The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Sovereign Hill
Annual Report
0708 Sovereign Hill
18 Marketing
54 The Sovereign Hill Foundation
56 Prospectors' Club
60 Staff
62 Volunteers
The Sovereign Hill Charter
our vision is to be a leader amongst the world's best outdoor heritage museums.
04
Our Mission is to present, in a dynamic group of museums,
the mining, social, cultural and environmental heritage of the
Ballarat region and its impact on Australia's national story.
We will carry out our Mission according to the following Guiding Principles:
That we will:
• Ensure that our visitors are engaged, informed, entertained and become
our best advocates;
• Nurture our integrity as a museum, whereby we acquire, conserve,
research, communicate and exhibit, for purposes of study, education and
enjoyment, material pertinent to the history of Ballarat and its environs;
• In the Diggings and Township, research and interpret the mining and
social heritage of Ballarat specifically of the 1851-61 period; in the
Sovereign Quartz Mine present the mining history of the area specifically
to 1918; in the Gold Museum present the social heritage of the
region from earliest times to present day and maintain a vigorous
exhibition program; and at Narmbool, present the story of custodianship,
the environment and sustainability;
• Inform, entertain and involve our visitors without compromising
our integrity as a museum, with an emphasis on Australian history and
underpinned by good scholarship;
• Achieve the highest standards of customer service in all aspects of our
work and measure our success as an organisation by the quality of
visitors' experiences;
• Ensure our independence, commercial viability and business integrity;
• Promote our identity as a not-for-profit, community-based asset;
• Ensure dignity and respect for our colleagues, and ensure a happy and
safe working environment where innovation is encouraged and where
the contribution of each member of the Sovereign Hill community is
valued;
• Promote our links with, and involvement in, the local, state, national and
international communities;
• Develop our role as a centre of learning and education.
05
06
'Sovereign Hill continues to grow, and as our business goals are achieved, in turn, more challenges are created – this is the enduring cycle of business!'
It seems only yesterday that I commenced my term as the
Association’s fifteenth Board President and, as my term comes to
a close, it is pleasing to reflect upon the many happy memories,
friendships and kind words of encouragement offered by so
many supporters. The role of President is a rewarding exercise
of leadership within a wonderful organisation, which was firmly
established on a path of excellence many years ago.
07
major economic stimulus to Ballarat
(some $50m per annum). It also
enriches the lives of so many people
in our community − generating
unique and exciting opportunities
for volunteerism, employment and
our city’s fabulous history to be told
in new and exciting ways.
The 2007-08 fiscal year has been
a successful one, thanks to the
contribution and commitment of
continues to grow, and as our
business goals are achieved, in turn,
more challenges are created – this is
the enduring cycle of business!
As always, there are many people to
acknowledge and, firstly, I express
appreciation to my fellow Board and
Committee Members for their wise
advice, and their unfailing support
and encouragement. Sovereign Hill
mix of Board membership skills that
help drive the museum’s continual
development.
who will be retiring after being first
elected to the Board in 1990. Bruce
has made a sterling contribution in
that time, particularly as Chairman
of the Mining Museum Committee
in recent years, and he will be greatly
missed. He and his wife, Beverley,
have been untiring and enthusiastic
supporters of Sovereign Hill, and
I thank them both for their valued
commitment.
congratulated founding Board Member Colin
Prowse, who officially opened the re-furbished
entrance on 17 March 2008.
BeLow
it better meets a range of functions not even
envisaged in 1970.
Of the many achievements this year, of particular joy to me was the formal
establishment of the President’s Club, ‘Pro Tem’, – an annual luncheon group
of selected former Board Members, staff and other significant contributors
to Sovereign Hill. This year’s function was hosted by Bill McGregor and
commenced what I am sure will be a convivial social event for these loyal
friends in years to come. We look forward to Nina Valentine’s luncheon in
2009!
I was privileged to host two President’s Dinners that were social highlights for
me, and provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate and publicise Sovereign
Hill’s success. This year, the Guest Speaker was Mr Owen Hegarty, former
Managing Director of Oxiana Ltd, who spoke about the sustained national
mining boom, a phenomenon similar to that upon which our city was created.
Once again, the dinner was a sell-out, and I thank all who assisted in its
facilitation.
Over the year, VIP visitors included the Hon. Bronwyn Pike, Minister for
Education, who visited Narmbool. In March, Geoff Howard, MLA for Ballarat
East, deputised for the Minister for Water, the Hon. Tim Holding, to launch the
Smart Water Project that has delivered us a strengthened position in terms of
water conservation and supply. It is important for Sovereign Hill to meet its
obligations to the environment, particularly with water supply management,
and we are thankful to both the Commonwealth and State Governments for
their support to enable us to work towards water sustainability.
We are grateful, too, for the continued support of the City of Ballarat. It was
with genuine pleasure we acknowledged the Australia Day Honour bestowed
on former Mayor and past Sovereign Hill Patron, Cr David Vendy, earlier this
year.
Official openings were important public highlights during the year. Colin
Prowse, a Founding Board Member, opened the newly renovated Entrance
building in March this year. Modifications to the Steam Operations area
were launched in tandem with a revised guide map advising visitors who use
wheelchairs or strollers on the best ways of accessing the Outdoor Museum
09
the 2008 President’s Dinner.
10
ABove
escorted the Hon. Bronwyn Pike, victoria’s Minister
for education, on a tour of Narmbool in November
2007.
RiGHt
ribbon to officially open the extensions to the Boiler
House viewing area.
reference library in St Ives in honour
of one of our Founding Fathers, David
O’Sullivan OAM.
planning continued, with a
this year to develop the new
2008-13 Corporate Strategic Plan.
plan that we had been working
with to deliver Sovereign Hill’s
on-going development. There
opportunities with this goal in mind.
But, importantly, we must balance
this commercial objective with a
committed historical plan and an aim
for excellence in interpretation to
ensure that our product is relevant to
our visitors, and true to our Mission.
Sadly, we note the passing of a
former State Premier of Victoria, the
Hon. Lindsay Thompson, who was
an inaugural Trustee of the Sir Henry
Bolte Trust and a strong supporter
of Sovereign Hill over the years.
I feel honored to have met him
during his last Bolte Trust Meeting,
in December 2007, when he officially
resigned.
I thank our wonderful volunteer
groups, the Friends of Sovereign
Hill and the Gold Museum Society,
for their untiring efforts and valued
contributions. Our generous donors,
many other ways, have also been
outstanding contributors. Sovereign
individuals and organisations. On
all sincerely.
his dedicated Management team and
staff, I extend my congratulations
on their unfailing commitment to
placing Sovereign Hill at the forefront
of cultural tourism, and for ensuring
that our on-going financial viability
enables this unique community asset
to prosper.
appreciative of the opportunity that
the role of President has brought
us. Our organisation continues to go
from strength to strength, and it has
been an absolute pleasure to serve
the Board, staff and members. I wish
our next President every success
in the challenges and privileges this
office brings.
by all involved at Sovereign Hill,
and I commend it to the reader
accordingly.
President
11
Board Member Bruce Clark, right, retires this year after 18 years’ service to Sovereign Hill. He is seen here with
fellow Board Members Peter Davies and Jane Cowles.
12
Similarly, The International Council of Museums describes a museum as:
Sovereign Hill, as Australia’s premier Outdoor Museum, falls squarely within
these two significant definitions. In particular, our emphasis on education
represents an opportune strength. It was very pleasing therefore, to
successfully renegotiate our funding agreement with the State Government
for the Strategic Partnerships Program that will support our Education
Service for 2009-11.
Museums Australia, the peak industry body, defines a ‘museum’ as being an
institution with the following characteristics:
'A museum helps people understand the world by using objects
and ideas to interpret the past and present and explore the
future. A museum preserves and researches collections and
makes objects and information accessible in actual and virtual
environments. Museums are established in the public interest as
permanent, not-for-profit organisations that contribute long-term
value to communities.'
'… a non-profit making permanent institution in the service
of society and of its development, open to the public, which
acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits,
for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, the tangible
and intangible evidence of people and their environment.'
Chief executive officer's report
13
'There have been outstanding attendance results across all markets, accompanied by a strong financial performance and the delivery of an exciting program of capital works.'
This year, the role we play in
education and training was
recognised when the University
the status of being its first Affiliate
Institute in the Ballarat region.
In October 2007, another
Memorandum of Understanding with
Ballarat’s Aboriginal community
several areas in which Sovereign Hill
and Kirrit Barreet can collaborate to
promote increased awareness and
understanding of the Indigenous
heritage of the goldfields.
acknowledged by the Museum
Accreditation status issued to
underpins our credibility as a viable
and unique cultural tourism asset.
The following Annual Report details
many fine achievements over the
past financial year. There have been
outstanding attendance results
the delivery of an exciting program of
capital works.
