2007 Annual Report

Sovereign Hill
annual report
Sovereign Hill
Annual Report
06 | 07
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Celebrating Success
contents
President's Report 6
Marketing 16
Chief Executive Officer's Report 10
Outdoor Museum 20
Our Volunteers 36
Narmbool 40
Special Occasions 50
Gold Museum 32
Education 42
Bill McGregor 52
Major Sponsors & Donors 53
The Sovereign Hill Foundation 54
Prospectors' Club 56
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association 57
Staff 60
02
Volunteers 61
Financial Report 62
A ride on the ‘drag’, driven here by Andrew Henderson, has enormous appeal for visitors of all ages.
03
Our Vision is to be a leader amongst
the world's best outdoor heritage museums.
04
The Sovereign Hill Charter
Our Mission is to present, in a dynamic group of museums,
the mining, social, cultural and environmental heritage of the
Ballarat region and its impact on Australia's national story.
We will carry out our Mission according to the following Guiding Principles:
That we will:
Ensure that our visitors are engaged, informed, entertained and become
our best advocates; • Nurture our integrity as a museum, whereby we
acquire, conserve, research, communicate and exhibit, for purposes of study,
education and enjoyment, material pertinent to the history of Ballarat and
its environs; • In the Diggings and Township, research and interpret the
mining and social heritage of Ballarat specifically of the 1851-61 period; in
the Sovereign Quartz Mine present the mining history of the area specifically
to 1918; in the Gold Museum present the social heritage of the region from
earliest times to present day and maintain a vigorous exhibition program;
and at Narmbool, present the story of custodianship, the environment
and sustainability; • Inform, entertain and involve our visitors without
compromising our integrity as a museum, with an emphasis on Australian
history and underpinned by good scholarship; • Achieve the highest
standards of customer service in all aspects of our work and measure our
success as an organisation by the quality of visitors' experiences; • Ensure
our independence, commercial viability and business integrity; • Promote
our identity as a not-for-profit, community-based asset; • Ensure dignity
and respect for our colleagues, and ensure a happy and safe working
environment where innovation is encouraged and where the contribution of
each member of the Sovereign Hill community is valued; • Promote our
links with, and involvement in, the local, state, national and international
communities; • Develop our role as a centre of learning and education.
Our Vision is to be
a leader amongst
the world's best outdoor
heritage museums.
Sovereign Hill has over 50 working horses. Here, ‘Argent’ takes a break supervised by Colin Lamport.
05
06
A dramatic Lion Dance was performed during ceremonies to cleanse and bless the Chinese Camp.
When I was given the honour of being elected as Sovereign Hill’s
fifteenth Board President, I cannot imagine that I was fully aware
of what an exciting year lay ahead.
Every year brings more innovation to our wonderful museum,
and the achievements recorded in this Annual Report certainly
reflect a most memorable time.
It was a year for official openings, each giving cause for separate
celebrations and each significantly enhancing the interpretive
experience for visitors to Sovereign Hill.
The Board’s transition from its Founding Fathers’ involvement
continued with the retirement of Bill McGregor, in November
2006. In Bill’s place, we welcomed new Board Member Terry
Lloyd. It was with real pride that we celebrated with Bill
when his contribution to Sovereign Hill and the community
was, this year, recognised by the award of a Medal in the
Order of Australia. At the 2006 Annual General Meeting, Bill
and Colin Prowse, who is also a Founding Board Member,
were each thanked and presented with a framed gold nugget
in acknowledgement of 40 years’ unbroken service to our
Association. Indeed, it has been a momentous year for Colin
who also stepped down as Chairman of the Board’s Finance
Committee – a position he held with distinction. Another
long-serving Board Member whose achievements have been
acknowledged this year is Doug Sarah. Doug was awarded an
OAM for services to Sovereign Hill (and to the wider Ballarat
community).
As part of its study tour of Canberra, in May 2007, the Board
held a significant strategic planning session. This set some
important directions for Sovereign Hill’s future development
including, amongst others, the exciting potential of a commercial
project on our land-holding in Main Road.
"... the achievements detailed in this
Annual Report certainly reflect
a most memorable time."
president's report
07
top As Minister for
Education, the Hon. John
Lenders, second left, toured
Narmbool in June 2007.
He was accompanied by
Richard Nicholson, left,
Jeremy Johnson, Colin
Prowse and Tim Sullivan,
right.
centre On his first visit
to Narmbool as its newlyappointed Patron, Prof.
David de Kretser, Governor
of Victoria, was presented
by Richard Nicholson with
a copy of Sovereign Hill’s
official history.
bottom Graeme Eyres,
left, a descendant of one
of the original proprietors,
was officially welcomed by
Richard Nicholson when he
opened the Eyres Brothers
and Newman Hardware
exhibit on 26 June 2007.
Another Board initiative was
the establishment of an Audit
and Compliance Committee to
help the Board fulfil its corporate
governance obligations.
The publishing of ‘A Golden Vision
− The Story of Sovereign Hill’, by
Peter Cuffley, was another highlight,
and congratulations go to Colin
Prowse and his Committee which
oversaw this project.
We welcomed some important
visitors during the year. The Hon.
John Brumby, then State Treasurer,
was Guest Speaker at the 2006
President’s Dinner. State Ministers
John Pandazopoulos (Tourism)
and Tim Holding (Finance and
Tourism) visited Sovereign Hill,
and John Lenders (Minister for
Education) inspected Narmbool.
Victoria’s Opposition Leader, the
Hon. Ted Baillieu, also enjoyed a
relaxed tour, learning more about
our aspirations as one of Victoria’s
iconic cultural tourism assets.
08
In October 2006, we hosted
the international delegates from
the League of Historic Cities
Conference, which was held in
Ballarat and organised by the City
Council. This was a very successful
event for our City and positioned
Ballarat among a significant group
of historic places throughout
the world. This, too, will help us
move towards new interpretive
opportunities.
The Board has recently negotiated
a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Ballarat and District
Aboriginal Co-operative, which
provides for accepted protocols in
our working relationship with this
important Indigenous group.
Our relationships with both the
State and Federal Governments,
and with the City Council,
continue to thrive. We are very
grateful for the practical support
we receive from each sphere of
Government and from our
generous donors and supporters.
When this support is combined
with the professionalism of our
staff and the outstanding voluntary
contributions made by the Friends
of Sovereign Hill and the Gold
Museum Society, it is easy to see
why Sovereign Hill has been such
an enduring success.
I pay special tribute to our Chief
Executive Officer, Jeremy Johnson,
and his Management team and
staff. We are fortunate to have such
committed and passionate people
serving our museum.
To my fellow Board Members, I
extend sincere appreciation for their
valued contributions to the work of
the Board and its Committees.
My wife, Paula, my family and
I have greatly enjoyed our
involvement with Sovereign Hill
over the past year and look forward
to an exciting year ahead.
Richard Nicholson
President
09
"The past year has seen a remarkable
turnaround in Sovereign Hill a'sttendances ..."
chief executive officer's report
The role of Sovereign Hill Management is to drive our business
in accordance with its annual budget, and to plan for and deliver
a strategic, vigorous and innovative capital works program. I am
very pleased to report on our success in achieving these goals in
2006-07.
The past year has seen a remarkable turnaround in Sovereign
Hill’s attendances, driven by a very effective events-based
marketing campaign.
Full credit must go to our Marketing Director, Garry Burns,
and his team for driving these initiatives.
The resultant increase in profitability has meant that we have
been able to carry out some extensive maintenance works.
Main Street, in particular, is looking refreshed by this program,
and this reinforces the power of our museum’s interpretive
experience for visitors.
Sovereign Hill Attendances 2003-2007
500,000
490,000
480,000
470,000
460,000
450,000
440,000
430,000
10
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
420,000
Photographs of Olivia Kramer and her young friends formed part of the ‘Winter Wonderland’ marketing campaign.
11
top The Hon. John Brumby,
centre, then State Minister
for Regional Development,
visited Sovereign Hill in
November 2006 to ‘turn
the first sod’ for the
construction of the inclined
tramway. He was greeted
by Jeremy Johnson, left,
and Geoff Howard MLA,
right. This was the first
time Midwest Earthmoving,
a Ballarat firm, had used
their impressive 47-tonne
excavator.
bottom The Hon. Tim
Holding, right, Victoria’s
newly-appointed Minister
for Tourism, visited
Sovereign Hill to inspect
our capital works projects
in April. Before enjoying
afternoon tea in the New
York Bakery, the Minister
inspected the Quartz Mine
and its ‘crib room’ with
Peter Davies, left, and
Jeremy Johnson.
12
A significant capital works
construction program has been
underway over the past eighteen
months. These works have enabled
us to open two new exhibits
within Sovereign Hill – St Alipius
Diggings School and Eyres
Brothers & Newman Hardware
and Ironmongers. Linton Cottage
has been re-fitted as a conference
facility, and new accommodation
resources have been incorporated
into the redevelopment of the
Steinfeld’s Furniture Factory
building. The latter development
will open up some exciting new
visitor experience packages and
conferencing opportunities. It
also provides a new storage area
for Steam Operations and some
garaging for horse-drawn vehicles.
