FAQs

Outside of school holiday periods and public holidays we are open to the general public 6 days a week, Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. 

School programs are still able to be booked on Mondays. Please contact our schools booking team for more information.

A fun-filled, gold rush adventures await you at Sovereign Hill. From gold panning, demonstrations and performances, matched with delicious food you can spend a full day exploring Sovereign Hill and all it offers! Find out more about our site, popular activities, and stories in our interactive map.

Sovereign Hill is located in Ballarat, 90 minutes by car west of Melbourne. The address is: Bradshaw Street, Ballarat

We encourage you to pre-book your ticket to ensure a quick and easy entry into Sovereign Hill.

You can view our program here. An exciting program of demonstrations and activities are available and included in your admission ticket.

The Gold Museum is closed and has transformed into the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections and the Australian Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades. More information here.

Yes! And it’s free! Head to our main visitor carpark on Bradshaw Street. Limited disabled parking is available.

Performances run 6 nights a week Monday to Saturday as well as every night during Victorian school holidays. Please note that AURA is a ticketed event and must be pre-booked.

Inside the museum, you will interact with our staff dressed in costume from the 1850s. We encourage photos with our staff. Please ask politely and they will help you get the best picture. We value mutual respect between staff and visitors.

The modern cafe at Sovereign Hill is currently undergoing exciting renovations to bring you an even better dining experience. However, while we're sprucing things up, check out our other options below.

We have a range of delicious options to satisfy your cravings:

• Hope Bakery: Step back in time and visit our charming bakery for freshly baked pies, pasties, and sweet treats.
• Diggings Hut: Grab your morning takeaway coffee while you immerse yourself in the gold rush.
• Universal Transit Office: For takeaway hot and cold food and cold drinks to eat on the go.
• United States Hotel: Takeaway coffee, cold drinks and limited takeaway menu.
• New York Bakery: Enjoy a relaxing meal and drink from a delicious bill of fare.
• Picnic Areas: Spread out a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch beside our lake. Feel free to bring your own food or grab some goodies from the Hope Bakery.

We are transforming the Chinese Village & Diggings.

We have begun phase one of redevelopment project in the Diggings and Chinese Protectorate Camp precinct.

This will provide more seating, shelter and access to these areas of the museum, as well as other improvements.

While we are working, the Chinese Protectorate Camp will be closed to the public and there will be some impacts on access to the Diggings.

We look forward to welcoming you to these transformed parts of the museum.

If you have any questions please contact enquiries@sovereignhill.com.au

We recommend you pre-book your tickets via here via our website. Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets on the day of your arrival with our customer service team. Please note that AURA tickets must be pre-booked. Please contact bookings@sovereignhill.com.au if you have any enquiries.

We have transitioned to a new system. Click here to access your benefits. You can also simply present your Annual Pass details and photo identification on arrival to our customer service team, who will issue a ticket and you’re all set for a fun-filled day.

Sovereign Hill accepts Australian Concession cards only. Cards must be valid and presented to staff upon the time of booking and entry. Valid concession cards are:

• Australian Pension, Disability, Health Care and Sole Parent Cards.
• Australian Veteran’ Affairs Cards.
• Australian Student Cards.
• ISIC International Student Cards.
• Australian Seniors Cards.
• Australian Companion Cards

One adult guest can accompany the card holder free of charge. The companion card must be presented upon your arrival and is only valid for one adult guest per card holder.

Additional premium activities such as costumed photography sessions, candle-dipping, coach rides and mine tours are limited and subject to availability. Bookings or tickets to these activities can be booked at their relevant locations on the day of your visit. Pre-booking these experiences online is not currently available.

Your Sovereign Hill admission includes all classic experiences such as panning for gold, theatre performances, street shows, live demonstrations, exploring our shops and cottages, bowling, self-guided tours of the Red Hill Mine, the Gold Pour and additional special seasonal activities. 

Additional premium activities can be purchased during your visit. These include costumed photography, mine tours, candle-dipping and coach rides which are subject to limited availability and should be booked and paid for at the relevant location on the day. Pre-booking these experiences online is not available at the moment. 