Outdoor Museum and at the Gold
Museum have been very capably
managed by our staff and received
with genuine appreciation by the
visiting public.
for awards. Sovereign Hill was
adjudged as Winner of the 2007
Tourism Marketing Award at the
Victorian Tourism Awards for its
events-based marketing strategy, and
Survival Award for small museums
at the annual Victorian Museum
Awards. This award recognised the
excellent strategy implemented with
community exhibitions and public
marketing plan, and the winter school
holiday snow program delivered
record visitation numbers. We
inbound incentive group when the
2008 Amway Chinese tour came to
Melbourne. Almost 7,000 Chinese
activities here at Sovereign Hill as
part of that experience.
anticipated financial outcome and
within our resources.
morning and afternoon train service
from Melbourne’s Southern Cross
Station is delivering very strong
results. It provides a low-cost means
of access for visitors to Ballarat and
Sovereign Hill in an environmentally
friendly way.
past year. Our water supply has
been better secured by a range of
14
Ballarat, to Sovereign Hill for the signing of
an Affiliate institute Agreement between the
University and Sovereign Hill on 3 December 2007.
15
Nicholson celebrated another award for Sovereign
Hill with first place in the RACv tourism Marketing
category at the 2007 victorian tourism Awards.
(Picture: Tourism Victoria)
attended the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding between Sovereign Hill and Kirrit
Barreet.
RiGHt
Kirrit Barreet and Sovereign Hill was signed on 9
November 2007 at Kirrit Barreet. Amongst those
from Kirrit Barreet who took part in the ceremony
were Karen Heap, Ceo, left rear, and erin Cameron,
then Manager, right front. they are seen here with
tim Sullivan, right, and Sovereign Hill education
officers Sue Pohl, left front, and Richard McLean.
16
with the financial assistance of both
the State and Federal Governments.
These include more on-site storage
and water recycling.
to managing our stable of over fifty
horses. A very detailed management
plan meant that horse operations
were not impeded in any way by
this crisis.
part of our overall operations and its
growth over the past year has been
remarkable.
renegotiate our catering contract
with Delaware North Companies
the present contract term provided.
This has enabled a longer-term plan
for capital works, inclusive of a major
redevelopment of the kiosk, to be
established.
community strength for Sovereign
wonderful volunteers in the
Gold Museum Society continue to
make an outstanding contribution
experiences enjoyed at our
been initiated, and the Pioneer Pass
Membership category has grown
remarkably in recent times.
controlling smoking and to
ensure compliance with the
new Working with Children
legislation. The organisation also
achieved compliance with the
Equal Opportunity for Women
in the Workforce legislative
requirements. The general staff
certainty about on-going increases
a memorable experience is the
cornerstone of our staff philosophy,
and every staff member strives to
achieve this outcome.
dedication of the Management
Deputy CEO & Museums Director,
is exemplary. We welcomed
Richard Berman-Hardman to the
Howard, MLA for Ballarat east. Jeremy Johnson,
centre, and Barry Hodge, right, helped Mr Howard
fill the water cart, which takes water from the
Battery House to be used for dust suppression on
our roads.
he brings a wealth of experience to
Sovereign Hill from his former work
with the National Trust Australia
(Victoria). Janelle Gilbert and Barb
Howes have also been of invaluable
personal assistance to me.
the past year. In particular, I would
like to thank the Board President,
Richard Nicholson, for his passion,
commitment and encouragement.
satisfying period of achievement
placed to meet the challenges that
lie ahead for our unique institution.
Jeremy Johnson
Delaware North Companies Australia, our catering lessees, very capably managed lunch for visiting Amway
delegates – most of whom were catered for in a marquee set up for the occasion on the lawns of Sovereign
Hill Lodge.
Panning for gold was a popular activity for Amway visitors.
'In 2008, Snow Magic broke every record for winter holiday visitation in our 38-year history.'
18
Sovereign Hill has had another year of triumphs based on its
events-based marketing strategy. Annual attendances reached
472,247, and we finished the financial year with 42,247 visitors
above budget.
strategy in 2006 with a ‘Frozen in
Time’ snow promotion that attracted
record winter visitation. In 2007,
'Winter Wonderland' built on this
success with a fully integrated
marketing campaign capitalising
the experience. Again, we achieved
record visitation.
our 38-year history. Attendances rose
from 26,359 in 2006 to 34,236 in
2007 and then to 41,580 this year!
We further improved our latest snow
event in order to attract our traditional
family market and to encourage both
new and return visitors. Additional
snow machines (strategically
and more snow was spread on the
ground to enhance the mood.
A giant snow slide provided hours
of entertainment for young visitors,
and a snow play tent created a
miniature Sovereign Hill streetscape
snowballing skills away from the rush
of Main Street.
program of ‘winter’ activities,
2007 Victorian Tourism Awards,
Tourism Marketing Award.
hosted its first major music festival
with headline acts including The
Waifs, Kate Ceberano, The Black
Sorrows, The Bushwackers, James
Reyne, Mark Seymour, Shane
Howard and Mick Thomas.
Celebrity artists embraced the
ranged from small groups on Main
Street, to huge crowds who filled
the ‘big top’ set up on the lawn at
Sovereign Hill Lodge.
ears – and years! Popular children’s
entertainment included Dorothy the
up on their own stage by the Post
Office Pond.
his mischievous assistant, Goblin
Sprightly, showering Main Street
in bubbles for ‘Spellbound’.
‘Gold Strike!’ – another perennial
with one lucky visitor winning a
$10,000 gold nugget.
retailing and marketing opportunities
activities. Show bags, gumboots
reinforce our school holiday events.
Having successfully delivered our
Sovereign Hill is now well placed
to host large incentive groups. We
won the tender to host almost 7,000
Amway delegates from China over
a four week period in April this year.
They took part in specially tailored
Sovereign Hill programs and enjoyed
lunch provided by the very capable
Delaware North team at a number of
venues across the site, including a
marquee at Sovereign Hill Lodge.
The success of this visit led to a
further 500 visitors and has placed
Sovereign Hill at the forefront of the
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition
will benefit from conference and
partners’ tours, as well as the
organised conference and
a significant increase in attendances
from the Chinese market. In 2006-
07, we had 43,181 Chinese visitors
and in 2007-08, we had 63,551
– an increase of 47%. Our China-
20
Left
‘lesson’ on Main Street during the filming of
Channel ten’s ‘Huey’s Cooking Adventures’.
oPPoSite toP
2007 Music festival.
(Picture: Mushroom Marketing)
Sovereign Hill Music festival with Sari Baird and
Doug Sarah.
such as Luke tonkin, left, and Josh Murphy, right.
Here, they were joined in song by Jarrod Page, left,
and Rodger Clark.
in further raising awareness of the
Sovereign Hill brand in China and,
last year, for the first time, our CEO
Jeremy Johnson and Lilian Sun, our
International Marketing Executive,
on the co-operation of our talented
staff, teachers, volunteers and
story that is Sovereign Hill.
21
22
Central Highlands water, illustrates the
success of our water saving measures over the
past five years.
heavily on mains water for key
elements of its interpretive activities
– notably its heritage gardens, its
horses and its extensive steam
operations. The drought, however,
catching, storing and recycling water.
Through funding from the Federal
Government’s Community Water
collect rainwater for tank storage has
continued, with 30% of the Outdoor
Museum’s water supply now coming
from tanks. Having stored rainwater
available has helped enormously
and in maintaining our roads. We
have now reduced our reliance on
mains water by 64%. In 2003, we
used 34,000 KL and in the 2007-08
year, we used only 12,000. Surface
runoff has been more effectively
captured and controlled, and the
treatment by reverse osmosis of
water used in our Cornish Boilers
has allowed it be recycled rather
than wasted. With the support of
the Victorian Government’s Smart
Water Fund, we held a public launch
of our Smart Water systems at a
symposium where others could learn
about strategies for improving water
efficiency.
expanded in recent years. Working
with our waste contractor to monitor
and manage our waste levels, we
have achieved benefits in more
efficient handling of waste and in
recycling.
evidence of the year’s activity in the Outdoor Museum becomes
obvious as soon as visitors approach the entrance building. The
verandah has been glassed in, and large sliding doors lead to an
attractive, refurbished interior providing greatly enhanced levels
of visitor and staff amenity, and greater efficiencies in ticketing
procedures and visitor flow.
23 23
'Our challenge is to provide layers of interpretation that will assist visitors, in their wide diversity of learning styles and preferences, to learn as much as possible from their experience.'
24
Store. The pumping engine in the
Fire Station has been fully restored −
a major project by the coachbuilders
who were also engaged in work
to conserve an original Cobb & Co
coach for display in 'The Melbourne
Story' − the Melbourne Museum’s
new exhibition. Our own Cobb &
Co coach was extensively rebuilt
and beautifully presented by the
coachbuilders for the thousands of
visitors who ride in it each year.
Murphy’s Tentmaker’s exhibit has
been re-worked and, in the year
ahead, the Red Hill Gully Diggings
will be progressively refurbished
visitors and for night-time patrons
of 'Blood on the Southern Cross'.
We also hope to restore the Chilean
Mill to operating order as part of our
horse operations activity.
birth and the 150th anniversary of
the publication of 'On the Origin of
Species', we plan to refurbish the
Mechanics’ Institute to interpret the
controversy generated by Darwin’s
Theory of Evolution.
research library. On 8 February,
2008, the library was formally named
in honour of David O’Sullivan OAM,
a founding Board Member and Past-
President, who contributed so much
to create this valuable resource.