With Federal Government
assistance, we have completed
a major redevelopment of the
Chinese Camp on the Diggings.
This was a very challenging project,
with the outcome being widely
acknowledged for its interpretive
excellence. It is the first time we
have introduced audio-visual
technology into the above-ground
section of the Outdoor Museum −
a challenge in itself, as we have been
accustomed to a very traditional
form of museum presentation.
An allocation of $3m from the
Victorian Government’s Regional
Infrastructure Development Fund
has enabled works to begin on
the inclined tramway ride for the
Sovereign Quartz Mine. It was
gratifying to see the four initial
major construction contracts
awarded to Ballarat firms. This has
meant a double win for our region’s
economy from this innovative,
grant-funded project. The tramway
is scheduled for completion at the
end of 2007, when we will also be
well advanced with the Creswick
New Australasian Mine Disaster
experience.
As we move into the financial year
ahead, we will begin work on the
remaining elements of the grant
program. We gratefully acknowledge
the State Government’s support
for this major capital investment at
Sovereign Hill.
In October, we were pleased to
host the launch of the first of 10
Modules which make up Victoria’s
Tourism Excellence Program
– a Tourism Victoria initiative.
The Victorian Tourism Industry
Council, of which I am currently
Chairman, will have a key role in
the delivery of this program.
Water supply shortages resulting
from the drought have been a
difficult operational constraint
throughout the year. Both State
and Federal Governments have
greatly assisted us with grants to
enable over 1 megalitre of tank
water storage to be created on-site
for our gardening and livestock
requirements. We have also
undertaken a range of successful
water-saving measures.
This Report describes some very
pleasing achievements for the Gold
Museum, where visitor numbers
were well up on the previous year’s
13
top Richard Nicholson, left,
and Jeremy Johnson joined
Nic Gowans as he assisted
Father Adrian McInerney
with the planting of a tree
to mark the opening of St
Alipius Diggings School.
figures, and for our environmental
education programs at Narmbool.
Both campuses are very important
contributors to our activities as a
driver of cultural and educationbased tourism for regional Victoria.
bottom Senator Julian
McGauran, second right,
opened the new Chinese
Camp on 7 June this year.
Here, Samantha McIntosh,
Liberal Candidate for
Ballarat, centre, Rey
Tiquia and Margaret Fuary
watch as Jeremy Johnson
demonstrates the use of an
information touchscreen in
the Herbalist’s Hut.
I am pleased to have delivered a
strengthened financial position
over the past year, as this has
allowed us to make some strategic
property acquisitions in Dunn and
Magpie Streets. The Sovereign Hill
Foundation also reached the $1m
mark in its corpus with outstanding
support from our generous donors.
As this is invested in perpetuity, it
gives us confidence to progress with
our works here at Sovereign Hill.
The Enterprise Agreement, under
which most Sovereign Hill staff are
employed, has been renegotiated.
As labour costs absorb over
60% of the cost of running the
museum, it is very important to
maintain close control over this
area of expenditure. Staff shared
in a special 2% bonus payment
as part of this Agreement, based
14
on the achievement of additional
attendances and profits above those
for which we originally budgeted.
Our staff are to be commended
for their committed input into
Sovereign Hill’s operations. On a
sad note for us, Ian Stiff retired as
Manager of Sovereign Hill Lodge
in July, after 14 years of outstanding
service in this capacity. Operations
Director, Wayne Peters, will also
be leaving later in 2007 to return
to South Australia, having made
an impressive contribution to our
operations during his short tenure.
Both will be hard to replace.
I have enjoyed working with
the Management team and, in
particular, express my appreciation
for the work done by Tim Sullivan
as Deputy Chief Executive Officer
and Museums Director. Janelle
Gilbert and Barb Howes have been
very supportive Executive Assistants
and have most efficiently carried
out administrative services for the
Board and the CEO’s office.
I have also enjoyed working with
the Board and its Committees in
guiding Sovereign Hill through
another successful year. Without
such valuable voluntary input,
combined with that of our Friends
of Sovereign Hill and the Gold
Museum Society, and the dedication
of Jan Carroll and Elwyn Blood
– their co-ordinators – Sovereign
Hill would not be the very special
place that it is today.
This Report details a fine year’s
work and will be significant as an
historic record of some outstanding
achievements for Sovereign Hill in
its 37th year of operation.
Jeremy Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
15
"The events-based strategy has proved a resounding success,
meeting its key objective of driving the Sovereign Hill
brand and increasing visitor numbers ..."
16
marketing
The Marketing Department has had an active and extremely
successful year as Sovereign Hill’s events-driven marketing
strategy continued to gain momentum, resulting in record
attendances.
A $10,000 gold nugget was the glittering prize for the September
school holiday promotion, which had a treasure hunt theme.
Families enjoyed unearthing clues around the Outdoor Museum
for a chance to win the nugget buried by goldrush bushranger,
Henry Garrett. When the 16 daily competition winners finally
lined up to see if their key would unlock the treasure chest,
11-year old Dylan Lyall was the lucky winner.
Inspiration for ‘Spellbound’, our summer holiday campaign,
came from the story of Wizard Jacobs and Goblin Sprightly −
international entertainers who visited the goldfields in the 1850s.
Main Street was transformed into an enchanting sea of bubbles
– floating down upon an unsuspecting young audience who had
come to witness the ‘magic’ of the wizard and his mischievous
assistant.
The ‘ghosts’ of Sovereign Hill came to life for a ‘spooktacular’
Easter event featuring a new underground tour through the Red
Hill Mine and the ‘The Secret Chamber’ to hear the mysterious
story of two Chinese diggers who sought their fortunes on the
goldfields. To support the underground experience, our school
holiday program combined ghostly tales with the 19th century
fascination for spiritualism in a clever range of ‘spooky’ activities.
Costumed ‘FOSH’ children enhanced the 19th-century atmosphere of Main Street during ‘Spellbound’.
17
left ‘Spellbound’ drew large
summer holiday crowds.
right The antics of Jarrod
Ferguson and Luke Tonkin
as Wizard Jacobs and his
mischievous assistant,
Goblin Sprightly, were
responsible for the sea of
bubbles floating along Main
Street during ‘Spellbound’.
Our 2006 snow theme returned in
June this year.Visitors were greeted
by a snow-lined Main Street and
a cheery snowman on the Post
Office corner. Regular ‘snowfalls’
in Main Street were complemented
by a snow-play area near the Kiosk,
where excited youngsters built
snowmen and rode a giant snow
slide. Once again, the snow event
proved one of our most popular
activities, with a 30% increase in
attendances for the two-week
period. We formed two important
partnerships for this promotion,
Mount Buller and BOC assisting
with the provision of snow and
liquid nitrogen to deliver one of
our most impressive events.
Our school holiday activities were
supported by an innovative and
colourful advertising campaign −
the brainchild of the Sovereign Hill
18
Design team and LEAP − our new
creative agency. LEAP developed
this year’s whimsical snow
commercial, heralding our own first
‘leap’ into metropolitan television
advertising. After extensive research
on the Sovereign Hill brand, we
have also instructed LEAP to
develop a fresh image so that we
can build on the success of our new
strategy by broadening our appeal
in key markets.
The appeal of the events-based
activities helped Sovereign
Hill secure another record year
for publicity and promotions,
particularly in the Melbourne
press. We welcomed back the cast
and crew from ‘Saturday Disney’
to record a second 12-part drama
series which was filmed entirely
on location at Sovereign Hill, and
used our own interpretive theatre
staff among the characters. This
year’s schedule also included a
lively program devoted entirely to
Sovereign Hill. As ‘Saturday Disney’
is the highest-rating national
children’s television program in
Australia, we gained excellent
exposure from this initiative.
In January this year, the Sovereign
Hill Marketing team welcomed
Lilian Sun, our new International
Marketing Manager. Lilian has been
working closely with inbound tour
operators, both in Australia and Asia,
to lift awareness of the Sovereign
Hill product and to ensure we are
included on their itineraries. Her
work is complemented by our
China-based sales agent, ATR,
with strong growth in this market.
We welcomed another 1,400
students from North America as
part of the ‘People to People’ series,
accommodating many at Narmbool
and at Sovereign Hill Lodge.
The events-based strategy has
proved a resounding success,
meeting its key objectives of driving
the Sovereign Hill brand and
increasing visitor numbers from the
all-important Melbourne market.
The challenge to build on this
success promises to make the next
twelve months an interesting and
rewarding time.
left Good old-fashioned
snowball fights were
popular during ‘Winter
Wonderland’.
(Picture: The Herald & Weekly Times
Collection)
top right Wayne Peters led
Luke Tonkin, left, Olivia
Kramer and Wes Scott in
celebrating Sovereign Hill’s
place on the new Australian
Monopoly board.
bottom right Marketing
Director Garry Burns took
a ‘hands-on’ approach
to filming for holiday
promotions.
