Sovereign Hill has opened new accessibility upgrades that will allow more Victorians and visitors to experience the thrill of mining for gold.
The museum’s inclusive diggings expansion has created more seating, shelter and wheelchair-accessible pathways in the museum’s Diggings and Chinese Protectorate Camp precinct.
The accessible panning zone invites visitors to enjoy the museum’s most iconic attraction – panning for gold – with ease thanks to an elevated gold panning water channel and sensory-friendly resources.
The spaces opened after the Sovereign Hill Museums Association won the Excellence in Accessible Tourism category at the 2024 Victorian Tourism Awards.
Sovereign Hill Museums Association CEO Sara Quon said these latest accessibility upgrades would allow the museum to welcome more families and groups.
Increasing accessibility and inclusivity will give more visitors than ever before the ability to participate in our unique Sovereign Hill experiences.
Sara Quon - CEO, Sovereign Hill Museums Association
The inclusive diggings project created 23 direct and 19 indirect jobs during construction and will support 0.5 ongoing jobs at Sovereign Hill.
The project will add to the suite of new experiences and upgrades to Sovereign Hill’s infrastructure, supported by a $6 million investment from the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
The completion of these projects marks the end of Stage 1a in Sovereign Hill’s 20-year Masterplan, which, when completed, will mark the largest transformation in the outdoor museum's 54-year history.
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