Elsewhere in the Outdoor Museum,
planning is well underway for a
major renovation of the Victoria
Theatre, for the installation of a bush
battery powered by a portable steam
engine, and for a new photographic
enterprise to cater for a growing
demand in the Red Hill Photographic
Rooms. The relocation of John
Alloo’s will complete a program of
enhancements funded by the State
Government’s Regional Infrastructure
family visitors. The holiday events
provide opportunities to work with
new themes and ideas, and to
involve younger visitors with our
interpreters in 'hands-on' activities
to understand aspects of life on
the goldfields. The music program,
particularly, used song to focus
on the sounds and stories of the
goldfields, and we will retain it as a
regular part of our holiday activities.
Research has shown the importance
of structured interpretive programs
way around and make sense of the
events of the great Australian gold
rushes. It has also shown how much
visitors rely on conversation within
their groups to orientate themselves
and to browse for things and places
of potential interest. Our challenge
is to provide layers of interpretation
that will assist visitors, in their wide
diversity of learning styles and
preferences, to learn as much as
possible from their experience.
the Little Redcoats program is a popular school holiday activity.
(Picture: The Herald & Weekly Times Collection)
RiGHt
four of Sovereign Hill’s founding fathers were reunited as they
celebrated the official naming of the David o’Sullivan Library. they
are, from the left, Colin Prowse, David o’Sullivan, Bill Stephen and
Bill McGregor.
been constructed and is ready for
operation. The tramway vehicles,
passengers. They are controlled by
large drum winches. A fully restored
60hp Walker steam engine, which
is now operational, sits beside the
drum winches. Its size and character
will complement the plant room. The
operation of the trams themselves is
fully computerised and requires only
push button driving by a guide.
As it descends into the Mine, this
exciting new ride will plunge visitors
into darkness for some 80 seconds
before they arrive at Number 1 Plat
– a large open space interpreting the
underground geology that exists on
the Sovereign Hill site. From there,
they will connect with a range of
tours, including an option for our
Asian groups.
tours cater for around 1,000 visitors
each day. This new ride will allow us
to better meet the demand for an
underground mining experience.
is looking forward to the launch of
this exciting new project which has
been the main focus of their activity
for the year.
regulatory responsibility for mine
safety, with WorkSafe Victoria
Department of Primary Industries.
an inspection of the underground
workings by their representatives in
March this year.
new Boiler House viewing area and
the Engine House disabled access
ramp. Noel Edwards, a former Board
Member, cut the ribbons to officially
open both projects. At the same
time, we launched our updated guide
map for visitors who use wheelchairs
or strollers.
the opportunity to view our steam
installations is a significant advance
in our interpretive program and
allows us to highlight the magnificent
collection of working steam engines
and steam-powered machinery which
Sovereign Hill’s infancy.
RiGHt
John Lewis, left, Bruce Clark and Peter Davies were amongst guests
at the launch of the new engine House ramp and extensions to the
viewing area of the Boiler House.
oPPoSite
photographs to promote new products and experiences. in this case,
Penny Golder and Anthony watson sat up front in the new mine
tram with Renee Madden, left, and Marg Alpen in the second seat.
28
In the last twelve months, 533
shows were presented and over
75,000 visitors enjoyed this unique
sound-and-light experience. Of these
interstate and overseas.
presentation was very capably
Department under the management
Design.
and its bookings area during the
renovation works undertaken in the
July-December period.
based on an updated marketing
message supported by a striking new
image.
of operation – with over 1.2m visitors
having already experienced this
iconic Sovereign Hill presentation.
Stiff, who retired after 14 years as
Manager of Sovereign Hill Lodge.
In his place, we have now welcomed
Neil Robbins.
development of 'A Night in the
Museum', a new accommodation
best of Sovereign Hill in a fully hosted
experience which will culminate in an
overnight stay at Steinfeld’s − inside
the Outdoor Museum!
the Ladies’ Parlour of the Charlie Napier Hotel. the
photograph will be used to promote ‘A Night in the
Museum’ – a new experience encouraging visitors
to stay overnight at Steinfeld’s.
29
continues to enjoy an outstanding
standard of accommodation at both
the Lodge and Steinfeld’s.
Administration
quietly, effectively and often behind-
the-scenes, thanks to staff who work
in the Entrance, in the Education
office, in Bright View, in St Ives and
at the Gold Museum, Sovereign Hill
Lodge, the Store and Narmbool.
Together, they do a magnificent job in
helping to maintain the high standard
of the Sovereign Hill experience for
our visitors.
of new administration staff who
have settled quickly into the busy
routines that underpin the day-to-day
operations of Sovereign Hill, the Gold
Museum and Narmbool.
visiting the Red Hill Photographic Rooms to sit for a victorian-style photograph is a popular activity for our
visitors. Here, Bec Grootveld takes a photograph of Luke Cooper and Janelle Gilbert which will be used for
promotional purposes.
Jeroen Boersma, left, Bec fletcher and Xavier watson admire the skill of warren Arnott as he tends
the Cornish Boilers. extensions to the viewing area have opened up this exhibit so that visitors who use
wheelchairs can now enjoy a good view of the activity within the Boiler House.
30
refurbishment of Sovereign Hill’s
main Entrance. This was a major
project for John Zulic and Glenn
Bishop, who worked with local firms
– Morton Dunn Architects and AW
Nicholson Construction – to renovate
by Ballarat architect Ewan Jones and
had been in use since 1970.
The building was used during the
Christmas holiday season, and was
formally opened by Colin Prowse, a
Founding Board Member, in March.
Externally, the most obvious change
is that the verandah has been glassed
in to allow better temperature
control within. A new entry point
leads visitors through sliding glass
doors towards three ticket boxes.
The bookings desk, the gift shop
and associated storage areas have
been expanded. New cabinetry and
retail displays have lifted the interior,
and its amenity has been enhanced
by new carpet, a complementary
colour scheme and centralised air
conditioning and heating.
experiences, Design staff have
underground mine tour on an
inclined tramway.
significant mining project. Our
with a creative consultant to shape
an underground adventure experience
New Australasian Mine at Creswick.
Publications projects have included
Victorian Tourism Awards, this
material and stationery to support
‘A Night in the Museum’.
The Design Department has worked
extensively with the Marketing
creating new brochures for the Asian
market.
The success of this historical
business is a credit to its Manager,
Tony Long, and his staff. Visitors enjoy
posing for a souvenir photograph
in period costume, and we hope to
extend this opportunity in a manner
that introduces another interpretive
gathering information about the
travelling photographers who moved
recording one of the most fascinating
periods in Australia’s history.
The Technical Services Department,
ranging duties and plays a key role
in helping us meet our statutory
obligations regarding electrical
service support and maintenance for
‘Blood on the Southern Cross’, as well
as technical upgrades (most recently
the installation of new audio-visual
equipment in the Voyage to Discovery
orientation centre where the show
begins).
ABove
Aw Nicholson Pty Ltd. the final product is seen
opposite left.
oPPoSite RiGHt
celebrated the opening of the refurbished entrance
with architects Peter Dunn, centre left, and Peter-
John Di Michiel.
The gold Museum Committee, chaired by Jane Cowles, has had
an active and rewarding year overseeing progress at the Museum,
which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in november 2008.
We are pleased to report that a $3m capital works program to refurbish the
Simon Pavilion, and the collection conservation areas and storage facilities
has been developed. This blueprint promises an exciting future for the Gold
Museum as part of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association.
Through the work of the Gold Museum, we are able to broaden our range of
programs and activities for visitors, and our community, in telling the story of
the impact of gold on our region. Again, this year, the Museum has produced
a demanding schedule of exhibitions.
'The Trail of the Rainbow Bird' was staged in collaboration with the Break o’
Day and Forest Environment Group and photographer Terry Kelly. The launch
included the release of an attractive tourism brochure highlighting the unique
environment of the Berringa area.
'Migrant to Citizen: Stories from Ballarat’s Polish Community' was a
collaborative project with the local Polish community to tell their stories as
post-war migrants who settled in Ballarat.
'Faces in the Street: Portraits of Ballarat Lives' was developed in partnership
with the YMCA Camera Club as part of the 'Capture the Vision' Photographic
Project.
'Changing Dress: Changing Attitudes', a project staged with Loreto College
students as part of the Ballarat History Learning Circle, interpreted a range
of beautiful women’s dresses from our costume collection.
gold Museum
33
'Through the work of the Gold Museum, we are able to broaden our range of programs and activities for visitors, and our community, in telling the story of the impact of gold on our region.'
34
with the Ballarat Embroiderers
the Begonia Quilters and the Craft
Council of Ballarat.
carried out by our volunteer groups
– the Gold Museum Society and
the Friends of Sovereign Hill –
won a commendation certificate.
the Central Highlands Historical
Catholic University, Ballarat Campus.
Heritage' and it was so well received
that it was shown again in the
Museum’s Cowles Gallery. Part of
the exhibition was also displayed
in the window of the Volunteer
Resource Centre.
programs have aligned closely with
Sovereign Hill’s events program and
included 'Meet the Music Collector'
(featuring musical instruments, sheet
collection), 'Extraordinary Stories of
Golden Treasures'.
program was recognised at the
Victorian Museum Awards where
for best community and outreach
programs. The award is welcome
recognition of our strategy of
investing in a temporary exhibition
program which tells the story of
our own community, builds a better
shared understanding of the heritage
collections in our care, and promotes
engagement with our shared
lose sight of the inherently unique
stories and material heritage of their
region and locality. Our collection
development strategy is based on
building our strengths in the heritage
of gold mining in the Ballarat region.