19
20
Children love ‘Curby’, the pet lamb, seen here enjoying the sunshine with Paige Severino.
‘Imagining Sovereign Hill’ was an exhibition staged in 2005 by
the Gold Museum to record the work of architect Ewan Jones
in designing Sovereign Hill, and the intensive building program
which ensued in our early years. Building activity in the Outdoor
Museum over the last twelve months must surely rival that
wonderful period. The Outdoor Museum Committee, chaired
by Annmaree Perry, has indeed had a very interesting and
productive year.
The redevelopment of the Chinese Camp has introduced storytelling media, bringing to life a formerly static exhibit. Existing
buildings were refurbished, new huts and tents added, and the
landscape reworked.Visitors now have access to most interiors
and the media within. The reinterpretation of each building has
created an immersive experience, visually rich in objects and rich
with layers of interpretation to support a diversity of learning
styles. This is particularly important for the school students
participating in Sovereign Hill Education programs such as
‘Chinese on the Goldfields’.
All good story-telling works best when visitors can see
something of themselves or their experiences in the story.
Communication of the content, therefore, has to be done in
ways that will engage the attention, pique the curiosity, and
create a connection that resonates with visitors in terms of their
own lives. Only then can our interpretation have real meaning
for them.
"All good story-telling works best
when visitors can see something of themselves
or their experiences in the story."
outdoor museum
21
top The Eyres Brothers
and Newman façade is
a striking architectural
highlight at the top of Main
Street.
bottom Sovereign Hill staff
posed for photographs to
promote the new Linton
Cottage conference facility.
They are Le-anne O’Brien,
left, Pat Clifford, Serena
Eldridge and Luke Cooper.
Jacquie Mullins, right, is a
Human Resources intern
from the University of
Ballarat.
The Chinese Camp tells a story
about life at the time when Chinese
miners petitioned Governor
Barkly to seek relief from the taxes
imposed on them alone. It presents
a perspective on the evolution of
our democracy and our ideas of
fairness.Visitors hear people in the
Camp debating the terms on which
they are allowed to participate in
the democratic process, and so gain
insights into the life of a Chinese
miner in Ballarat.
The Sovereign Hill School program
provides one of the best museum
experiences in the world. The
program has grown to the point
where a fourth school has been
added: the St Alipius Diggings
School opened in February 2007.
The extension and refurbishment
of the Steinfeld’s Furniture Factory
building has enabled us to provide
both accommodation for growing
numbers of students and a new
home for the Ragged School.
Adjoining it is a new exhibit façade
− Eyres Brothers & Newman
Hardware and Ironmongers.
Goldfields hardware stores were
22
wonderfully eclectic suppliers of
almost everything a household
or workshop would need.
Representing that diversity was
quite a challenge in both sourcing
and acquiring items, and in gaining
an understanding of their purpose.
Many tools are similar to ones we
use today, but others are obsolete,
replaced by power tools or no
longer needed because of changes
in the ways we work and live. We
are very grateful for the support
of Graeme Eyres in providing
information and objects from his
collection to assist the project team.
Linton Cottage has been converted
into a small conference facility, and
the first stage of converting the
former Edinburgh Pottery into the
Horse Bazaar has been completed.
Ballarat’s original Horse Bazaar
was a business on Main Road.
Advertisements of the period have
provided us with useful information
about the role of this business in
conducting auctions, supplying
feed and selling stock of all shapes
and sizes.
An extensive program of
maintenance and repainting is
renewing buildings and timber
structures throughout the Outdoor
Museum. Managing stormwater and
its effects is the greatest and most
constant maintenance challenge
for any Outdoor Museum,
especially where the majority
of structures are timber and a
fundamental characteristic of the
experience requires unsealed roads.
The problems created by these
conditions have been exacerbated
by unusual weather patterns with
fluctuations between dry heat and
dry cold, punctuated by infrequent
but peculiarly intense rainstorms.
It has been an achievement in
these circumstances to manage and
maintain the gardens which do so
much to enhance visitor experience
in the Outdoor Museum. Each
garden has been reviewed and
appropriate plant species identified
for interpretive purposes, as well
as sustainability in a time of water
shortages. Our tree management
regime has also borne fruit: we have
barely lost a tree this year to storm
or wind damage.
23
left The Chinese experience
on the Ballarat goldfields
has been a major research
project for Sovereign Hill
historian Anna Kyi.
centre During rehearsals
for the mixed-up
pantomime, ‘Little Red
Robin Hood’, Luke Tonkin
practised his archery skills
on Darcy Pimblett.
24
With Government funding support
for environmental sustainability
projects, over a third of the
Outdoor Museum’s annual water
usage is now in tank storage,
and recycling of water through
Steam Operations has produced
maintenance efficiencies and further
water savings.
The interpretive activities
developed in support of our
marketing campaigns for school
holidays were a great success. They
are designed to provide visitors
with a variety of experiences which
are unique to holiday periods,
involve an interaction with our
costumed interpreters, and produce
a memorable take-home experience
of Sovereign Hill. The events
program has refreshed Sovereign
Hill’s image and provided an
opportunity to reach new audience
segments, as well as inviting people
who have visited previously to
return and see how much the
Outdoor Museum and the Gold
Museum still have to offer.
Our use of interpretive theatre,
combined with a variety of themes,
provided opportunities to present
aspects of life in the mid-Victorian
era more intensively: stories of the
supernatural and the afterlife; a day
in the life of a Redcoat soldier;
life in the colder seasons of the
year; indoor activities for families;
and Victorian melodramas and
pantomimes.
Interpretive theatre extends the
imagination and generates empathy
for the period and its challenges.
‘The Night Cart’ explores ideas
about sanitation and disease on
the goldfields, and the dreadful
impact of many diseases that were
entirely preventable had science
understood that it was bacteria
and not smells (miasmas) causing
infections. A new Redcoat soldier
presentation focused on news from
the 1854-56 Crimean War − a
conflict that was difficult for many
to understand and justify at the time,
and which eventually led to the
downfall of Lord Aberdeen’s British
Government. We are currently
developing a piece exploring views
of the Chinese on the goldfields,
to add an additional layer of
interpretation to the Chinese Camp.
Refresher Training program has
consistently produced interesting
sessions extending staff knowledge
of the story we tell at Sovereign Hill,
and of the work of colleagues in
contributing to our daily operations.
A number of highly enjoyable
experiences included a session on
goldfields music, concluding with
a ‘Monster Bush Dance’ on Main
Street.
above Story-time with
Nicole Newell was just
one of the free children’s
holiday activities available
over summer.
A new, illustrated costume policy
includes guidelines for the use of
all staff and volunteers. It provides
a useful reference for the proper
wearing of costume − one of the
most important aspects of Sovereign
Hill’s interpretive program. The
25
right Earthworks
commence for the inclined
tramway ‘station’ to be
located behind the Battery
House of the Sovereign
Quartz Mine.
the mine
The Mining Committee, chaired
by Bruce Clark, has been heavily
involved throughout the year in
guiding the development of the
tramway ride.
On 14 November 2006, the Hon.
John Brumby ‘turned the first sod’
for major earthworks which began
construction of the inclined rail
line for the ride. The underground
tramway will run downhill from an
area just south of the Poppet Head
so that tour groups will be delivered,
for the first time, inside the Quartz
Mine. Mr Brumby, then State
Treasurer and Minister for Regional
Development, congratulated
Sovereign Hill on this important
capital works initiative, which will
provide yet another unique and
exciting experience for visitors.
The tunnel, which is constructed
of culverts on a slab base, is now in
place and the related earthworks
have been completed. It is pleasing
to note that the contracts for
earthmoving, and for the supply of
26
pre-cast concrete for the culverts
and tilt slabs, were both awarded to
local firms – Midwest Earthmoving
and Sovereign Concrete Products.
Building works at either end of
the tunnel are well underway.
The Winch House has been sited
adjacent to the Boiler House, and
the South Adit is being extended
to provide a ‘station’ for the ride.
Miller Bros. Industries, another
Ballarat firm, have been awarded
the contract for the supply of the
tramway vehicles.
We are very grateful to Peter
McCarthy, and mining consultants
AMC, for their technical advice
on this project and for their overall
assistance with the operation of the
Quartz Mine.
Elsewhere in the Mine, the
wheelchair access ramp for the
train has been upgraded, and
extra lighting has been installed to
improve the emergency lighting
system.
27
top The Quartz Mine
project took an important
step forward on 16 August
this year, when a contract
for the construction of two
inclined tramway vehicles
was signed with Miller
Bros Industries, Ballarat.
Jeremy Johnson, left, and
Richard Nicholson, right,
escorted the Hon. Jacinta
Allan, Victoria’s Minister
for Regional and Rural
Development, and Geoff
Howard MLA on a tour of
the site.
bottom Adam Reid
manages the Technical
Services Department which
is responsible for electrical
installations across
Sovereign Hill properties.
28
Steam Operations
Water is integral to Sovereign
Hill’s depiction of the past, and
this is particularly so in the Steam
Operations area, with its historic
Cornish Boilers and Stamper
Battery. Drought conditions and
water shortages, however, have led
us to seek ways of reducing the
volume of mains water required to
operate the Quartz Mine’s extensive
surface installations.
