Podcasts
Sovereign Hill Education is presently experimenting with Podcasts and Vodcasts for teachers and students and anyone interested in Goldrush history. Programs are offered in three sections: 1. Teaching and Learning , 2. History Programs and 3. Artworks of the Victorian Era. Scroll down to view all our programs.
We would appreciate any feedback and suggestions to phoban@sovereighill.com.au
Teaching and Learning
How to Pan for Gold
Digger Mat shows you the secrets of successful goldpanning at Sovereign Hill. This video was published on TeacherTube in July 2009
Vodcasting at Sovereign Hill
This vodcast is available on TeacherTube. It describes a way of using digital cameras and a free software program called Photostory to put together a film using Sovereign Hill. It is suitable for both teachers and students. Published in May 2008. Updated in June 2010
A Great Place to Visit
This video is also available from TeacherTube and is not an advertisment! It models a way for students to put together a visual argument using images from Sovereign Hill. This movie argues that while history might be a great place to visit you would not want to live there. It uses images from Sovereign Hill as secondary sources of information and audio tracks from Sovereign Hill Education website's Audio Library as primary sources.
This resource is an example for secondary school groups doing the Picture This activity at Sovereign Hill. Ten different contentions are presented for students to choose to explore. Published in August 2008
Audio Library
In the students section of our site you can find a number of quotes from the goldfields providing a range of perspectives across a variety of issues. The original quotes are primary sources and we provide audio files of some of our actors interpreting the text. Published in January 2007.
History Programs
Alcohol on the Goldfields
Sovereign Hill's CEO, Jeremy Johnson, recently delivered this entertaining presentation at the University of Ballarat Beer Awards. Jeremy explores some of the laws and vices surrounding alcohol on the Victorian goldfields. This podcast was published August 2010. Download the text here.
An Audience with Countess Lola Montez
On 15 July 2010 a Sovereign Hill members night was held entitled Lola Montez Returns to the Victoria Theatre. Much of Lola's original bill was recreated. A special part of the evening was an audience with Countess Montez. In this video, Lola is interviewed by Tim Sullivan,Sovereign Hill Deputy CEO and Museums Director, Dr. Terence Fitzsimons, Honorary Musicologist and Marion Littlejohn, Education Officer. Lola is played by Eloise Gooding and Mr Crosby is played by Barry Kay. This piece was largely unscripted and adlibbed.
Songs of the Goldfields
Dr. Terence Fitzsimons is Sovereign Hill's Honorary Musicologist and a member of the resident band Men'O The Hill. Terence possesses a passion for the music of the 1850s and an understanding of the origins and contemporary meanings of individual songs. In this podcast he explores the history of the goldrushes through song. We suggest you download the songs lyrics so you can read along. Download the text of his narrative here. Published in June 2010
Why Ballarat Didn't Become a Ghost Town
Author and Historian, Doug Bradby discusses the different phases of mining in Ballarat to explain why it did not become a ghost town after the first rush to find gold. Doug is the author of the Seriously Weird History of Australia series. Music by Men O' The Hill. Download text here.
Deep Lead Mines of Ballarat
This terrific PowerPoint explains the geology of Ballarat that created gold-bearing deep leads (buried rivers) for which Ballarat is famous. This presentation was made by Peter D'Auvergne, Senior Geologist with Ballarat Goldfields. Each page contains explanatory noes by Tim Sullivan (Deputy CEO and Museums Director, Sovereign Hill) and Peter D'Auvergne. The PowerPoint may take a little time to download(9,500 kb) but it is worth the wait. Published in December 2009.
The Ballarat Goldfields Diary
The State Library of Victoria has just purchased a new diary of a miner on the Ballarat diggings in 1855. It is fascinating. The author is believed to be a Scotsman and he writes in great detail about his daily life. He records his mining activities, the local gossip including what gold has been found and the news including the escape to a Bengal Tiger in Main Road. Sovereign Hill's Barry Kay has been recording some of these entires and they are available in the Ballarat Miners Diary page. Published in July 2009.
Ballarat's Chinese Cemeteries
Jim Quinn explores Ballarat's Chinese Cemeteries and what they tell us about Chinese culture and practices. Jim is accompanied by the beautiful music of Mr. Sheng Pangeng on the erhu. Download text here. Published in July 2009.
Catholic Education In Ballarat
Author and Historian Jill Blee speaks about early Catholic Schools on the Ballarat Diggings. The recording contains some wonderful quotes about the poor standards and the hardships faced by students and teachers alike. Music by Men o' the Hill. Quotes by Barry Kay. Download text here. Published in May 2009.
Easter Traditions
In this podcast Jan Croggon (Sovereign Hill Historian) and Terence FitzSimons (Historical Researcher) talk and sing about the fascinating world of old Easter traditions. Download the text here. Published in April 2009.
Black Gold
Dr. Fred Cahir talks about Indigenous contact with Europeans during the Victorian Goldrushes at a symposium held at Sovereign Hill on 11 November 2008. Fred's research is ground-breaking in that he shows the Wathaurong people to be active agents in trade and gold prospecting. Fred's PhD thesis won the Australian History Association's Alan Martin award. Published in December 2008.
Artworks of the Victorian Era
Queen Victoria's Wedding
Sovereign Hill Historian, Anna Kyi, discusses George Hayter's painting The Marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. A lithograph of this painting can be found in the Charlie Napier Hotel dining room. Anna discusses the courtship, wedding and married life of this famous couple. Music by Men O' the Hill. Music by Men O' the Hill. Download text here. Published in July 2009
Quatre Bras
Sovereign Hill Historian, Jan Croggon, takes us on a fascinating voyage into a painting called Quatre Bras by Lady Butler. It tells the story of a huge battle that took place two days before the battle of Waterloo, a battle that shaped modern European history. Music by Men O' the Hill. Published in July 2009
The Relief of Lucknow
Tim Sullivan explains the story behind a wonderful artwork called The Relief of Lucknow painted by Thomas Jones Barker. He explains the nature of British colonial rule in India and the horror of the Indian muntiny. The painting depicts Bristish troops relieving Lucknow after a three month siege by 10,000 rebels. Music by Men O' the Hill. Download text here. Published in August 2009