Year 5 have been investigating people and events of the Victorian Gold Rush in preparation for their Sovereign Hill Study Tour. This camp is always an exciting part of the Year 5 Curriculum and engages the students in a variety of learning experiences. Through information videos, books and discussions, the girls gain an understanding of life for the miners on the gold fields and events that unfolded during the Victorian Gold Rush. The students develop an awareness of the circumstances that led to people making the journey to Victoria and the very basic style of living families had to endure.

The Sovereign Hill Costume School is a very memorable experience for Year 5 students. Once dressed in their 1850’s school costume, the girls then meet their new teacher who takes them through the rules, routines and expectations of a student at an 1850’s style schools. This immersive experience provides the opportunity for the girls to pan for gold, tour gold mines, write using ink and quill, and practise their sewing skills. They soon learn that life was very different than to what it is now.

Reflections from some of the students:

“Researching about the gold rush, Ballarat and the Eureka Stockade is all so interesting. It’s very fun to research about what happened in the 1850s. it is also very exciting that we get to go to Sovereign hill and experience what it was like back then.” Claudia Driver 5FW

“I enjoy learning about the Welcome Nugget because I never knew how big it was.” Abeni Guzzardi 5KW

“My favourite part of this subject so far was the letters that we wrote to accept us into our school. My school is the Wesleyan Day School and I am overexcited to get there and I look forward to our camp at Sovereign Hill.” Milla Cohen 5KW