A grant from the State
Government’s Smart Water
Fund has been used to introduce
important water saving and
treatment technologies. A reverse
osmosis unit and a carbon filter
have been installed. In conjunction
with the existing water softener,
they provide high quality water
from which all contaminants
injurious to the boilers have been
removed. Overall, blow down time
for the boilers has been reduced,
less wood is needed to fire them,
and fewer chemicals are required
for the water treatment process.
Rainwater tanks now in use around
the site have also minimised the
need to rely on mains water for
steam production, and a gross
pollutant separator for storm water
run off will soon be installed. This
will allow storm water to be stored
and cleaned for use in the Battery
House.
Apart from day-to-day operation
and maintenance of the steamdriven engines and other machinery
which make Steam Operations one
of Sovereign Hill’s finest working
exhibits, staff in this area have also
been involved in the restoration
of the Walker steam engine which
will be installed in the new Winch
House.
'BLOOD ON THE SOUTHERN
CROSS'
The remarkable endurance of this
nightly show continued through the
past year, with 562 shows hosting
almost 84,000 visitors. While twothirds of these visitors originate
from the Victorian domestic market,
the remainder come from interstate
and international destinations.
‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ is an
outstanding driver of destinational
tourism for the Ballarat region,
generating over 70,000 bed
nights each year into the local
accommodation sector.
The show is supported by excellent
maintenance work by our Technical
Services crew and delivered at very
high visitor levels by a dedicated
team of duty managers, guides,
drivers and catering staff.
29
left In developing the
electronic media for
the Chinese Camp, Tim
Sullivan, left, John Zulic,
right, and their staff worked
closely with a team from
Magian Design Studio who
were represented at the
opening of the Camp by Ty
Wilson and Susan O’Neill.
centre During school
holidays, couples will be
able to enjoy the premium
rooms located upstairs in
Steinfeld’s Accommodation.
Sovereign Hill Lodge
ADMINISTRATION
Completion of the Steinfeld’s
Accommodation project this year
has given Sovereign Hill Lodge an
additional eleven rooms, which can
sleep up to forty-four guests.
Our administration section, based in
Bright View, is a busy and efficient
area. Routine behind-the-scenes
work can often go unnoticed, but
the close daily interaction between
the administrative and operational
staff at Sovereign Hill ensures
there is always a high level of
communication.
The four front rooms have been
elegantly fitted-out for superior
accommodation packages, while
the upstairs lounge area provides
excellent facilities for conferences
and catering.
The Lodge has completed an
excellent year’s work. It continues
to attract the domestic touring
market, as well as providing the
schools visiting Sovereign Hill with
an ideal accommodation resource.
30
The organisation’s IT requirements
are becoming more complex each
year. Work is continuing with the
introduction of a point-of-sale
system to help us better manage a
significant investment in stock, and
to assist with accurate and timely
receipting and accounts payment.
Design
The Design Department, led by
John Zulic, Director of Creative
and Design, has supported a variety
of capital works projects across
Sovereign Hill. The Design team
worked with Sovereign Hill’s
historians and other Interpretive
Services staff, and the Technical
Services Department, to redevelop
the Chinese Camp – contributing
to creative concepts, site planning,
interior displays and editing of text.
The department was also involved
in the redevelopment of the
Steinfeld’s building and the setting
up of shop furniture and displays
for the new Eyres Brothers and
Newman Hardware Store.
John Zulic is currently managing
the refurbishment of the Entrance
Building and his department’s
involvement with the inclined
tramway project at the Quartz Mine
remains on-going.
above Colourful roadside
billboards such as this
ensured that passersby were well aware of
Sovereign Hill’s holiday
promotions!
The production of ‘A Golden
Vision – The Story of Sovereign
Hill’ was a significant undertaking,
accompanied by the production of
materials such as invitations, order
forms and press releases required for
the book’s release in October 2006.
On-going commitments for the
department include photography,
advertisements, billboards, fliers and
point-of-sale material for marketing
campaigns. Our designers also
produce brochures for the goldfields
school program and Sovereign Hill
Education, along with newsletters
and submissions.
31
32
The lure of gold remains strong as ever at the Gold Museum.
Building community partnerships has been a central theme
for the Gold Museum in both exhibition and public program
developments – and even in response to the New Year’s Day
flood in the Museum.
The exhibitions program involved a diversity of community
groups telling their stories. ‘Guiding For Life: The Ballarat
Story 1922-2006’ was developed with the region’s Girl Guides.
‘The Country in the City’ celebrated 150 years of the Ballarat
Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and a joint exhibition with J
Ward, Ararat, exhibited the powerful photographs of Darren West.
The Great Dividing Trail Association promoted the most recent
extensions to its 300 kilometres of walking track through the
‘Discover the Rush’ exhibition launched in April by John Landy,
the former Governor of Victoria, and Stephen Moneghetti.
The Museum was also proud to host the first public showing
of the historically important Samuel Lazarus diary, which, with
its first-hand account of the Eureka Rebellion, was displayed in
collaboration with the State Library of Victoria.
The History Learning Circle, established to support History
teachers and students, and to promote and enrich the study of
Australian History in schools, included a project by Mount Clear
College students developing an exhibition called ‘The Children
They Left Behind: growing up in wartime Ballarat’. Students
gathered recollections of the period through interviews with
people who lived through the experience, and material loaned
by community members helped recreate a 1940s classroom and
evoke the era of wartime. Loreto College students are at work
on two different projects. One is the research and development
of a goldfields calendar to tell of the impact of weather on the
lives of goldfields residents, and a second will feature the costume
collection.
The Ballarat Historical Society has been promoting a wonderful
project to fill a gap in the photographic record of the City’s
history. ‘Capture the Vision’ is designed to collect and copy
photographs of Ballarat from the 1940s onwards. Approximately
10,000 new images have been added to the existing collection
"Building community partnerships has been
a central theme for the Gold Museum in both
exhibition and public program developments ..."
gold museum
33
top Richard Nicholson,
left, and Jeremy Johnson
discussed refurbishment
plans for the Gold Museum
with Senator Julian
McGauran and Samantha
McIntosh when they
toured the Gold Museum
in September this year.
Tim Sullivan and Roger
Trudgeon, right, were also
present for the meeting.
centre Jane Cowles,
centre, welcomed
Annmaree Perry, left, and
Claire Muir to the opening
of an exhibition featuring
the Lazarus Diary which
contains one of the few
eye-witness accounts of the
1854 Eureka Rebellion at
Ballarat.
bottom ‘The Art of Gold
Mining’ presented Arthur
Jenkins’ paintings of gold
mines from in and around
Ballarat.
of 5,000 photographs. The
Historical Society has purchased
new scanning equipment and
volunteers are assisting with
copying. An exhibition of just a
few of the newly acquired images
was presented in an exhibition
called ‘Got the Picture?’ which
was launched by Sovereign Hill
President, Richard Nicholson, in
May this year.
A generous donation from the
Rio Tinto Corporation helped
us acquire a collection of thirtyeight oil paintings of Ballarat and
district gold mines by local artist,
Arthur Jenkins. The artist was guest
of honour at the launch of ‘The
Art of Gold Mining’ exhibition in
December.
A major development for the Gold
Museum has been the decision to
focus more resources on supporting
the school holiday program,
integrating with the themes of the
events presented in the Outdoor
Museum.Visiting children and their
parents enjoyed atmospheric spaces
combined with story-telling and
crafts, often highlighting items from
the Museum’s heritage collections.
For the Heritage Weekend in
October, there were behind-thescenes public tours and special
displays. The Ballarat Historical
society exhibited copies from
its photograph collection at the
Ansonia Hotel. The Central
Highlands Historical Association
History Expo at the Australian
34
Catholic University Ballarat
included displays from the Ballarat
Sports Museum collection
and a display of Sovereign Hill
photographs.
A number of significant new
collections were donated. June
Redfern, a Friend of Sovereign
Hill, made a significant gift of
costume, photographs and other
local memorabilia, including a
mining company ledger with
photographs of the mine manager
and the mine. Other donations
included collections of domestic
artefacts and several self-published
books on Ballarat history by Jack
Cranston, as well as a fine collection
of gold fob watches, chains and
gold sovereigns. A Melbournebased photograph historian has
positively identified one of our
most treasured photograph albums
as being produced by Fred Kruger,
a Geelong-based photographer
who took some of the grand heroic
images of Ballarat in the 1880s.
The University of the Third Age
history class met fortnightly in the
Gold Museum, with some twentyfive Ballarat residents studying the
history of the district. Students from
the Bachelor of Education course at
the University of Ballarat conducted
part of their fieldwork program at
the Gold Museum. Members of the
Lucas Past Employees Association
visited the Museum as part of
an Historical Society meeting.
Dresses, documents and photos
from the collection were brought
out for the presentation by former
Lucas employee Kath Leonard.
