Step inside the workshop
Hidden inside the Wheelwright’s Shop at Sovereign Hill is one of the most extraordinary pieces of machinery in our collection.
This is how the goldfields rolled
No shortcuts. No power tools. Just skill, patience and centuries-old know-how.
Watch our wheelwrights and coachbuilders build a wheel by hand and discover why this trade was essential to keeping the goldfields moving.
Today, Sovereign Hill's wheelwrights are among the few craftspeople still practising this rare trade, helping to preserve skills that have all but disappeared from the modern world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the wheel-making demonstration?
You'll watch wheelwrights and coachbuilders show how a wheel or other coach parts were built by hand and with 19th-century machinery.
What time is the wheel-making demonstration?
The wheel-making demonstration runs at 1:45pm and 2:30pm at Proctor's Wheelwrights & Coachbuilder (map no. 73).
Where can I see the wheelwrights at Sovereign Hill?
The wheel-making demonstration is at Proctor's Wheelwrights & Coachbuilder, map no. 73.
Are there still wheelwrights today?
Yes. Sovereign Hill's wheelwrights are among the few craftspeople still practising this rare trade.
Were wheelwrights important on the goldfields?
Yes. Wheelwrights were essential to keeping the goldfields moving.
Is the wheel-making demonstration included in my ticket?
Yes. The wheel-making demonstration is included in your Sovereign Hill ticket.
