Day honours Sovereign Hill’s iconic sweet treat

THE streets will run red, but in a good way, at Sovereign Hill next week in celebration of National Raspberry Drop Day.

On this Wednesday, 22 February a trip to Ballarat’s celebrated outdoor museum will be a little sweeter, with the first 100 visitors to Brown’s Confectionary receiving a free bag of raspberry drops.

Staff at Sovereign Hill have worked with the Peter Rowland group to ensure raspberry drop inspired food and drink like wagon wheels, ice cream, fudge, donuts, and hot chocolates will also be on offer.

Mark Hemetsberger, head of external engagement at Sovereign Hill, said the day is important to the region’s history.

“Making and showcasing rare skills is very much at the heart of who we are and what we do, and what better way for us to do this than shining a light on our world famous raspberry drops and the craft that goes with their making,” he said.

Located onsite, Brown’s Confectionary is based on an original business which was founded on the goldfields in the late 1850s.

In 1974, when the original factory closed, the Brown family donated their equipment to the outdoor museum and trained staff in the art of lolly making.

As part of the day raspberry drop making demonstrations will be held at 11.30am, 2.30pm and 3pm, and Mr Hemetsberger said it’s an amazing opportunity as “visitors will be able to experience the long-held history of confectionary making.”

Raspberry drop hampers and candles will also be available for purchase in the Sovereign Hill gift shop.

Mr Hemetsberger said it was notable that in the 1850s boiled treats were seen as a delicacy.

“It wasn’t something you gave kids, as sugar came from faraway places in the empire, so it was very expensive,” he said.

“We think of boiled lollies now as kids treats but you would never have given your child a boiled lolly back then.”