The Museum hosted the History
Council of Victoria’s symposium
‘Lest We Forget: remembering
Australia at war’, which focused on
researching and writing the history
of war and its impact. Several items
have also been loaned to the Shrine
of Remembrance for an exhibition
on Avenues of Honour which
opened in April.
On New Year’s Day, the Museum
was flooded in six locations,
primarily affecting the retail office
and staff offices, and research
and storage areas. The damage
caused considerable upheaval in
the collection and work areas.
However, because of the excellent
work done by staff and volunteers
over recent years to improve the
storage of collections, the overall
damage to items was minimal. A
remarkable clean up effort meant
that the Museum was open to the
public within hours, but the work
in the back-of-house areas was
considerable in the ensuing weeks
as the environment was restored.
A new compactus unit has also
been installed, creating additional
space for recent acquisitions and for
holding items previously kept in
temporary storage.
In what has been a challenging year,
the support and guidance of the
Gold Museum Committee, chaired
by Jane Cowles, has been much
appreciated.
35
"Volunteer time provided at Sovereign Hill and the
Gold Museum exceeded 24,000 hours - a remarkable
contribution of time, skill and energy."
36
our volunteers
friends of sovereign hill
The Friends of Sovereign Hill contribute to the life of the
Outdoor Museum in many ways. One of the most important is
the enrichment volunteer interpreters provide in conversation
with our visitors. This year, the FOSH have offered a wide range
of interpretive activities unique to our special place.
Visitors are always curious about the costumes worn by our
interpreters, especially the mystery of what is underneath.
FOSH ladies have been showing visitors the different types of
underwear worn by women in the 1850s, and the sequence of
getting dressed in the appropriate layers of garments – all on a
dressmaker’s model, of course!
Games and the way they were played can be very telling in what
they reveal about people across the decades – their lives, their
manners and their humanity. In our parlours, FOSH play many
19th-century games with visitors – cards, chess, ‘Snakes and
Ladders’, ‘Nine Men’s Morris’, ‘The Old Goose Game’, ‘Chinese
Checkers’, ‘Shove Halfpenny’, knucklebones (with real bones),
wooden spinning tops, bagatelle, draughts, dominoes and solitaire.
In coming months, even more board games of the 1850s will be
introduced.
FOSH play an important role in supporting the costumed
schools program by conducting orientation tours of the Township
and Diggings for excited primary school students on their first
morning at Sovereign Hill. Guided by their FOSH ‘walker’, the
children learn quickly about their role-play, and 1850s manners
and what was expected of children – as well as the layout of our
goldfields township. It is so rewarding to see how the students’
perspectives and expectations can be shifted in this wonderful
immersive experience.
The support of volunteers with expert knowledge in trades
and crafts is vital in helping the Ragged School students gain
experience in the heritage trades practised around the Outdoor
Museum. This year’s additions to the options provided by
The workings of the water pump are a constant source of fascination for the younger generation.
37
Our volunteers support
Sovereign Hill and the Gold
Museum in many ways.
top Ron Wheaton gives a
goldpanning lesson on the
Red Hill Gully Diggings.
centre Members of the
Gold Museum Society,
such as Alex Ball and Fran
Zamurs, play a vital role in
caring for our collections.
Here, they are making sure
that the historical costumes
are correctly stored.
bottom A large group
of ‘Friends’ travelled to
Melbourne with Jeremy
Johnson and Sovereign Hill
staff to promote V/Line’s
new ‘Goldrush Special’
− a daily train service
offering visitors the option
of a return trip to Ballarat.
(Picture: V-Line)
volunteers included gardening,
and crafts typical of the goldfields
period: needlework, scrimshaw and
making a wooden wheel spoke.
In the wider community, the
‘Friends’ are great advocates for
Sovereign Hill and promote our
interpretive programs and events,
as well as opportunities for
satisfying volunteer roles.
As always, the generous
commitment of the FOSH
Committee and its President,
Gael Sjogren, along with that
of the ‘Friends’ themselves, has
been very much appreciated.
Gold Museum Society
The breadth of activities supported
by the Gold Museum Society
continues to expand, and members’
voluntary time over the year
accumulated to more than 3,500
hours – a remarkable contribution
of time, skill and energy.
Front-of-house roles in providing
guided tours of the Museum and
its exhibits and programs make
an enormous contribution to
visitors’ enjoyment of the Gold
Museum. Conversations between
volunteers and visitors enhance the
visit, making it a more personal
and fulfilling experience. A new
training program called ‘Making
Connections’ was developed this
year by Sovereign Hill Education to
further strengthen our volunteers’
skills in communicating with
visitors.
38
The Touch Trolley remains a
popular activity, giving visitors
an opportunity to find out about
a range of intriguing items in
the collections, and to try some
detective analysis to determine
the purpose of some of the more
mysterious objects.
Volunteers have also shown the
range of their skills in supporting
the Sovereign Hill school holiday
programs, especially with storytelling and activities with children
and families.
Each year, in the back rooms of
the Gold Museum, volunteers
take on over thirty projects in a
range of disciplines and roles. A
major project has had volunteers
checking, photographing, repacking and re-labelling hundreds
of our historical costumes. Other
volunteers are transcribing diaries
and hand-written documents,
researching biographies of Ballarat
pioneers, scanning and indexing
photographs, identifying vehicles in
20th century photos, cataloguing
recent acquisitions and organising
collections of archives.
Gold Museum Society volunteers
have also been conducting
collection care work in the
Outdoor Museum exhibits,
beginning with checking and
documenting the Museum
objects housed in the Criterion
Store and the Post Office. This
follows on from work done in the
Apothecaries’ Hall, and is part of
a major project to significantly
improve our capacity to manage the
distributed collection in Outdoor
Museum exhibits.
The Society has co-ordinated an
active meeting program to promote
learning around enjoyable social
occasions. Speakers have covered
many diverse topics. Jeremy
Johnson spoke on Sovereign Hill’s
continued development while
others shared reports on visits to
overseas museums and heritage
places. Guest speakers extended
members’ knowledge on new
exhibits in the Gold Museum: Topsy
Nevett presented on the Ballarat
Agricultural and Pastoral Society
and John Sharples on the Simon
coin collection. Members’ personal
reminiscences relating to the City’s
history included Don Hirth on
his history as a target shooter,
Peter Butters on police history,
Bev Shears and Walter Robson on
aspects of goldfields life, and Barry
Hore on heritage wheel-making. In
May, the Society toured Talbot and
Avoca, visiting the local historical
societies and touring noteworthy
sites in the area.
The Museum is very grateful to
the Gold Museum Society for its
donation of a new data projector
for use at Gold Museum meetings.
The Gold Museum Society, and its
hardworking committee, remain a
source of invaluable support to the
life of the Gold Museum.
39
"Narmbool is an important element of
Sovereign Hill's activities and has developed
as a very impressive resource ..."
narmbool
40
Victoria’s new Governor, Professor
David de Kretser, visited Narmbool
in November, having accepted
our invitation to be appointed as
Narmbool’s Patron.
The Hon. John Lenders, then
State Education Minister, also
made a visit in June to inspect
the Narmbool Lodge and
Environmental Learning Centre
facilities.
Although the program has been
expertly presented by our teachers
− Peter Hoban, Andrew Orr,
Richard McLean and Mathew
Dowler − we have not been as
successful as we had hoped in
attracting Government schools.
The Minister’s interest in visiting
was a significant step towards
addressing this issue.
Once again this year, we have
received very strong support from
our major donors who helped with
contributions to the cost of lessadvantaged schools participating in
the school camps, and with a range
of capital works.
With Prime Television’s generous
assistance, we have also produced a
Narmbool DVD and a ‘Bug Blitz’
DVD to assist with promoting our
programs within schools.
The ‘Bug Blitz’ environmental
science program, in particular,
is now well established as a
unique and high quality learning
experience. It is generously
subsidised by The Hugh D T
Williamson Foundation in a close
partnership arrangement. We plan to
involve the Melbourne Museum in
this program to extend its breadth
of resources. The Melbourne
University Australian Centre is also
interested in becoming involved in
thematic studies of the history of
Narmbool, with particular reference
to its environmental history.
Several unsuccessful applications
have been made to Foundations in
support of the proposal to build a
multi-purpose room at Narmbool
Lodge. This facility would provide
greater versatility there, and we will
continue to pursue its funding.
Although the drought has been
a difficult period for primary
production, the farm itself has
weathered the harsh conditions
under the very capable management
of the lessee’s Farm Manager, Peter
Rooney.
Development of the homestead
garden over recent years has
been extensive, with the newlyestablished sections coping well,
despite drought conditions.
The garden is a credit to the
commitment of Robin Ferry,
whose passion for it is inspirational.
It provides a beautiful backdrop for
wedding receptions, conferences
and Sunday lunches which have
again been popular commercial
activities for our catering
contractors, Delaware North
Companies Australia Ltd.
Narmbool is an important element
of Sovereign Hill’s activities and
has developed as a very impressive
resource, particularly for the public
and private education sectors in
Victoria. Its future is very exciting!
top Narmbool is the
perfect environment for
a ‘Bug Blitz’.
centre Peter Rooney
manages Narmbool’s
farming operations.
bottom Lush country
gardens and fine dining
make Narmbool a very
special setting for
weddings.
