Revamped attraction at Sovereign Hill
One of Australia’s leading tourist attractions, Sovereign Hill, has transformed its Chinese Village, bringing to life the story of Chinese prospectors on the Ballarat Goldfields in the 1850s. The revamped Chinese Village will officially open in April 2007.
The new Chinese Village, which is an integral part of the story of gold portrayed at the award winning outdoor museum, focuses on the plight of the Chinese miners who sought their fortunes in a far away land. The new features of the village highlight social and cultural issues experienced by the foreign miners.
An audio-visual presentation in the Chinese Temple introduces visitors to the journey of the Chinese who came to Victoria from Canton. The story relates the strong cultural ties the miners had to their families back home, and the debts they had to pay back before they could make their own living.
The exhibits come to life with the sound of Chinese miners talking about their lives and aspirations and also touches on the social network created by the Chinese living in the goldfields camps.
Sovereign Hill is a multi-award winning tourism experience that blends fun, interactive activities with the chance to gain an insight into the past. Visitors enjoy panning for gold, the chance to have their photo taken with staff in authentic 1850s costumes and the thrill of seeing millions of dollars worth of gold nuggets.
More information: www.sovereignhill.com.au
Media contact: Le-anne O’Brien; tel 03 5337 1140; lobrien@sovereignhill.com.au