The Arts Victoria grant helping to
support our functions is now a
triennial funding arrangement which
community-based activities.
set of five bound volumes of music
scores dating back to 1860. This
collection was donated by Margaret
Archer, who also donated family
history notes relating to the Archer
and Bailey families. One of the
Bailey family members was a noted
photographer who took some of the
classic images of boomtown Ballarat
in the 1870s and 1880s.
We also acquired a beautiful etched
glass from the Ballarat Federal
Exhibition of 1901 and a range of
Ballarat-related books, documents
William Tibbets watercolour of
watercolour of the Cameron Gold
Mine, near Creswick. Medals and
certificates from Ballarat Industrial
several trade catalogues, scrapbooks
of mid-nineteenth century medical
it was presented at the 2008 victorian Museum
Awards and recognises the Gold Museum for its
‘exemplary’ community-based exhibitions and public
programs.
of 1850s sheet music completed this
list.
Historical Society Committee,
research papers and artefacts relating
to military and mining history.
A collection of photographs and
handwritten ledgers and journals
from the historic property,
Briody, and is a very significant
acquisition which will foster greater
understanding of 19th century
pastoralism in our region.
Finally, an important community
and one which is supported by The
Sovereign Hill Museums Association,
of local collecting organisations to
support each other in the event
of emergencies such as that
experienced by the Gold Museum
in the January 2007 inundation
during a severe rainstorm.
Board Members present at the 2007 Annual
General Meeting, held in the Gold Museum.
BottoM
achievements.
Left
Loreto College students researched and staged
a costume exhibition entitled ‘Changing Dress:
Changing Attitudes’ at the Gold Museum.
36
important elements of our student
programs. They assist Sovereign
for the 'Christmas in the Colonies'
program and they demonstrate
technology in 'A Woman’s Work is
Never Done'. FOSH help Ragged
School students learn their trades,
and they conduct walking tours
which help introduce students in
the costumed schools program to
Sovereign Hill and their goldfields
school experience.
participated in projects such as the
Buninyong Gold King Festival. Their
support helps promote Sovereign
interpreting the region’s heritage,
and our role in the region’s heritage
tourism economy. Our Friends have
also been generous with their time
in supporting visits by the leisure and
tourism television programs which
strategies and profile.
Prospective volunteers everywhere
that they are making a difference. We
also know that Outdoor Museums
depend on skilled interpreters to
offer the best visitor experience.
At Sovereign Hill, both parties will
benefit this year from a refocus on
skills development opportunities.
particularly be seeking volunteers
interpretive activities for our visitors.
These activities might come from
a wide range of possibilities. FOSH
could conduct a personalised
our volunteers
Volunteering is an important part of the life of a cultural
organisation, especially one which has such a strong community
base as Sovereign Hill. Our volunteer programs provide
opportunities for community members, and those with an interest
in our region, to participate in telling the story of the amazing
events that happened here, in Ballarat, during the great gold
rushes.
37
' ... Outdoor Museums depend on skilled interpreters to offer the best visitor experience.'
38
Museum, present a musical
skill. They might cook (and eat) a
meal with visitors or conduct a
session on costume. Other options
could include talking about objects in
a house, a hotel, a tent or a factory,
or talking with visitors about steam
engines and windlasses. Kitchen
a bonnet or a pair of shoes, and
splicing rope could be most intriguing
for younger visitors, in particular.
The options are as open as the
individual’s imagination and provide
opportunities to learn about new
things and develop new skills.
Individuals with people skills, life
experience, knowledge and a passion
to communicate the significance
museum sector.
Co-ordinator, Jan Carroll, and to the
FOSH Committee and its President,
John Olsen, for their enthusiastic
contribution to the success of the
FOSH program and its development.
ABove
souvenir photographs on Main Street with Amway
conference delegates.
who assist with cataloguing of new acquisitions.
She is seen here with elwyn Blood who, until
recently, co-ordinated the work of the Gold
Museum Society at the Museum.
gold Museum Society
Society are involved in a range
of museum activities that help to
deepen our community’s heritage
skills base: collection management;
research; visitor programs; the
and recording collections; and
conservation projects. Gold Museum
in the public galleries and behind-
the-scenes. In the last year, they
gave more than 4,114 hours – a most
significant contribution of time, skill
and energy.
joined the tour-guiding roster, helping
to provide a much-valued service
to our visitors – assisting with
interpretation of our exhibitions and
visitor programs, and taking charge
of the Touch Trolley to give visitors
a chance to handle unusual objects
and to discover their often surprising
purposes.
the role as Volunteer Co-ordinator,
Elwyn Blood has groomed her
successor, Joanne Gervasoni, to
especially capable and dedicated
will have her services in a new role in
extending the collection registration
is now largely completed and the
acquisition of new storage cupboards
has involved re-packing, re-locating
items. Projects to scan and index
photographs, transcribe diaries and
acquisitions are all well-advanced.
meeting program with a variety of
guest speakers. Shane Carmody,
spoke about Sir Edmund Barry.
Roger Thomas’s area of expertise
was wildlife, and Kate Elliott
presented a talk on Lake Wendouree
and rowing. Sovereign Hill
wheelwright and coachbuilder Barry
about his publication entitled 'Double
Gold' – the story of two Welsh
miners on the Forest Creek Diggings.
The May tour included a visit to
the Blacksmith’s Cottage and Book
Barn in Bacchus Marsh. Members
supported special projects including
Ballarat Heritage Weekend in May,
and hosted visits from their peers at
the Jewish Museum, Avoca Historical
Society and Kyneton Museum,
and for the donation of funds to
acquire a digital camera for use by
the volunteers.
39
40
' ... the Bug Blitz program presents students with a curriculum that is both engaging and highly relevant, focussing on the challenges that face the environment and biodiversity in our world today.'
41
narmbool narmbool has accumulated a very satisfying list of achievements
this year, with the environmental education program being well
supported.
A major marketing campaign, assisted by former Sovereign Hill Marketing
Manager, Wendy Taylor, was successful in attracting bookings for the
Environmental Learning Centre and Narmbool Lodge.
Now firmly established on the annual calendar at Narmbool, the ‘Bug Blitz’
program presents students with a curriculum that is both engaging and
highly relevant, focussing on the challenges that face the environment and
biodiversity in our world today.
The Hon. Bronwyn Pike, State Minister for Education, was able to gain a first-
hand assessment of the quality of this program when she visited Narmbool
last November on a formal inspection tour. On that occasion, we were pleased
to involve Margaret Ross, Chairman of The John T Reid Charitable Trust, which
has been an outstanding long-term supporter of the capital infrastructure
development at Narmbool.
several generous benefactors. This allows the opportunity to provide schools
with targeted assistance in the hope of building long-term relationships with
them as active participants in the annual Narmbool program.
We were especially delighted to receive sufficient capital support from The
John T Reid Charitable Trust and the Ferry Family Charitable Trust to enable
us to proceed with construction of a multi-purpose room adjoining Narmbool
Lodge. This will provide a versatile resource for both schools and conference
groups.
Catering operations at the Garden Room have been extended by Delaware
North Companies Australia. This elegant venue is proving to be a popular
choice for weddings, conferences and special events, such as Sunday jazz
lunches.
Development of the garden has seen the construction of a rotunda to enhance
its use for weddings. The judicious selection of plant and tree species,
combined with skilful gardening and water management, has seen the garden
prosper, despite harsh drought conditions.
The continuing dry weather has also challenged the farming operations, with
Farm Manager Peter Rooney very capably responding to this on-going issue.
Farming operations inform parts of the environmental education program and
provide an interesting backdrop for the students’ project work.
A major study was undertaken on growing different timber species at
Narmbool. The purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility of
helping to sustain farming operations while also providing Sovereign Hill’s
requirements for maintenance and construction works, and firewood for the
Cornish Boilers in Steam Operations.
42
Left
pleased to welcome the Hon. Bronwyn Pike, State
Minister for education, centre left, and Margaret
Ross to Narmbool in November 2007.
oPPoSite
make Narmbool an idyllic setting for weddings and
other special celebrations.
43
44
'Learning is at the heart of what museums must be about.'
45
learning is at the heart of what museums must be about.
Providing experiences that promote discovery and build skills that
support lifelong learning are an investment in a more informed,
more aware and more civic-minded population. It is especially
important that these experiences and skills are developed
in young people and that their curiosity is encouraged and
rewarded.
education
for students across the whole
curriculum. Literacy is critical for
students studying our heritage, but
literacy understood in the broadest
sense: a capability to use and
evaluate sources to test new ideas,
to form theories, to speculate on
the reasons for decisions made by
our forebears and their impact on us
today, and to be able to explain them
to others.
immerse them in understanding,
mind of gold-hungry diggers; the
arduous voyage and trials of the
Chinese making their way to the
'New Gold Mountain'; the ways in
which children and families lived in a
colony expanding into new frontiers
at breakneck speed; and the ways
in which Indigenous people were
affected by, and responded to, the
intrusion of gold mining.
Sovereign Hill Education continued
professional development for local
refurbished Mechanics’ Institute, as
Again, the professional development
session this year was presented in
two parts: one pre-Federation and
the other post-Federation.