(Picture: Tim Scanlon)
41
"Museums are places of learning
with so much to offer schools across
the whole curriculum."
education
The 2006 History Summit in Canberra focused national
attention on the position of history in our schools and in our
national life. The Summit communiqué affirmed that:
‘Australia is one of the world’s oldest, continuous democracies.
A knowledge of our history is therefore vital. Nearly all of the crucial public debates embody an appeal to history.’
The Summit reinforced the importance of teaching history
through open questions designed to explore the development of
our democracy and the patterns in our national story.
Subsequent discussions on history curriculum development
have focused on classroom initiatives to improve learning
outcomes for teachers and students. However, the most effective
way of engaging students in learning about their heritage is
to ground them in the artefacts and stories of that heritage in
their world today − the places, objects, artworks, documents,
technology, sounds, images and so much more that are the
means of connecting us across the generations of our experience
in this land. It is so important that students as young learners
with a diversity of learning styles are given opportunities to feel
something for their heritage − to respond to it emotionally and
physically, as well as cognitively.
Museums are places of learning with so much to offer schools
across the whole curriculum. The Summit showed a need for
new approaches to teaching history − to enrich it for students, to
find ways of making it personally meaningful and relevant. This is
what we continually strive to achieve in our education programs
at Sovereign Hill.
And it is not just in history − Sovereign Hill is a rich
environment for learning about science, technology, geography
and economics, for using information and communications
technology, and for promoting group as well as personal learning.
42
Students visiting our costumed schools immerse themselves in the experiences of life as a child on the goldfields.
43
left There is plenty of real
gold to be found in the Red
Hill Gully Creek.
right Sovereign Hill
Education programs are
based on entertaining,
'hands-on' activities.
Nor is it just for students. One of
the highlights over the past year
was the ‘Brush up on your
Australian History’ symposium
at Sovereign Hill. It was crowded
with both new and experienced
teachers looking for resources,
teaching strategies and ideas to
support their classroom activities.
In 2001, Sovereign Hill began
a project to take up the
recommendations of Professor
Tony Taylor’s report on the
teaching of Australian History in
schools. We established a forum
(now a learning circle supported
by some Commonwealth funding)
to support history teachers in
our region by forming a network
of their peers, and by providing
research project opportunities, and
professional development. Our
aim was to help break down the
44
isolation Professor Taylor identified
as a significant factor for teachers
trained in history method, but
locked (at that time) into a ‘Studies
of Society and Environment’
curriculum, and geographically
isolated in regional areas where
opportunities for support and an
exchange of ideas are not so readily
available as for their metropolitan
colleagues.
We are finding young teachers
who need mentors to broaden
their knowledge of the history they
have to teach − to learn where the
tangible artefacts of that history are
accessible, and how to use them in
their teaching, and to form links
with those who hold the intangible
artefacts of knowledge, memories,
and stories of people in their local
communities.
Our forum projects have provided
opportunities for teams of students
to engage with the real artefacts of
history − the heritage collections,
the historic and significant places,
the people who have experienced
great and ordinary things. Students
have produced exhibitions in
the Gold Museum on themes as
varied as animals on the goldfields,
goldfields sports and games, and
the weather and its impact on life
in Ballarat. Others to come will
include costume and fashion.
Those experiences are critical
in creating a wider audience for
history in schools. It is important
that students who do not choose
history as a vocation are stimulated
in their exposure to it at school
− to develop an understanding
of why it is important, and how
widely relevant it is in so many
other disciplines. Students with
talents and interests in film, theatre,
writing and speaking, performance,
forensic analysis, science and maths,
technology, the fine arts, economics
and geography can all contribute
to telling the stories of history in
their school studies, and within the
discipline of history.
left Students learn about
the multicultural experience
of living on the goldfields.
right The sheer drudgery of
maintaining a household on
the goldfields is a surprise
for students of today.
A vibrant new brochure promoting
Sovereign Hill Education has been
successful in promoting awareness
of the rich experiences for students
of all ages at Sovereign Hill, and in
focusing around key themes which
link to the classroom curriculum.
Our ‘Chinese on the Goldfields’,
‘Gold Fever’ and ‘Goldrush
Immigration’ programs have
been particularly popular. During
NAIDOC Week, we hosted the
Beizam Koedal Indigenous
45
opposite page Out
on the trail and in the
Environmental Learning
Centre at Narmbool,
Sovereign Hill Education
Officers Peter Hoban,
above, and Andrew Orr,
centre, share the 'Bug Blitz'
experience with visiting
students.
dance group to perform in the
Victoria Theatre for local primary
schools. A new program is being
developed for the Chinese Camp
experience, and more schools
are taking on programs using
Information Communication
Technologies to make a visit to
Sovereign Hill a more personal and
memorable learning experience by
making films, image libraries and
their own digital stories.
The new ‘Race around the Hill’
program was trialled successfully
for school students and teachers
exploring Sovereign Hill on their
own. The program helps promote
team-based learning strategies
and problem-solving skills. In the
months ahead, additional resources
(including sound files and images)
will be provided on-line to support
preparatory and post-visit learning
activities.
Support from our partners in
museums education has again
been crucial: the Department of
Education and Training in the
Strategic Partnerships Program; the
Catholic Education Commission
in the Placed Teacher Program; and
all our local schools who enjoy the
benefits of our Affiliated Schools
membership.
The new Sovereign Hill teacher
membership scheme, launched
in 2007, has been a great success,
46
with 516 members in our first
six months signing up for a free
membership to keep in touch
with new initiatives for student
programs and teacher professional
development.
A Code of Conduct was introduced
this year to provide a framework of
mutual responsibilities for schools
visiting Sovereign Hill. The Code
reinforces the importance of safe
and respectful behaviours so that
all visitors, staff and volunteers
can enjoy the Sovereign Hill
experience.
The second ‘Bug Blitz’, held at
Narmbool in November 2006,
was a great success thanks to the
continued support of The Hugh
D T Williamson Foundation. The
program had teams of ten students
from six schools in regional Victoria
spending three days exploring
Narmbool’s insect diversity.
The program is a unique
combination of the arts and
sciences. The scientific fieldwork
has students working alongside
scientists from our partner
institution, Museum Victoria,
finding insects in water, grassland
and bushland. They then identify
the physical characteristics of the
insects that help them survive in
their habitats. The arts provide the
means for students to communicate
what they have learned to others,
and to share the social aspects of
the camp. The ‘Bug Blitz’ is an
important program for promoting
more informed environmental
citizenship and leadership.
With the support of The
Williamson Foundation, the
Environmental Learning Centre
has been equipped with a highpowered video microscope so that
students and educators can cluster
around it for detailed examination
of insect specimens; and internet
access so that on-line resources
can be accessible to students in
Narmbool programs. Collections
databases in Australia’s natural
history museums, particularly
Museum Victoria’s ‘Bioinformatics’
internet site, are an important
educational resource.
A new program has been developed
for schools attending the Sovereign
Hill School program.Visiting
schools can now extend their visit
to Sovereign Hill by an additional
day and night for a special
environmental discovery program.
The ‘People to People’ groups
from the United States are an
important new market and, in the
most recent visit, participants also
visited Narmbool, exploring part of
Australia’s natural heritage by day
and its wondrous skies by night.
47
left Maria Kavanagh, right,
and students from the
St Alipius Parish School,
Ballarat, listened carefully
as Marion Snowden
conducted the first class
in the St Alipius Diggings
School at Sovereign Hill.
top right ‘Play time’ at St
Peter’s Denominational
School teaches students
about the simple
amusements available to
19th-century children.
bottom right Michael
Ward keeps a close eye on
students at the Red Hill
National School.
48
The Sovereign Hill School
The year has been one of milestone
developments for the Sovereign Hill
School. The opening of St Alipius
Diggings School on 2 February
this year was a major highlight.
This new school will strengthen
our presentation of Ballarat’s
goldfields schools, telling the story
of the Irish Catholic contribution
to early Australian education
and, at the same time, bringing
to Sovereign Hill an historical
representation of the first school
in Ballarat. Most appropriately,
students from the present day St
Alipius Parish School, expertly
taught by Marion Snowden, were
the first group to use the school.
Peter Featherston and Kathryn
Steele have now been appointed to
share the permanent teaching duties
in the new school.
Other developments have included
the relocation of the Ragged
School and the building of change
rooms in the recently constructed
Steinfeld’s Accommodation. The
installation of split system heating
and cooling has improved Beazley’s
change rooms. Sovereign Hill was
assisted by the School in works to
maintain and develop its school
grounds through a Department of
Education grant for the ‘Schoolyard
Blitz’ program. The on-going work
of Chris Hutton and his team
has been invaluable in ensuring
that students enjoy a safe and
comfortable environment.
Sovereign Hill’s visitors constantly
marvel at the costumed role-play
program offered in the four schools.
