Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does this tour focus on 19^th century history?
This tour focuses specifically on the mid-1800s because this is the period the Sovereign Hill outdoor museum presents. There is much more to this story, from long, long before and long after the gold rush period, but that’s not for us at Sovereign Hill to tell.

2. What is Sovereign Hill?

Sovereign Hill is an Outdoor Museum designed to capture the impact of the Gold Rush on Ballarat, with particular emphasis upon the first decade, from 1851. Sovereign Hill attracts over 550,000 visitors annually and enjoys international recognition as a living museum, with heavy emphasis on working machinery and exhibits, costumed interpreters and visitor participation. Sovereign Hill, therefore offers a perspective on a great story in Australia’s history – the rip-roaring days of the 1850s Gold Rush.

3. What role did Aboriginal People play in the development of this tour?

The academic research this tour was based on was undertaken by Dr Fred Cahir of Federation University. He worked with numerous Victorian Aboriginal groups and individuals to complete his book “Black Gold: Aboriginal People on the Goldfields of Victoria, 1850-1870” (you can access a copy here: http://press.anu.edu.au/titles/aboriginal-history-monographs/black-gold/).

Also, researchers at Sovereign Hill worked closely with cultural consultants from the Ballarat Wadawurrung Aboriginal Corporation in addition to Aboriginal members of the wider museum community here in Victoria to develop this tour.

4. Is it Wadawurrung, Wathawurrung or Wathaurong?

As Australian Aboriginal languages were oral, not written languages, there is no “correct” spelling of any Aboriginal words. Therefore, over time, different groups of people have changed the spelling of Wadawurrung to best reflect the way it is pronounced. Wadawurrung – is currently the most accepted spelling.

5. What is the meaning of the word Ballarat?

Ballarat is a Wadawurrung word meaning “resting place”.

6. How can I get permission to use/publish images found in this tour?

In order to use the primary source paintings, prints, and photographs, Sovereign Hill applied and paid for legal permission to use them. In many cases this involved gaining cultural permission from the relevant Aboriginal cultural group/elders in addition to copyright permission from the various museums, galleries and libraries to reproduce these images. If you would like to use/republish these images, all of the information regarding which cultural institutions you need to contact can be found in the image citation.

Education and training bodies are permitted to copy material freely provided acknowledgement is made of the source.
Written authority must first be obtained from The Sovereign Hill Museums Association if you wish to charge others for access to the material, or if you modify, repurpose or alter the published material in any way.