Other professional development
for students and teachers to use the
internet and social media to link with
their studies at Sovereign Hill and
− with the Children’s Book Council
and School Librarians’ Association
literature in the classroom and
beyond.
46
collaboration with the Melbourne
Archdiocese. Hundreds of pilgrims
program of activities at Sovereign
Hill, and an opportunity to meet other
pilgrims and share their excitement
about the pilgrimage or their
reflections on it.
ideas on what we have learned
through our Smart Water project. The
symposium called 'Water − More
community groups and individuals to
learn about ways of teaching about
water sustainability and strategies to
achieve it.
participation in the Department
Development’s Strategic Partnership
relationship with the Catholic
richness of human experience
teaching.
visiting assistant teacher from China
spend a term with us. Ms Yahui
Yang contributed to our sessions on
Chinese culture and, coming from
Beijing, gave sessions for schools
and staff on the city hosting the
Olympic Games and the story of the
mascots and what they represent.
The Chinese Consulate in Melbourne
loaned us life-size mascots for use
in the sessions which were free for
local schools.
ABove Left
photographed with ‘Yingying’, one of the Beijing
olympics mascots, who ‘visited’ Sovereign Hill to
take part in a Sovereign Hill education program
offered by Ms Yahui Yang, a visiting teacher
assistant from China.
(Picture: The Courier)
in ‘hands-on’ programs devised by Sovereign Hill
education staff.
oPPoSite Left
in a photography session to advertise Sovereign Hill
education programs.
oPPoSite RiGHt
weekend music camps for students.
47
narmbool
in 2008 − very pleasing progress in
establishing this new venture with
the education audience.
water sustainability and protecting
for programs exploring these
environmental curriculum camps
diversity of ecosystems: terrestrial
combining pastures, regenerated
Narmbool Lodge.
students to learn ways of reading
the land and understanding healthy
habitats, and to apply a variety
of skills in communicating their
experience and learning to others.
It is a powerful combination that
promotes deep learning.
for the first time. With the support
of the Hugh DT Williamson
Foundation, the 'Bug Blitz' concept
will be a part of our program for
at least the next three years. This
year we had valuable support
from Museum Victoria and Zoos
Victoria entomologists, puppeteer
of Ballarat’s Environmental
the participating schools.
also been involved in our night-time
stargazing for student campers.
ablaze with stars in a perfect black
background.
very popular and will be extended in
the year ahead. Narmbool’s facilities,
with the Hugh DT Williamson
Learning Centre, are ideal for
educational programs, and will be
extended with a new multi-purpose
room to provide expanded work
and assembly areas for the student
body. Our music camps will also
benefit from the new space which
will be designed to enhance acoustic
performance.
48
thought-provoking preparation.
their lives as children of the 1850s,
speculating on their journey to the
goldfields, the consequences of
in going to school. At the end of their
program, the students’ responses
those initial expectations, on the
things they did and learned, and
on the importance of values like
courage. Each student, in his or her
own way, must take a leap of faith to
gain the most from this immersive
experience, and so many find
unexpected strengths in themselves
program so memorable for them.
Michael Adams has joined the
school’s teaching staff. Under his
tutelage, the new St Alipius Diggings
School has had a successful first
full year of operation, immersing
students in the life of the Irish who
migrated to Ballarat, like so many
others, full of hope and expectation.
St Alipius has been modelled on
the first Catholic school in Ballarat,
and its program can be modified
to provide an interpretation of the
Catholic heritage on the goldfields.
The Ballarat Benevolent Asylum
Steinfeld’s building, and schools have
enjoyed the new accommodation
Ragged School represent significant
response to a strong demand for
bookings. With the enduring success
of the Red Hill National School and
the St Peter’s Denominational School,
we provide a rich domain for students
to explore all that Sovereign Hill has
to offer in telling the story of the gold
rushes.
the information of visiting schools
and stakeholders. Information about
also be more readily available when a
new website, currently in planning, is
launched in 2009.
and visitors who use wheelchairs are
also being improved thanks to a grant
from the Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development.
by the passing of the Hon. Lindsay
Thompson and Bob Dobell. Both
men were vital in establishing the
Red Hill National School in 1979, and
in establishing a great legacy for the
founders of the Sovereign Hill School.
Catherine King Community Service
stalwart supporters. Caroline Hutterer
were second-to-none. Kevin Ryan
in 1979 and has continued to provide
wisdom and support as a School
Councillor ever since. We thank both
for their outstanding contributions to
the life of the school.
Finally, we thank the School Council
for its support of significant initiatives
to develop and promote the school
programs. We also thank Sovereign
Hill staff and the Friends of Sovereign
Hill whose contributions have
and orientation tours for students and
their teachers.
Catherine King MP, centre, presented Community Service Awards to Caroline
Hutterer and Kevin Ryan.
and Colin Prowse shared a chat at the President’s
Dinner.
company of Mark and Melinda o’Dowd at the
President’s Dinner.
Peter Connors, and Richard and Colleen Ayson.
Steve and Sophie Coltman, right, joined Dean and
Pauline Stevens for drinks at the President’s Dinner.
Margaret and John webster, right, and Barrie
Coltman were guests at the President’s Dinner.
enjoying drinks at the President’s Dinner were Rosie
McGregor, left, valda Murden, Shirley Prowse, Kay
McKnight and Sarah wilkins.
Meeting.
50
Damien Butler delivered the Association’s financial
Report at the 2007 Annual General Meeting.
Nancye and John Cain, right, enjoyed catching up
with Peter and Yvette Hiscock at the President’s
Dinner.
to host Michael and Lorraine Beaumont at the
President’s Dinner.
right, were pleased to welcome Peter McCarthy to
the President’s Club luncheon.
Robert Selkirk, left, Jeremy Johnson, Penny Russell
and Doug Sarah enjoyed Christmas drinks.
voi williams, left, and Nina valentine were
amongst guests at the President’s Drinks evening
in December.
ian Smith, centre, and terry Lloyd to the 2007
Annual General Meeting.
52
Sovereign Hill has lost a sterling supporter with the recent passing of a former
State Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Lindsay Thompson.
Lindsay Thompson was a great supporter of Sovereign Hill from its inception.
In particular, his contribution to the establishment of the education facilities
at Sovereign Hill was inspirational. He officiated at the opening of the Red Hill
National School, and it was through his valuable support that the Sovereign Hill
School program flourished.
He also officiated at the opening of Stage 2 of the Gold Museum, now known
as the Cowles Gallery, in 1980.
In his retirement, Lindsay Thompson became one of the inaugural Trustees
of the Sir Henry Bolte Trust, which has financed the acquisition of many
significant museum collection items.
Throughout his public life, he served the State of Victoria with great dignity,
courage and commitment and he will be long remembered as a true friend of
Sovereign Hill.
Jeremy Johnson
vale lindsay Thompson
the Hon. Lindsay thompson, left, attended the Bolte trust fundraising dinner held at the Gold Museum in May
1998. He was photographed here enjoying the company of Sir Rupert Hamer, the Hon. Jeff Kennett and the
Hon. John Cain.
Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd Channel 7 Nestlé Peters
Prime Television Ballarat Radio Ballarat Pty Ltd The Courier
Tooheys Pty Ltd WIN Television
53
Corporate Members ACU National Allied Mills Australia Pty Ltd Austbrokers Australia Post Australian Timken Pty Ltd Ballarat Turf Club BRACE Education, Training & Employment Butler Pty Ltd C E Bartlett Pty Ltd CGU Insurance Child & Family Services Ballarat City of Ballarat Commonwealth Bank Concept Cleaning Supplies Cops ‘n’ Kids Crawford Dowling Pty Ltd
D W Security Pty Ltd Delacombe Medical Centre Eureka Concrete FMP Group Pty Ltd Gekko Systems Gold Corporation Haymes Paint Imerys Minerals Australia J B Cameron Pty Ltd John Valves Lake Imaging Lisa Lodge Mars Confectionery Social Club Midwest Social Club Neighbourhood Cable Oliver Footwear
Prime Television Prism Solutions Pty Ltd Prowse, Perrin & Twomey Reclink Australia Rural Press Printing Ballarat Sargeant Transport Pty Ltd Selkirk Brick Pty Ltd Sovereign Park Motor Inn St George Bank Telstra Corporation Telstra Country Wide The Diggers Hut UFS Dispensaries Ltd University of Ballarat
donors Estate of E C Webb
Ferry A S & R F M
Ferry Family Charitable Trust
The Hugh D T Williamson Foundation
The John T Reid Charitable Trust
Montgomery Foundation Pty Ltd
Regional Infrastructure Development Fund Victoria
The Sovereign Hill Foundation is committed to growing a corpus of funds
for the perpetual support of Sovereign Hill and, this year, the Foundation has
initiated a new campaign to further that objective.
The Foundation has set itself the target of establishing a number of Named
Accounts within its investment structure, so that our generous donors who
contribute $25,000 or more can have a growing fund within the Foundation’s
corpus, recognising their generosity by immortalising their name in our
perpetual records.
We are very grateful to Ross Wilkie, Colin Prowse and Janet Cowles for their
commitment and hard work in establishing this campaign. Their dedication to
Sovereign Hill will be overwhelmingly appreciated in the years ahead.
