Eureka 170 at Sovereign Hill
Sovereign Hill celebrates the 170th anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion with live performances, AURA sound and light spectacular, tours, talks, hands-on activities, and stories of the people and events that shaped a community and nation.
Black Convicts: How Slavery Shaped Australia
Book launch and talk with author Santilla Chingaipe
Join author, historian, and filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe as she discusses her new book Black Convicts: How Slavery Shaped Australia. Drawing on her research, Santilla will explore stories connected to the goldfields, democracy, and the Eureka Rebellion offering a fresh understanding of this fatal shore, and show how empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped who we are.
Date: Friday 29 November
Time: 5.30pm-7pm
Location: Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections
Cost: $10 bookings essential
Special Edition: The Eureka Collection Curator’s Tour
Come behind the scenes and uncover the story of Eureka through the objects in our collection. Hosted by our Head of Collections and Curatorial, this exclusive, once-off tour invites you to see objects up close and hear the stories of the people and events connected to this transformational moment in Australia’s history.
Date: Saturday 7 December
Time: 2pm-3.30pm
Location: Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections
Cost: $35 Adult $28 Concession (complimentary drink available). Bookings essential
Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct
Explore the rich history and culture of the Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the Ballarat region. The Wadawurrung Cultural Precinct is an opportunity to connect with Wadawurrung traditions and stories that have shaped Ballarat through generations
AURA Sound and Light Spectacular
Under cover of darkness travel across our sprawling site, AURA transforms Sovereign Hill into a moving theatre with hundreds of hi-tech projections telling our story. The Wadawurrung creation story unfolds and soars into the skies over our lake. The gritty story of gold along with rebellion, gunfights, triumphs, and tragedies will draw you into the drama of history.
Date: Nightly
Time: 9.15pm
Location: Sovereign Hill
Cost: $45 Adult $24 Child. Bookings essential
Rebellion in the Streets – Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December
Relive the rebellion that changed everything with street performances, interactive sessions, and tours all weekend. This isn't just a show - it's a raw retelling that drops you right into the battleground. Feel the defiance and danger in every step.
Sew the Eureka Flag
The Eureka Flag became a rallying point for diggers during the Eureka Rebellion. Experience this defining moment as you sew our Eureka flag and hear stories of the women who created the original.
Location: St Alipius School, map no. 30
Time: 10am - 1pm
Licence Hunt
Diggers are rallying and authorities have started to investigate. Tensions rise as guns are fired in anger and frustration, escalating the conflict into a full-blown crisis.
Location: Diggings, map no. 8
Time: 11:45am
Eureka Rebellion Diggings Tours
Discover the dramatic moments leading up to one of Australia’s most intense battles, where every shot and every decision shaped the course of history.
Location: Government Camp, map no. 3
Time: 10:30am & 11:30am
Redcoats March
There are two sides to every story. Hear about the Eureka Rebellion from the Redcoat Soldiers themselves as they recount the chaos that unfolded when Ballarat became a battlefield.
Location: Parade Showground, map no. 34
Time: 1:30pm
The Ballarat Reform League
John Humffray is rallying every digger to the Ballarat Reform League’s fight against injustice. Who will answer the call?
Location: Gold Office Corner, map no. 66
Time: 12:15pm
Seekamp's Arrest
Tensions escalate after the Eureka Rebellion, and Ballarat Times editor Henry Seekamp isn’t helping. His passionate support for the diggers puts him in the crosshairs of the authorities... and things soon take a turn for the worse.
Location: Ballarat Times, map no 13
Time: 2:15pm