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Sovereign Hill acknowledges the Wadawurrung people as the Traditional custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live and work on Wadawurrung Country. We acknowledge their unceded sovereignty over Wadawurrung Country, and the ongoing hardship and trauma as a result of colonisation. The history and continuous culture of the Wadawurrung people is an important part of our shared story.

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Gold Panning

Regular Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm | Mondays: Pre-booked school groups only.King's Birthday: We are open Monday 9 June, 10am-5pm for the public holiday.Gold Rush Centre &amp; Rare Trades Centre: Open for pre-booked workshops &amp; tours only.

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All roads and paths are gravel. There is some uneven ground.  Main Street at Sovereign Hill is a gentle slope; however, other areas of the site are quite steep. All roads are accessible by wheelchair, but some visitors could find the gravel surfaces difficult to manage.

The accessible panning zone invites visitors to experience one of our most iconic activities with ease, featuring an elevated gold panning water channel and an accessible pathway. 
Underground mine tours are accessible for visitors in wheelchairs. Please enquire at the mine office on arrival for bookings.  
Coach rides require visitors to climb several ladder-style steps. 
Parts of Sovereign Hill have wide bluestone gutters between the timber boardwalks and gravel roads. Ramps for crossing the gutters are highlighted on the free visitor map, which is available on entry. Wheelchairs are available free-of-charge. Subject to availability. 
Strollers are available for hire. A small charge applies. Subject to availability.

Phone: (03) 5337 1199 Email: <a href="mailto:enquiries@sovereignhill.com.au" target="_blank">enquiries@sovereignhill.com.au</a> National Relay Service 133 677 and quote 5337 1199

Assistance animals are welcome at Sovereign Hill. However, to ensure the safety and comfort of all visitors and the animals integral to Sovereign Hill's experience, other animals and pets are not allowed on the premises. This includes the <a href="https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/">Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum</a>,  <a href="https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/experiences/sovereign-hill-hotel/">Sovereign Hill Hotel</a>, and <a href="https://www.sovereignhill.com.au/events/aura-sound-and-light-show/">AURA sound and light spectacular</a>.
Exemptions will apply to:
<ul><li>Guide dogs for hearing-impaired and vision-impaired visitors;</li><li>Accredited and trained assistance dogs wearing a jacket identifying the dog as a trained assistance dog. These dogs must be secured by a harness or leash and under the control of the owner at all times whilst on Sovereign Hill’s premises). The owner of an assistance dog will be asked to show an appropriate photo ID card identifying him/her as the owner/handler of the assistance dog;</li><li>On-duty working dogs under the control and supervision of on-duty emergency or security services personnel.</li></ul>

Accessible features:
<ul><li>Two dedicated accessible car parks adjacent to Esmond Terrace</li><li>A permanent access ramp into the building</li><li>Wide access entry door into the building</li><li>Wide corridor to the three accessible rooms (numbers 62, 63 and 65)</li><li>All three rooms offer the same accessible amenities except for Room 63, which also provides a second connecting bedroom for a carer, if required.</li></ul>
Each accessible room has:
<ul><li>Wide entrance door</li><li>Wide bathroom access door</li><li>Large bathroom for wheelchair access</li><li>Hand and safety rails</li><li>Accessible shower with shower curtain</li><li>Accessible toilet</li><li>Ramped access to private outdoor deck area.</li></ul>

Sovereign Hill is located on a hillside, and its exhibits represent Ballarat in its earliest days as an 1850s goldfields township. There are several things to be considered before visiting:

The newly installed accessible panning area offers visitors of all abilities access to one of Sovereign Hill’s iconic experiences with an elevated panning water channel and accessible pathway. The additional panning zone reflects Sovereign Hill’s commitment to inclusivity, which was recognised at the recent 2024 Victorian Tourism Industry Awards with the Excellence in Accessible Tourism Award.

Accessible panning

A range of resources to make sure you're prepared and getting the most from your visit.

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Getting familiar with our site before visiting

Our series of scripts to assist visitors and students to become more familiar and comfortable with Sovereign Hill before they visit.

Neapolitan drops Sovereign Hill Summer Campaign 43

Social Scripts

View our interactive visitor map and start planning your Sovereign Hill adventure.

SH Map

Sovereign Hill Drone 22 of 27

We've got over 30,000 square metres of outdoor space, with varied surfaces.  We're still working on making our site the best in its class for accessibility and we're improving all the time.

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Get familiar with our site and accessibility before visiting.

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