Our next trip was planned so that we might venture inland and learn a bit more about the rich history surrounding Melbourne and its very own 19th century goldrush. It is said that in the late 1800's Melbourne was the wealthiest city in the world as the result of the discovery of gold in the areas known as Ballarat and Bendigo a few hours drive north of the city. In fact, people came from all over the world including Canada to get in on the action. I find it amazing to what degree people were willing to risk all that they had, sail for months half way around the world, live in squalid conditions and work in dangerous places just for the chance of striking it rich. One of the things the history of exploration and discovery in Australia has reminded me of is that we are very, very fortunate to live in the times and within the socio-economic class that we do.
The trip to Ballarat is no more than 90 minutes from our door and so before the kids could even think to ask "Are we there yet?" I was turning our beautiful Ford Falcon XR-6 into the Goldrush mini-putt on the outskirts of the city. This would be another trip focussed mostly on the kids and so mini-putts and waterslides were definitely on the itinerary. After Linton soundly won the mini-putt, she toured us around the Ballarat she had seen with our neighbour a few months prior. We stopped by the man made lake, now a very dry marsh, where they staged the rowing events for the '56 Olympics. The boys had a good play in a very High Parkesque playground and then we were off to our Big 4 Holiday Park to check in to our very chi-chi six person villa! Or at least, that's what it was called.
These caravan parks are starting to grow on us, mostly because they are so family friendly. The kids can walk out the door and play, scooter, make friends and entertain themselves with very little parenting (interference) from us. There was a pool, games room, jumping pillow (like an enormous trampoline) playground - the works - and best of all, a million other kids that the boys are getting quite good at befriending. There are few places these days where one can feel okay about letting your child just go out the front door. It was great to live that lifestyle, at least for a day or two.
Our major expedition for this leg of the trip was to explore Sovereign Hill. This is an enormous development that recreates the life of the prospectors in the Ballarat area and effectively teaches the technology behind gold mining and most importantly the history of the Eureka Flag. The events within this moment in Australian history are considered by many as seminal in defining the Australian spirit and the "common man/worker's" willingness to fight to overcome social injustice. It is an impressive attraction and though we did not quite have the patience for candle making and sweltered in 35 degree heat panning for gold, the mine tour and sound and light show were very impressive.
We had booked a 9:15 reservation for the Sound and Light show and though we were a tad sceptical about the kids' ability to stay awake, we shouldn't have been because they were glued to every minute. The show takes part in five different stages and the fourth part is simply incredible. Seated in an outdoor theatre, huge doors gently swing open to reveal a full scale recreation of the Eureka Hotel and surrounding mining encampment. It was a gorgeous night and a crescent moon shone brightly overhead. Through an inventive choreography of light, sound, fire and dialogue with nary an actor to be seen, the audience is taken through the dramatic events of 1851 that ultimately led to a confrontation between the miners and government soldiers and cost 22 lives. It was one of the most theatrically clever shows I have ever seen and my mind spun wildly with the possibilities for high school plays of the future. Interestingly, a Canadian played a significant part in the drama. Apparently, the now famous Southern Cross flag was first flown in the Eureka camp by a Canadian - the name of Ross.
This was certainly the complete and opposite end to mini-putts and waterslides and yet it was exactly the kind of important moment one hopes your kids will soak up on an adventure such as ours. To make history come alive so that six year olds talk about it the next morning is a rare feat and whether it be Canadian or Australian history was not the point on this day. The point, if there was one, was to learn how to sit, to watch, to listen and to learn. Something we all did together on a beautiful night in Ballarat.
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