Although Sovereign Hill near Ballarat is a commercial venture, it can be recommended without doubt. A 1850s gold field town was recreated here with fine detail, and actors in period costumes make the illusion complete. You can participate in gold panning and watch craftsmen at their work. There is also a multimedia show "Blood on the Southern Cross", depicting the famous Eureka Stockade, a rising of gold miners generally associated with the birth of democracy in Australia.