Animals feature in new Sovereign Hill tours

WITH Spring School Holidays here from 20 September to 5 October, Sovereign Hill is introducing a new series of guided animal tours with the attraction’s resident critters set to take centre stage.

Beautiful big-hearted Clydesdales like Tiger and Lady are among the many four-hooved Sovereign Hill residents set to feature, with horse handlers like Hannah Devine on hand to share a bit about the central role working horses played in shaping the city’s golden heritage.

“Our new animal tours give visitors a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes with an expert guide,” Sovereign Hill Museums Association CEO Sara Quon said.

“It’s a chance to meet our brand-new flock of sheep, as well as other animals that call Sovereign Hill home, and learn how they help us bring the goldfields to life every day.

“The Clydesdales are true icons of Sovereign Hill and we have 24 working horses on site, just as they were the essential workers of the gold rush.

“Our horse meet and greets let visitors get up close with these gentle giants, and learn more from our expert horse handlers on how they care for them, and also understand the vital role they play in keeping our story of the goldfields alive.”

The new animal-themed tours are being introduced as Sovereign Hill also brings back its Local Pass after the pass proved a hit among local residents during the recent Winter Wonderlights feature attraction.

“The Locals Pass was a runaway success when we introduced it during Winter Wonderlights,” Ms Quon said announcing the decision to reintroduce the pass.

“More than 6000 were sold in just three weeks.”

Ms Quon said currently around 5 percent of Ballarat residents now hold a Locals Pass to the iconic attraction.