We must thank Janet also for her wise leadership as Chairman of the
Sovereign Hill Foundation. Janet has now stepped down from this position,
and Ross Wilkie has taken on the challenge of this very significant voluntary
role. Ross has been involved at Sovereign Hill since its earliest days and brings
a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this appointment.
The President’s Dinner, this year, saw a very helpful bonus of over $4,000
donated to the Foundation, and plans are well advanced for a major 2008
fund-raising dinner and auction at which the Named Accounts project will be
formally launched.
The Board has resolved that it does not plan to seek from the Foundation any
annual distribution to Sovereign Hill’s operations until the corpus invested
exceeds $2m.
All donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible, and it is able to receive
bequests and donations from Public Prescribed Funds set up by individuals for
philanthropic purposes.
As at 30 June 2008, the Foundation’s investment stands as follows:
General Funds $1,065,855
Total $1,090,855
The 10th Anniversary Appeal 2005
gold Members Ainsworth J B Apex Club of Ballarat Brace Education Training & Employment Ltd Brooke D Brown, Estate of Gladys M Byrne M L Coburn P & P Coltman C Coltman S Conheady C The Courier Cowles J E Cowles J I Davies P J Davies P R Davies S Eureka Concrete Evans & Metcalfe Fisken P Garrisson V Hassett B
Heinz J & G Heinz W H & P Howes I & B John & Catherine Davis’ Great Outdoor Centre Johnson J & A Jones E & R Kannourakis G Karmouche D & J Lyons N & L Lloyd T Mason K & L McCarthy P McGregor W & R McKnight B & K Nelson J Nicholson E J Nicholson P C Nicholson R Oliver N O’Sullivan D Perrin K
Plush J & M Prowse C R Prowse S L Robson V G Ross M S Sarah A D Shaw J Selkirk J Stephen W F Stephen M T Stobo T & C Tennant A & D Tol M Troon G H & A J University of Ballarat Vogan A & G Webster J & M Williams V
gold Members Bate W
Cowles J I
donors Broadbent M Coltman S Gribble I Heinz G
Pleydell R Robinson J Robson V G Lyons N & L
Herring M Hook R Hamer, Lady A
donors Beaumont M & L Button J N Cartledge R & L Clark B C Dale J Dalton R & M
Davies Bakery Herring M Hook R House B & E McQuilten J O’Grady B & J
Sheedy M & L Squire R & N Taylor J & W Torney G W Valentine N Whitfield C
Ashley G Baird S Ball D Beechey D Bowman B Bradie D Brooke D Burt D Campana T Carter R Chandler I Chapman W Chester D Clamp P Coltman B Corcoran I Cowles J E Cowles J I
Cronin D Cross R Dale J Daunt M Davies P J Davis J Everist M Fisken P Gay J Gibney M Gow D Hayden R Hewitt G Hope P Hunt I Kannourakis G Karmouche D Lance G
Lloyd T Lowe A Lyons N Marshall P McGregor W McKnight B McKnight D Miller J Moss S Nelson J Nicholson E J Oliver N Owen G Perrin K Perry A Pierce J Plaatzer W Prowse C
Pryor W J Russell J Selkirk J Selkirk R J Smith J Spittle G H Taylor R Thomson B Tobin S Troon G Valentine P Webster M Wilkie G Wilkins R Williams J Williams V
Each year, the generous subscription donations of the Prospectors are
directed towards The Sovereign Hill Foundation.
The Prospectors’ Club was established in 1989 and operates under the
Patronage of Professor Weston Bate, who has played an integral role in
Sovereign Hill’s establishment and development, and Ballarat Olympian,
Steve Moneghetti.
The Board has adopted an exciting plan for the development of a children’s
themed playground situated between the Refreshment Kiosk and the Post
Office Pond. Our Prospectors sponsored the preparation of this plan, and
fundraising has commenced for an estimated capital cost of $400,000.
Prospectors' Club
Members
57
The Sovereign Hill Museums association
Patrons Mayor of the City of Ballarat, Cr David Vendy (to 10/12/07)
Mayor of the City of Ballarat, Cr Stephen Jones (from 10/12/07) The Hon. John Cain The Hon. Jeffrey Kennett The Hon. Steve Bracks Patron of narmbool Trust The Governor of Victoria, Prof. David de Kretser
Board Members President R Nicholson Vice-President A Perry S Baird D Butler B Clark S Coltman J Cowles P Davies R Hinchey T Lloyd B Lonsdale B McKnight C Prowse D Sarah R Selkirk V Williams
Chief executive Officer J Johnson
deputy CeO, Museums director T Sullivan
executive Management Director – Creative & Design J Zulic Director – Engineering J Lewis Director – Finance & Corporate Services P Clifford Director – Marketing G Burns Director – Commercial Operations W Peters (to 12/10/07)
Director – Commercial Operations R Berman-Hardman (from 17/12/07)
Gold Museum Manager/Curator R Trudgeon & Deputy Museums Director Chairmen of Committees Audit & Compliance Committee S Baird Finance Committee D Butler Gold Museum Committee J E Cowles Mining Museum Committee B Clark Outdoor Museum Committee A Perry President’s Advisory Committee R Nicholson Narmbool Trust C Prowse Sir Henry Bolte Trust W McGregor The Sovereign Hill Foundation J I Cowles (to 13/2/08) The Sovereign Hill Foundation R Wilkie (from 13/2/08)
The Sovereign Hill Museums association
M Akers D Ball M Byrne A Carey M Carlson J I Cowles H Conder P Cox R Croggon D Douglas S Elder M Ferguson
A Ferry R Ferry P Hiscock W Jacobs P McNamara S Moneghetti G Prowse I Smith W Stephen D Thompson L Thompson R Wilkie
leased Business Managers Catering Delaware North Companies Australia Pty Ltd Soho Foundry & Clarke Bros Tinsmiths P & F Bilney The Ballarat Times R & L McArthur
Sovereign Hill education Bullen H Littlejohn M Corbett E McLean R Dowler M Orr A Hoban P Pohl S Kierce A
Sovereign Hill School Adams M Snowden M Featherston P Steele K Middleton A Ward M Mitchell S
Auditors WHK Western Victoria Audit Partnership Bankers Westpac Banking Corporation History Consultant W Bate Mining Consultant P Darveniza Numismatics Consultant J Sharples Solicitor W McGregor
We are grateful for the on-going support of the following members of the community who serve on Board Committees, Trusts and Foundations associated with Sovereign Hill:
58
59
Ainsworth J B Akers M T Baird A Baird I Baird K D Baird S E Bartrop B Bate W Benjamin T M Bennett R L Blomley D Bowman B Brown G W Bunning P R Butler D Butler K Byrne M Byrne P M Byrne T J Chester C Christie R B Clark B Coburn C Coburn I Coburn P I Coburn P J Coghlan C C Coutts L Cowles J E Cowles J I
Crabb S Craig O Creelman T Crouch N Davies P J Davies P R Dunne M Edwards N J Evans L Fairfax J B Fairhurst J Farnell M R Faulkner J Faull J Ferry A S Ferry R F FitzGerald D Garrisson B Garrisson C Garrisson H Garrisson V Gilbert J Goy I Grant C L Gribble N Griffin J Griffiths W Hayden J Hayden M Hayden P
Hayden R Haymes D Heres K Herman J L Hiscock P McL Hocking D Home I Hornsby R Howard M Hunt R V M Hunt V D U Inglis R Jackman R James B James D Jenkins L Jens N Jones C E Jones D K Jones P K Judd P Kelleher L Kennard D Kinchington T Lance G Langton B Liebelt J Lonsdale B J Lyons G N Lyons N
McBain G McCarthy B McCarthy P McFarlane J McGrath D McGregor H McGregor R McKay H McKnight B McKnight I McKnight T McKnight W Mann P L Martino N Mason K Mason L Matthews R E Montgomery T Morrow B Moss D Moss S Myer B Myer S Nemeth R Nicholson A W Nicholson J E Nicholson P C Nunn B O’Meara T O'Shea J A
O’Sullivan F O’Sullivan F C O’Sullivan J O’Sullivan M Peuker H Pleydell C R Prowse G D Prowse G S Prowse R Prowse S L Radford M Ramsay T D Rice-Jones R Robertson H G Robinson R J Robson V G Runnalls T M Sarah A D Sarah V Schmid R Scott D Segrave B Selkirk I Selkirk J Selkirk R J Sheludko V Smith M G Spicer E J Stephen J Stephen M T
Stepnell J Stone L E Stone P C D Sweeney F Taylor P L Thacore V Thompson L H S Thomson G Timken W J Titheridge N W Tobin F L Torney G W Troon A Troon G H Troon R Troon S Turner P Twomey C Vagg F Valentine N Webb O Webster M Wilkie E Wilkie R Williams C Williams V Wilson P R
