Stawell: Historic Gold Mining

We were slow to get up and pack up, getting used to our old routine again. It was a hot day forecast, and we were heading to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, a recreated gold mining town. As touristy as it is, it was a great experience. The whole town is set up to seem so real, with people dressed in period costume, play-acting all day. Some of the highlights were gold panning, gold pouring, and interacting with some old timers. Olive loved the draught horses that continually passed us taking people for a carriage ride around the town. We left the historic town around 2pm, with plans to get to the Grampians by evening. We changed plans as we drove along – as we are known to do – and stopped for a rest at Ararat and had a quick look around town, then found a place to stay just outside of Stawell.