill lies 2.7km south of Ballarat station. Catch bus 21.