Annual Passes can be purchased online here or at the front entrance on days we are open or via sales@sovereignhill.com.au

Gift Vouchers can be purchased online here or from the Customer Service desk. You can also purchase a Gift Voucher by contacting bookings@sovereignhill.com.au. Please include the following details in your request.

• Name of recipient
• Name of sender
• Senders contact phone number
• Voucher inclusions:
  • General Sovereign Hill Admission
  • AURA Sound and Light Show
  • Accommodation

You sure can. Just retain your ticket for scanning at the ticket box on re-entry.

If the day you want to attend the museum is showing sold out online then no additional tickets are available and will not be available at the entrance. Please check our online system to make sure tickets are available for your chosen day. Please prebook tickets for everyone, including children and babies to avoid disappointment.

General Admission, AURA and Accommodation are non-refundable. All tickets sales are final. If the museum is unable to open due to conditions restricting our ability to operate, then a full refund will be processed.

You can view Sovereign Hill’s booking terms and conditions here.

In the event that you cannot attend on your booked date for General Admission or AURA and have advised us at least 48 hours prior to your arrival, a change of date may be offered subject to the discretion of Sovereign Hill. No more than one date change will be processed per booking.

Failure to attend on the say without prior contact will result in forfeiture of the booking. Tickets cannot be exchanged for credit or cash, transferred into another name or sold to another party. 

Cancellation requests should be made in writing to bookings@sovereignhill.com.au

Yes, the Sovereign Hill Hotel is open. We offer a range of room styles at the Hotel, from spacious family rooms to private couples’ rooms there is something for everyone at the Sovereign Hill Hotel. The Hotel boasts a private entry to the Sovereign Hill Museum for Hotel guests making your visit that little bit more effortless.

For further information about our Hotel please visit our accommodation page.

Hotel bookings can be made directly throughout our Hotel Customer Service team, you can contact the team on (03) 5337 1159 or enquire via hotel@sovereignhill.com.au

For further information about our Hotel please visit our accommodation page.

Yes, all our costumes have Velcro at the back to be able to fit all body types.

Miner / Soldier / Gentleman

Lady / Entertainer

15 minutes.

Yes, we have fitting rooms and the costumes fit over most of your everyday clothes easily.

1 hour after your sitting.

As our studio is very busy and books out very quickly the sitting fee is non-refundable.

Running late will result in your reservation being cancelled. If you require your reservation to be moved for other reasons, please contact the studio as soon as possible and staff will try their hardest to reschedule another time.

During your photographic experience, no personal photos are permitted

Yes, please call the studio direct to organise a large group booking.

The studio is not wheelchair accessible, there are stairs at the entrance of the photographers and no ramp available. Should you have other special needs or enquiries, please contact our photographers to discuss options.

Phone: 53371128

Email: rhp@sovereignhill.com.au

Yes, you must have a valid Sovereign Hill admission ticket to attend a photography session. There is also an additional cost for Photography Experience sessions. Please view our price list at the Red Hill Photography Rooms.

Yes, please book them a toddler ticket. This is free, and ensure they are counted in our group numbers.

No, due to accessing the mine on the inclined tramway. You can park the pram under the verandah of the hut next to where the tours start, and take your belongings with you.

Our mine is well ventilated and well lit once underground. Our guides will look after you the entire journey. Our drives are approximately double-door width wide, and vary in height however the majority of people can walk through comfortably. There is no need to crawl or bend over.

The Red Hill Mine tour is self-guided, where you will follow an audio recording of William Tregenza, one of the miner’s who worked in the original Red Hill Mine as he tells you the story.

The Red Hill Mine tour lasts for 12 minutes, and does include 105 stairs (52 down, 53 back up). Visitors must understand the English instructions and audio information given.

Mine access is currently restricted due to ongoing development works. Some wheelchair users may be able to access the mine if they are able to transfer to our inclined railway tram. We advise it is best to speak to our Tour Guide team at the Mine Hut about all accessibility requirements.