That this program is unique was
confirmed by Principal, Michael
Ward, when he presented a
workshop called ‘Identity in the
1850s’, promoting our costumed
schools program at this year’s
12th International Symposium
for Museum Schools. The group,
which met in Norway for the
symposium, has formalised itself
under the title of ‘Preservation of
the School History Heritage in
Europe’. The Sovereign Hill School
will join this European Union as
an associate member. Such contacts
and experiences foster important
networking opportunities and allow
teachers to learn from what similar
schools are doing around the world,
especially in Europe.
On 22 February this year,
Catherine King MP presented Jeff
Fyffe and Graeme Hewitt with
the School’s inaugural Catherine
King Community Service Awards.
Jeff was nominated for his services
as Principal for over 14 years
and Graeme for his contribution
as a School Councillor and
President, for 20 years and 10
years, respectively. Graeme has also
retired as President of the School
Council after 10 years of dedicated
leadership. His successor, Mark
Warwick, will continue this
valuable work.
The success of the Sovereign Hill
School is a testament to the work of
many people. The School is grateful
to its School Council and its
teachers, who, in addition to those
mentioned above, include Sheryn
Mitchell and Alison Middleton. The
contribution of Sovereign Hill’s
Management team − especially
Tim Sullivan − and its staff and
volunteers is also much appreciated.
top left Students from
the Ragged School visit
Sovereign Hill’s workshops
and factories to learn about
19th-century trades.
bottom left Sheryn Mitchell
instructs a student in
19th-century classroom
etiquette.
right The first official class
photo from Sovereign Hill’s
Diggings School shows
Philip Ollerenshaw, left,
his students from Ballarat’s
St Alipius Parish School,
and Marion Snowden from
the Sovereign Hill School.
49
special occasions
Special Occasions
this page
At the 2007 President’s
Dinner, the Hon John Cain
and Nancye Cain, right,
joined Patrick and Julia
Greene for drinks.
Damien Butler and Penny
Russell were guests at the
launch of Sovereign Hill’s
history.
Mr Liang Shugen, the
Chinese Consul General in
Melbourne, was welcomed
as a guest of honour
to the opening of the
Chinese Camp by Lilian
Sun, Sovereign Hill’s new
International Marketing
Manager.
At the opening of St Alipius
Diggings School, Annmaree
Perry, left, and Sue Pohl
congratulated Doug Sarah
on his award of an OAM.
opposite centre
On 9 November 2006, the
Governor of Victoria, Prof.
David de Kretser, paid his
first visit to Narmbool as its
Patron. Governor and Mrs
de Kretser, centre, toured
the property with Tim
Sullivan and Robin Ferry.
50
Lloyd Jenkins, left, David
Thompson and Bruce
McKnight were guests at
the launch of the Sovereign
Hill history.
At Narmbool on 27
November, 2006, Bill
McGregor was presented
with a DVD recording his
achievements in a ‘This
is Your Life’ presentation.
Richard Nicholson, left,
Robert Selkirk, centre left,
and Barry Lonsdale, right,
spoke of Bill’s contribution
to Sovereign Hill.
opposite right
Bruce Clark, right,
reminisced with Ruth RiceJones, and Founding Board
Members Ewan Jones, left,
and Barry McOrist at the
launch of the Sovereign Hill
history.
Catherine King MP
presented Community
Service Awards to proud
recipients Jeff Fyffe, left,
and Graeme Hewitt.
Robert and Noelle Hinchey,
left, celebrated the year’s
achievements with Colin
Prowse at the Board’s
Christmas meeting.
St Alipius Diggings School
was opened by Stephen
Elder, Director of Catholic
Education. He is seen here,
Jeremy Johnson, right,
and Voi Williams welcomed
David Battersby to the
media launch of the
right, enjoying the company
of Richard Nicholson, left,
Jeremy Johnson and Bishop
Peter Connors.
Sovereign Hill history in the
Theatre Retiring Room on
19 October 2006.
51
Bill McGregor OAM
Bill and Rosie McGregor
proudly display a
framed gold nugget
presented to Bill at the
2006 Annual General
Meeting in appreciation
of his contribution to our
Association.
52
In 1966, a young Bill McGregor
agreed to go to a meeting at
which the Ballarat Historical Park
Association was to be formed.
from 1973-75 and again from
1985-87, and has been the
Association’s solicitor since its
inception.
He had been asked by Doug
Cowles, Managing Director of
‘The Ballarat Courier’, to help
out in his capacity as a lawyer with
transforming this new idea into
a reality. As a member of Ballarat
Apex Club, community service
came naturally to Bill, and he
agreed to go.
In 2000, working with Jeremy
Johnson, and Greg Leece from the
Lands Department, Bill assisted
in securing State legislation
for a further 50-year lease for
the Sovereign Hill site, and the
consolidation of its accumulated
leasehold land into a single Crown
Land reservation.
Little did he know that this
would lead to an association with
Sovereign Hill that would see him
achieve 40 years’ service as a Board
Member, including 28 years as
Chairman of the Gold Museum
Committee.
Bill’s wise advice guided the
Association through many complex
legal issues over the past 40 years.
He has also been an extraordinarily
generous supporter − with both
voluntary time and financial
assistance.
Bill’s service to Sovereign Hill and
the wider community, particularly
to tertiary education, was richly
recognised earlier this year with
the award of a Medal in the Order
of Australia in the 2007 Australian
Honours Listing.
In his work for Sovereign Hill,
Bill has always taken great delight
in involving his wife, Rosie, and
their children − Hamish, Hugh
and Anna. Indeed, as a family, the
McGregor clan has never known
life without Sovereign Hill!
Among Bill’s major contributions
to Sovereign Hill were capital
fundraising, and drafting of the
original Memorandum and Articles
of Association, which formally
constituted the Association on
29 March 1967. He served two
2-year terms as Board President,
Bill’s exemplary service as a
Founding Father of Sovereign Hill
is very appropriately acknowledged
in this Report to mark his
retirement from the Board on
28 November 2006.
Jeremy Johnson
Major Sponsors and Donors
Major Sponsors
Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd
Channel 7
Nestlé Peters
Prime Television Ballarat
Radio Ballarat Pty Ltd
The Courier
Tooheys Pty Ltd
WIN Television
The George Alexander
Foundation
The Hugh D T Williamson
Foundation
Montgomery Foundation Pty Ltd
D W Security Pty Ltd
Delacombe Medical Centre
Eureka Concrete
FMP Group Pty Ltd
Gallagher Jeffs
Gekko Systems
Gold Corporation
Haymes Paint
Imerys Minerals Australia
J B Cameron Pty Ltd
John Valves
Ken Heres Bobcat & Backhoe Hire
Lake Imaging
Lisa Lodge
Neighbourhood Cable
Oliver Footwear
Online Personnel
Prime Television
Prowse Perrin & Twomey
Reclink Australia
Rural Press Printing Ballarat
Sargeant Transport Pty Ltd
Selkirk Brick Pty Ltd
Sovereign Park Motor Inn
St George Bank
Steven Coltman
Telstra Country Wide
The Diggers Hut
UFS Dispensaries Ltd
University of Ballarat
Narmbool Trust Appeal
Estate of E C Webb
Ferry A S & R F M
Corporate Members
ACU National
Allied Mills Australia Pty Ltd
Austbrokers
Australia Post
Australian Timken Pty Ltd
Ballarat Turf Club
Butler Pty Ltd
C E Bartlett Pty Ltd
Central Highlands Water
CGU Insurance
Child & Family Services Ballarat
City of Ballarat
Commonwealth Bank
Concept Cleaning Supplies
Cops ‘n’ Kids
Crawford Dowling Pty Ltd
53
The Sovereign Hill Foundation
Formed in 1995, the Sovereign Hill
Foundation has as its objective to
underpin Sovereign Hill’s longterm financial viability by raising
a corpus of funds to be invested in
perpetuity.
The Foundation is managed by its
Chairman, Janet Cowles, and an
experienced Board of Trustees:
St Alipius Diggings School
at Sovereign Hill was
replicated from a sketch by
the goldfields artist, Eugène
von Guérard, of the original
Catholic Church at Gravel
Pit in 1854. Donations
to The Sovereign Hill
Foundation are supporting
projects such as this which
help to educate children in
Australian history.
Angela Carey
Bruce Clark
Jane Cowles
Peter Davies
Jeremy Johnson
Stephen Moneghetti
Colin Prowse
Doug Sarah
At their discretion, interest earned
on The Foundation’s investments
may be allocated to support
Sovereign Hill’s operations.
Over the year, the Foundation
successfully met the $200,000
target of its 10th Anniversary
Appeal. It also achieved the
remarkable milestone of having
reached its original objective
– to raise $1m in its corpus.
To help reach this objective, the
Sovereign Hill Board transferred
funds to the Foundation during
the year. It also resolved, as a policy,
to transfer the annual donation
component of our Prospectors’
memberships.
54
In April 2007, the Trustees launched
an ongoing appeal – Help Us Meet
the Challenge – to encourage donors
to continue their generous support
for the Foundation. By the end of
June, this appeal had reached over
$40,000.