Jones E C McGregor W H O’Sullivan D M Prowse C R Stephen W F
Staff
Adams J Allen D Allen H Alpen M Alpen M Anderson L Andrews J Anglim D Armstrong G Arnott W Arts D Ashman C Atkinson W Baker H Baker N Balog A Barrins M Beckwith P Bedggood C Bian J Bignell B Bignell T Billerwell R Binns M Bishop G Blood E Bloom A Bodman K Boersma J Borner L
Borschman T Bothe S Boyko M Bradley L Bray P Breadley L Bredin R Brogden G Brown C Brown L Brown N Bull R Burnett M Burns J Burton I Butler G Butterworth E Byron M Caldwell I Caldwell K Carey J Caris S Carroll J Carter T Chaffey C Chen Z Clark L Clark R Clayton L Collins I
Collins L Collins M Colman M Colquhoun R Condon V Cook S Cooper L Cooper T Corrigan P Cottell P Courtney P Cowan N Cox F Crane J Crane L Croggon J Cunningham D Curran P Currie P Curtis L Cuthbertson K Daniell G Darrell C Den Ouden V Dirks D Dowler P Drew S Drummond M Duffin D Earl B
Earle J East M Eastman S Edgington B Eldridge S Elkins N Elliott K Faravoni M Farnell M Faulkner K Faull C Faull S Ferguson J Finch J Fisher G Fletcher R Foley M Foote G Ford C Ford J Foster D Franc J Francis A Fry J Fryer A Fryer J Fyffe J Gale K Gamble P Gervasoni F
Gervasoni J Geurts A Gilbert J Gleeson J Golder P Goldsmith B Gooding E Govindamurti G Gowans N Grant C Gray M Grootveld R Grose M Hammond R Handley C Hardy M Harris B Harrison M Hart C Hart G Hartmann C Hartmann L Harvey R Hayley L Hazell T Headland K Heinrich M Heinrich T Henderson A Herbert M
Herbert S Hocking D Hodge B Hope T Horbury M Hore B Horne C Horne L Hosking J Howes B Hughes D Hughes F Hunt M Hunter P Hutton C Ingram S Ioannucci S Jarvis K Jeffries P Jenkin B Jephcott J Johnson K Johnson L Johnson L Johnstone M Jones M Jones M Kaess M Kay B Keating S
60
61
Kennedy P Klein J Klene W Kneeshaw S Knight B Knight O Kramer O Kroezen L Kuhn S Kyi A Lacy M Lamond C Lamport C Larkins A Leach K Lee B Leith J Lewis C Licastro D Liu Y Lomas M Long T Luke R Lynch P Macauley R Madden R Maggi K Maher A Maloney R Mao M
Marks M Marsden C Marshall B Martin I Mason C Matthews A McGavin G McGeary K McKinnell E McNeil L Mei J Merritt W Meyers D Middleton A Millar K Milne P Mitchell R Mooney E Moore L Morcombe K Moss K Mroczkowski J Mroczkowski Z Muir C Murphy J Neal A Nestor N Newell N Nicholas M O'Brien K
O'Brien L O'Brien M Ogilvie S Oliver D O'Neill G Osborne D O'Shea A Page A Page J Peacock A Pearce L Perkins D Peters W Pezzutti R Pigdon J Pigdon M Pilven O Pimblett D Pimblett S Pipkorn A Pitman R Porter J Prenc A Prosser G Pryor L Qiu X Ram J Ramsay L Ramsay N Ranken S
Rankin N Reid A Riddiford M Robbins N Robinson D Rowe C Rowe D Rowe J Rowe M Ryan A Schaper P Schellens G Schenk R Scott W Sculley S Searle L Searle L Seater R Severino C Severino P Sexton N Sharer M Sharp K Sharpe A Shepherd K Shuttleworth R Simpson J Smith M Smithers H Steenwyk R
Stevens V Stevenson G Stiff I Stokes J Stoneman D Stoneman J Stowe K Stronach P Sun L Suter K Sutton D Sutton S Tai S Taylor C Taylor K Taylor L Taylor L Taylor N Thorn P Tink A Tonkin D Tonkin L Trotter B Ure J Valentine S Van Raaphorst N Vanderkley C Walker K Wall C Warr P
Watson A Watson J Watson K Watson S Watson X Whelan K White T Widdop B Wilde S Wilkinson C Wilkinson S Williams A Williams T Wilson A Wilson M Wilson P Wood P Wright S Wu J Wynd P Young A Young G Zhang Q Zhang X Zhong L Zhu R Zhu R Zou G
Sovereign Hill
friends of Sovereign Hill
Alcorn F Allen K Allen W Anderson K Aragona A Aragona S Ashley C Ashley E Baker A Baker E Baker G Baker L Baker M Baker M Balfour L Baum L Beattie J Bell K Belshaw H Bennett C Bessems M Bessems M Bone R Brae J Brennan K Brennan L Brogden M Brogden P Brooks C Buckland S Buckland W Calistro D Campbell B Campbell T Carey A Carey B Carter R
Carter S Cartledge L Chenery R Chenery T Clark M Clark R Clark V Cleeman M Clowes J Clowes M Cluff B Coventry M Cowen E Cox P Cullen B Currie J Day J Draper M Ellis C Flynn B Franklin J Fuller J Gavan B George L Gillespie P Grant D Hankin W Harrison J Havard V Hayes S Hedgcock R Herbert M Herbert S Herbert S Herbert Z Hill J Hogbin C
Hogbin E Hogbin M Hopkins R House E Howard J Howard-Robbins L Howgate K Hughan R Jackson J Jackson J Jenkins C Jenkins J Jenkins Z Jones B Jones C Jones E Jones J Jones J Jones M Jones S Karmouche D Kentish S Kilby G Kirley J Kirley N Knox G Ladner C Ladner K Ladner K Ladner K Lamport P Larkins-Sweet S Lewis J Liney P Llewellyn W Lukeis J Lukeis R
Lunn J McCallum R McCandlish S McCausland B McClean A McClean G McCracken N McFerran R Maberly E Macey S Maloney M Maxwell C Maxwell J Maxwell L Maxwell M Meadows Z Meek M Megna C Millar M Miller J Morse S Murnane A Murphy G Newey B Newey C Nyberg R Oakley B O'Brien L O’Connor R O’Connor T O’Hagan D Olsen C Olsen J Olsen J Olsen R Olsen Z O’Loughlin H
Osbourne J Parker J Pepper M Phillips G Phillips J Powell G Rayner M Reasons B Reasons J Redfern J Reus B Richards B Roach A Roadley M Robe L Roberts L Robson Dr W Rochelmeyer C Rochelmeyer E Rochelmeyer G Rochelmeyer J Rosewarne K Rosewarne M Rosewarne V Schmidtke A Schmidtke C Schmidtke D Schmidtke H Schmidtke J Schmidtke M Schmidtke R Schmidtke R Schmidtke R Scott B Sellens W Sellers C Sep R
Sheppard L Sherlock K Singleton A Singleton J Sjogren G Smith A Smith G Smith K Steinman M Stewart I Stewart J Stewart N Summersgill L Suttie R Taylor S Thomas M Thorne K Thornhill N Thornhill N Thorpe L Tolliday A Vanstan K Walden S Wheaton R Whitthread K Wilkins R Windsor M Wright T Wright L Wright E Ziccone K Zilveris E
gold Museum Society
Allitt J Ball A Beggs-Sunter A Binns G Blythman M Bradby D Christie H Christie R Clark M Cowles J E Cowles J I Crick A
Crick J Curnow M Curnow R Denham B Doggett A Douglas D Douglas G Eedle J Eedle M Eldridge R Fammartino M Heinz G
Henderson D Henderson J Hirth D Hope P Karmouche D Kent T Kinloch H Lacy B Llewellyn W Llewellyn N Luhrs M Lunn J
Maberly E Maberly J Maidment E Manning D Martin Z Maxwell D May M McCracken N McPherson B Miller J Mitchell P Muir H
Netherway N Newey B Newey C Newton R Nunn B O’Doherty T Pollard M Prowse S Scott P Smith I Squire R Taylor C
Taylor P Taylor R Tekeath T Thornhill N Thurling M Tong M Tong N Tudball V Zamurs F
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Sovereign Hill
Financial Report
Mr B H Clark
Elected to the Board in 1990. Chairman of the Mining Museum Committee. Member of the Audit & Compliance Committee. Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance. Company Director and Business Consultant.
B ru
ce C
la rk
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
direCTorS
64
Mr r W nicholson
Elected to the Board in 1998. Chairman of the President’s Advisory Committee. Ex-officio member of all Board Trusts and Committees. Qualified Civil Engineer. Director of a local Construction Company.
Ms J e Cowles
Elected to the Board in 2003. Chairman of the Gold Museum Committee. Trustee of the Sir Henry Bolte Trust and The Sovereign Hill Foundation.
Mr S O Coltman
Elected to the Board in 2003. Member of the Finance and Outdoor Museum Committees. Company Director.
Mr d e Butler
Elected to the Board in 2005. Chairman of the Finance Committee. Director of a Chartered Accountancy Practice.
Mrs S n Baird
Elected to the Board in 2005. Chairman of the Audit & Compliance Committee. Trustee of the Narmbool Trust. Chairman of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Board of Management. Lawyer.
A n
n m
ar ee
P er
Mrs A P Perry
Elected to the Board in 2003. Chairman of the Outdoor Museum Committee. Member of the President’s Advisory and Finance Committees. Retired Teacher and Family Historian.
