Ballarat Gold Museum

Gold Museum, Ballarat ~ showcasing Ballarat's history

The Gold Museum is Ballarat's regional museum and part of the Sovereign Hill experience.

Opened in 1978, the Gold Museum cares for around 100,000 items, covering a diverse range of collections from mining and military history through to costume and photography.

The Gold Museum has a very active temporary exhibition program which includes five to ten new exhibitions every year.

The Gold Museum manages the collections of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association and serves as the regional museum for the Ballarat and central goldfields area. The Association holds some 100,000 items located at both Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum and in the Gold Museum.

Collections in the Outdoor Museum are focused on the gold mining and social history of Ballarat, with key collections in mining technology and the working and domestic lives of the people of Ballarat.

The collections housed in the Gold Museum cover areas well beyond mining history and researchers are encouraged to explore the range of collection areas held. Details of the special collections housed in the Museum are given below.

The Collections

Jessica and Paul Simon Gold Collection
The majority of the collection of 900 gold coins, nuggets and gold samples is on display, with a greater proportion to be displayed from 2012. The Simon collection also includes material relating to the Simon's lives in Ballarat.

Ballarat Historical Society Collection
This collection includes around 20,000 photographs, 5,000 miscellaneous books and documents, and 2,000 artefacts associated with Ballarat history.

Social History Collection
A diverse collection of material relating to Ballarat's history which includes some business records, a small collection of personal papers and material associated with Ballarat events and organisations such as the Ballarat Industrial Exhibitions, the Avenue of Honour and the Ballarat Orphanage.

Need help? Call 1300 935 532 or Book Online

❊ What's On ❊

Gold Museum | Open
Collections in the Outdoor Museum are focused on the gold mining and social history of Ballarat, with key collections in mining technology and the working and domestic lives of the people of Ballarat. Opening Times 9.30 am to 5.30 pm every day ...

Gold Museum | Open
Pose | Photographic Exhibition
Sovereign Hill's Gold Museum will showcase a unique collection of photographic portraits in their new exhibition Pose. Highlighting the work of Ballarat's talented photographic studios, Pose will feature portraiture styles from carte de visites t...

Pose | Photographic Exhibition - Monday 12 August 2019