Grimshaw envisions new direction for Sovereign Hill museums

The Sovereign Hill Museums Association has unveiled a 20-year masterplan, led by Grimshaw, for the iconic gold rush tourism destination in Ballarat in regional Victoria.

The masterplan, which will be delivered across four stages between 2021 and 2030, sets out a new direction for Sovereign Hill as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2020.

The masterplan covers two sites at Golden Point and Narmbool. The first stage will be to establish a Centre for Rare Art and Forgotten Trades (CRAFT). Ballarat was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art in 2019. The centre will “draw on the [Sovereign Hill] Living Museum’s showcase of rare trades and shine a light on contemporary practices that derive from historic, or artisan trades.”

To be housed in the former Gold Museum – an existing brutalist building at the northern edge of the open-air museum – the centre will include spaces for workshops including leather and metal work, paper printing and textiles, as well as artist/maker residencies.

“CRAFT aims to be a nationally significant facility to teach, learn and experience working with the tools and practices deriving from rare trades,” the masterplan states.

Grimshaw principal Alison Potter said, “The Australian Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades is an exciting first stage for the Sovereign Hill Master Plan as it reflects the aspirations of a place which celebrates its identity and heritage through inclusivity, diversity and connection.”

CRAFT will be followed by the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections, which will also be housed in the former Gold Museum. The centre will provide 60 percent more storage space for collection material, as well as doubling the display space.

The proposed Gold Pavilion.

The proposed Gold Pavilion.

Image: Courtesy Sovereign Hill Museums Association

The masterplan also includes a proposed Gold Pavilion, which the Sovereign Hill Museums Association commissioned prior to Grimshaw’s appointment. The pavilion will comprise three exhibition spaces and an “immersive retail experience.”

The initial stages will target net zero energy, waste and water, and Sovereign Hill will aim to be a net producer in the future.

The masterplan was enabled by a $10.1 million fund from the federal government’s Tourism Icons program. It is estimated it will boost annual visitation from 527,000 to 1.4 million.

“The Grimshaw led team has brought clarity and innovative thinking to the vision for Sovereign Hill’s future,” said Sara Quon, CEO of the Sovereign Hill Museums Association. “With them, we have been able to focus on what will allow Sovereign Hill to be relevant and resilient for the next 50 years, and what we can achieve through this master plan, to best support one of Australia’s significant cultural landmarks.”

The consortium of consultants also includes Aspect Studio (landscape architect), Thylacine (interpretative designers), TRC (tourism advisors), VAP (economic advisors), Slattery (quantity surveyor), ACHM (heritage and cultural advisor), Urbis (planning consultant), DCC (accessibility consultant), Finding Infinity (sustainability consultant) and Greenshoot Consulting (community engagement).

Related topics

More industry news

See all
The proposed Gurrowa Place designed by NH Architecture, Kerstin Thompson Architects, 3XN Australia, and Searle × Waldron Architecture. Queen Victoria Market towers approved

The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning has approved a $1.7 billion project to create three towers adjacent to Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market.

The building’s design incorporates elements to reference both Vietnamese and Australian culture. ‘Nationally significant’ cultural museum on its way

Brimbank City Council in Melbourne’s north west has agreed to sell a parcel of land to the Vietnamese Museum of Australia, paving the way for …

Most read

Latest on site

LATEST PRODUCTS