D am
ie n
B u
tl er
Sa ri
B ai
Mr P J davies
Elected to the Board in 1993. Immediate Past-President. Member of the President’s Advisory Committee. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill Foundation. Chairman of Ballarat Community Enterprise Ltd. Company Director.
Pe te
r D
av ie
Mr A d Sarah OAM
Elected to the Board in 1981. A Past- President. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill Foundation. Chairman of Destination Ballarat. Company Director. Business Manager.
Co lin
P ro
w se
Mr C r Prowse OAM
Elected to the Board in 1967. A Past- President. Chairman of the Narmbool Trust. Member of the Audit & Compliance Committee. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill Foundation and the Sir Henry Bolte Trust. Certified Practising Accountant.
Mr r J Selkirk
Elected to the Board in 1992. A Past- President. Member of the Finance Committee. Chairman of Directors of the Selkirk Group of Companies.
Mr d B McKnight OAM
Elected to the Board in 1987. A Past- President. Trustee of the Narmbool Trust, the Sir Henry Bolte Trust and The Sovereign Hill Foundation. Member of the Gold Museum and Outdoor Museum Committees. A Past-Mayor of the former City of Ballaarat. Director of a firm of Electrical Contractors.
Mr B J lonsdale
Elected to the Board in 1989. A Past- President. Member of the Gold Museum and Mining Museum Committees. Company Director.
te rr
y Ll
o yd
Prof. T M lloyd
Elected to the Board in 2007. Trustee of the Narmbool Trust. Deputy Vice- Chancellor, University of Ballarat.
vo i w
Mrs V Williams OAM
Elected to the Board in 1999. Member of the Gold Museum Committee. Retired Medical Scientist.
dr r n Hinchey
Elected to the Board in 1996. Member of the Outdoor Museum Committee. Member of the Audit & Compliance Committee. A Medical Practitioner in General Practice.
66
Your Directors present this report on the Association for the financial year ended 30 June 2008.
The names of each person who has been a Director during the year and to the date of this report are:
R W Nicholson, President A P Perry, Vice-President S N Baird P J Davies C R Prowse OAM
D E Butler R N Hinchey A D Sarah OAM B H Clark T M Lloyd R J Selkirk S O Coltman B J Lonsdale V Williams OAM
J E Cowles D B McKnight OAM
Directors have been in office since the start of the financial year to the date of this report unless otherwise stated.
Company Secretary
The following person held the position of Company Secretary at the end of the financial year:
Mr Jeremy W M Johnson – Diploma of Business, JP, FICS. Mr Johnson has worked for The Sovereign Hill Museums Association for the past 13 years, performing senior management roles in finance, administration and operations. Mr Johnson was appointed Company Secretary on 10 November 1998.
The principal activity of the Association is to: At Sovereign Hill and the Gold Museum Our purpose is to inspire an understanding of the significance of the central Victorian gold rushes in Australia’s national story. At Narmbool Our purpose is to inspire reflection on the importance of the land, water and biodiversity in Australia’s future.
No significant changes in the nature of these activities occurred during the year.
The profit of the Association amounted to $650,691.
The Association is not liable to pay company tax and is not permitted to pay dividends to its Members.
The net assets of the Association have increased by $1,724,847 from $41,440,034 as at 30 June 2007, to $43,164,881 in 2008.
This increase has largely resulted from the following factors: • Operating performance; and • Significant fundraising activities towards capital works.
The Association’s solid financial position has enabled it to continue with its strategy of investing in infrastructure development and building up of cash reserves.
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
direCTorS' rePorT
67
The Directors believe the Association is in a strong and stable financial position to expand and grow its current operations.
No significant changes in the Association’s state of affairs occurred during the financial year.
related party transactions
During or since the end of the previous financial year no Board Member has received or become entitled to receive a benefit by reason of a contract made by the Association, or a related body corporate with a Member of the Board or with a firm of which a Director is a Member, or with an entity in which a Director has a substantial interest, other than:
1. medical services from a firm of which Mr R N Hinchey is a partner; 2. electrical goods supplied and electrical contracting work carried out for the Association by a firm of electrical contractors of which Mr D B McKnight is a Director; and 3. building services supplied to the Association by a firm of building contractors of which Mr R W Nicholson is a Director.
All transactions were on normal commercial terms and conditions no more favourable than those available to other persons.
After balance date events No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year which significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the Association, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Association in future financial years.
Future developments
The Association expects to maintain the present status and level of operations and hence there are no likely developments in the Association’s operations.
environmental issues
The Association’s operations are not regulated by any significant environmental regulation under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.
Indemnifying officers or auditor
During the financial year, the Association has paid a premium to insure officers against liabilities for costs and expenses incurred by them in defending any legal proceedings arising out of their conduct while acting in the capacity of an officer of the Association, other than conduct involving a wilful breach of duty in relation to the Association. No indemnities have been given or insurance premiums paid, during or since the end of the financial year, for the auditor of the Association.
Proceedings on behalf of the Association
No person has applied for leave of Court to bring proceedings on behalf of the Association or intervene in any proceedings to which the Association is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Association for all or any part of those proceedings.
The Association was not a party to any such proceedings during the year.
The auditor provided no non-audit services to the Association during the year.
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
direCTorS' rePorT
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
direCTorS' rePorT
Auditor’s Independence declaration
The lead auditor’s independence declaration for the year ended 30 June 2008, has been received and can be found on page 69 of the Directors’ report.
Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board.
Dated this fifteenth day of September 2008.
R W Nicholson President
The attendances of each Director of the Association at meetings during the year were:
68
D E Butler 15 15 10 9 – – – – – – – – – –
B H Clark 15 12 – – – – – – 5 5 – – 2 2
S O Coltman 15 14 5 4 – – 1 1 4 4 – – – –
J E Cowles 15 13 – – – – – – – – 5 5 2 2
P J Davies 15 10 – – 9 7 2 1 – – – – – –
R N Hinchey 15 14 – – – – 4 4 – – – – 2 2
T M Lloyd 15 11 5 4 – – – – – – – – – –
B J Lonsdale 15 13 – – – – – – 5 4 5 3 2 2
D B McKnight OAM 15 12 – – – – 4 1 – – 5 5 – –
R W Nicholson 15 15 10 10 9 9 4 4 5 3 5 5 4 4
A P Perry 15 14 10 10 9 8 4 4 – – – – – –
C R Prowse OAM 15 10 – – – – – – – – – – 4 2
A D Sarah OAM 15 12 – – – – – – – – – – – –
R J Selkirk 15 9 10 9 – – – – – – – – – –
V Williams OAM 15 14 – – – – – – – – 5 4 – –
As lead auditor for the audit of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 30 June 2008, there have been: 1. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and 2. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
Dated this fifteenth day of September 2008. WHK Western Victoria Audit Partnership 615 Sturt Street, Ballarat 3350
B R Judkins Audit Principal
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
aUdiTor'S indePendenCe deClaraTion Under SeCTion 370C of THe CorPoraTionS aCT 2001
To THe direCTorS of THe Sovereign Hill MUSeUMS aSSoCiaTion
69
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
inCoMe STaTeMenT for THe year ended 30 JUne 2008
Note 2008 2007 $ $ Total revenue from operating activities 2 21,633,282 20,480,458 Other revenue 2 – – Employee benefits expense (10,448,565) (9,974,430) Depreciation expense 3 (1,372,410) (1,378,469) Administration, marketing, maintenance expense (6,568,896) (5,638,294) Cost of sales (2,460,123) (2,423,606) Other expenses (132,596) (214,345) Profit before income tax 3 650,691 851,314 Income tax expense – –
Profit after income tax 650,691 851,314
70
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
BalanCe SHeeT aS aT 30 JUne 2008
Note 2008 2007
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 4 778,666 1,347,394 Trade and other receivables 5 1,553,070 1,741,288 Inventories 6 1,238,848 1,073,126 Other current assets 7 275,304 158,915 Total current assets 3,845,888 4,320,723
non-current assets Financial assets 8 2,236,656 2,794,176 Property, plant and equipment 9 32,756,594 30,055,921 Collections assets 9 7,542,761 7,487,841 Total non-current assets 42,536,011 40,337,938
Total assets 46,381,899 44,658,661
Current liabilities Trade and other payables 10 2,037,012 2,092,200 Short term provisions 11 829,332 809,963 Total current liabilities 2,866,344 2,902,163
non-current liabilities Long term provisions 11 350,674 316,464 Total non-current liabilities 350,674 316,464
Total liabilities 3,217,018 3,218,627
net assets 43,164,881 41,440,034
Total equity 43,164,881 41,440,034
The Sovereign Hill Museums association aBn 87 565 053 651
STaTeMenT of CHangeS in eqUiTy for THe year ended 30 JUne 2008
Balance at 1 July 2006 27,962,972 436,030 1,007,688 447,042 727,691 7,409,275 37,990,698
Capital receipts, donations and collections assets donated 2,274,731 2,274,731 Profit for the year 851,314 851,314 Shares, hybrid securities, convertible and floating notes in Corporations listed on a prescribed Stock Exchange revaluation increment 323,291 323,291 Transfers to and from reserves – General Reserve (173,059) (173,059) – The Sovereign Hill Foundation (174,743) (174,743) – Sir Henry Bolte Trust (6,226) (6,226) – Collections (78,566) (78,566) Transfers to retained earnings Transfers from retained earnings