The Foundation is in an
accumulation phase at present. The
outstanding support of our very
generous donors and benefactors
has been remarkable, with the Gold
Members, in particular, having been
to the fore in this regard.
The Federal Government has
recently made taxation law
amendments that will encourage
greater levels of private
philanthropy. Our Foundation is
well placed to be a beneficiary of
these legislative changes.
All donations to The Sovereign Hill
Foundation are tax deductible. The
Foundation is also able to receive
bequests.
THE 10th ANNIVERSARY APPEAL 2005
GOLD MEMBERS
Ainsworth J B
Apex Club of Ballarat
Brace Education Training & Employment Ltd
Brooke D
Brown, Estate of Gladys M
Byrne M L
Coburn P & P
Coltman C
Coltman S
The Courier
Cowles J E
Cowles J I
Heinz J & G
Heinz W H & P
Howes I & B
John & Catherine Davis’ Great Outdoor Centre
Johnson J & A
Jones E & R
Kannourakis G
Karmouche D & J
Lyons N & L
Lloyd T
Mason K & L
McCarthy P
Perrin K
Plush J & M
Prowse C R
Prowse S E
Robson V G
Ross M S
Sarah A D
Shaw J
Selkirk J
Stephen W F
Stephen M T
Stobo T & C
Davies P J
Davies P R
Davies S
Eureka Concrete
Evans & Metcalfe
Fisken P
Garrisson V
Hassett B
McGregor W & R
McKnight B & K
Nelson J
Nicholson E J
Nicholson P C
Nicholson R
Oliver N
O’Sullivan D
Tennant A & D
Tol M
Troon G H & A J
University of Ballarat
Vogan A & G
Webster J & M
Williams V
Davies Bakery
Herring M
Hook R
House B & E
McQuilten J
O’Grady B & J
Sheedy M & L
Squire R & N
Taylor J & W
Torney G W
Valentine N
Whitfield C
DONORS
Beaumont M & L
Button J N
Cartledge R & L
Clark B C
Conheady C
Dale J
Dalton R & M
‘HELP US MEET THE CHALLENGE’ APPEAL 2007
GOLD MEMBERS
Bate W
Butler D
Brown Estate of Gladys M
Cowles J I
James B
McCarthy P
Oliver N
Prowse S E
Ramsay D
Sarah V
Smith I C
Smith M
Troon G H
Webster M
Williams V
Young N
Pleydell R
Robinson J
Robson V G
Lyons N & L
Herring M
Hook R
Hamer, Lady A
DONORS
Broadbent M
Coltman S
Gribble I
Heinz G
55
Prospectors' Club
The Sovereign Hill Prospectors
have enjoyed an interesting program
of events over the year.
Special previews of the Steinfeld’s
project, the Chinese Camp
redevelopment and Linton Cottage
conference facility were well
attended, as were drinks with the
President and late night shopping
for Christmas.
Colin and Shirley Prowse
enjoyed a chat with Steve
Moneghetti, right, at a
function held to showcase
Linton Cottage to the
Prospectors.
As part of their annual subscription,
Prospectors donate a significant sum
which is now invested in perpetuity
as part of The Sovereign Hill
Foundation.
As well, this year, the Prospectors
generously supported the
commissioning of design plans for a
new children’s playground, based on
a mining theme, for a site near the
Kiosk and Post Office Dam.
This special supporter coterie was
formed in 1989. Its Patrons are the
City’s Historian, Professor Weston
Bate, and Ballarat’s international
marathon athlete, Steve Moneghetti.
Patrons
Bate W
Moneghetti S
Members
Ashley G
Ball D
Beechey D
Bowman B
Bradie D
Brooke D
Burt D
Campana T
Carter R
Chandler I
Chapman W
Chester D
Clamp P
Coltman B
Corcoran I
Cowles J E
Cowles J I
Cronin D
56
Cross R
Dale J
Daunt M
Davies P J
Davis J
Everist M
Fisken P
Gay J
Gibney M
Gow D
Griffiths B
Hayden R
Hewitt G
Hope P
Hunt I
Kannourakis G
Karmouche D
Lance G
Lowe A
Lyons N
Marshall P
McGregor W
McKnight B
McKnight D
Miller J
Moss S
Nelson J
Nicholson E J
Oliver N
Owen G
Perrin K
Perry A
Pierce J
Plaatzer W
Prowse C
Pryor W J
Russell J
Selkirk J
Selkirk R J
Smith J
Spittle G H
Taylor R
Thomson B
Tobin S
Troon G
Valentine P
Webster M
Wilkie G
Wilkins R
Williams J
Williams V
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Mayor of the City of Ballarat, Cr David Vendy
The Hon. John Cain
The Hon. Jeffrey Kennett
The Hon. Steve Bracks
Patrons
Patron of narmbool trust
The Governor of Victoria, Prof. David de Kretser
Board Members
President
Vice-President
R Nicholson A Perry
S Baird
D Butler
B Clark
S Coltman
J Cowles
P Davies
R Hinchey
T Lloyd (from 19/3/07)
B Lonsdale
W McGregor
B McKnight
C Prowse
D Sarah
R Selkirk
V Williams
Chief Executive Officer
J Johnson
Deputy CEO, Museums Director
T Sullivan
Executive Management
Director – Creative & Design Director – Engineering
Director – Finance & Corporate Services
Director – Marketing
Director – Commercial Operations
Gold Museum Manager/Curator & Deputy Museums Director
Chairmen of Committees
Audit & Compliance Committee Finance Committee Gold Museum Committee Mining Museum Committee Outdoor Museum Committee President’s Advisory Committee Narmbool Trust Sir Henry Bolte Trust The Sovereign Hill Foundation (to 28/11/06)
J Zulic
J Lewis
P Clifford
G Burns
W Peters
R Trudgeon
S Baird
C Prowse (to 27/11/06)
D Butler (from 27/11/06)
B McKnight (to 27/11/06) J E Cowles (from 27/11/06)
B Clark
A Perry
R Nicholson
C Prowse
W McGregor
J I Cowles
57
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
We are grateful for the on-going support of the following members of the community
who serve on Board Committees, Trusts and Foundations associated with Sovereign Hill:
M Akers
D Ball
M Byrne
A Carey
M Carlson
J I Cowles
H Conder
P Cox
R Croggon
D Douglass
J Eedle
S Elder
M Ferguson
A Ferry
R Ferry
G Hedditch
P Hiscock
W Jacobs
S Moneghetti
I Smith
W Stephen
R Taylor
D Thompson
L Thompson
N Valentine
Auditors
Bankers
History Consultant
Mining Consultant
Numismatics Consultant
Solicitor
Evans & Metcalfe
Bank of Melbourne
W Bate
P Darveniza
J Sharples
W McGregor
Leased Business Managers
Catering
Soho Foundry & Clarke Bros Tinsmiths
The Ballarat Times Delaware North Companies
Australia Pty Ltd
P & F Bilney
R & L McArthur
Sovereign Hill Education
Dowler M
Hoban P
Kierce A Littlejohn M
McLean R
Orr A
Pohl S
Sovereign Hill School
Featherston P
Middleton A
Mitchell S
58
Snowden M
Steele K
Ward M
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Life Governors
Jones E C
McGregor W H
O’Sullivan D M
Prowse C R
Stephen W F
Ainsworth J B
Akers M T
Baird A
Baird I
Baird K D
Baird S E
Bartrop B
Creelman T
Crouch N
Davies P J
Davies P R
Duffy P
Dunne M
Edwards N J
Haymes D
Hedditch G
Heres K
Herman J L
Hiscock P McL
Hocking D
Home I
McCarthy P
McFarlane J
McGrath D
McGregor H
McGregor R
McKay H
McKnight B
O’Sullivan M
Peuker H
Pleydell C R
Prowse G D
Prowse R
Prowse S L
Radford M
Thacore V
Thompson L H S
Thomson G
Timken W J
Titheridge N W
Tobin F L
Torney G W
Bate W
Benjamin T M
Bennett R L
Blomley D
Bowman B
Brown G W
Bunning P R
Butler D
Butler K
Byrne M
Byrne P M
Byrne T J
Chester C
Christie R B
Clark B
Coburn C
Coburn I
Coburn P I
Coburn P J
Coghlan C C
Coutts L
Cowles J E
Cowles J I
Crabb S
Craig O
Evans L
Fairfax J B
Fairhurst J
Farnell M R
Faulkner J
Faull J
Feilman P
Ferry A S
Ferry R F
FitzGerald D
Garrisson B
Garrisson C
Garrisson H
Garrisson V
Gilbert J
Gordon J
Goy I
Grant C L
Gribble N
Griffin J
Griffiths W
Hayden J
Hayden M
Hayden P
Hayden R
Hornsby R
Howard M
Hunt R V M
Hunt V D U
Inglis R
Jackman R
James B
James D
Jenkins L
Jens N
Jones C E
Jones D K
Jones P K
Judd P
Kelleher L
Kennard D
Kinchington T
Lance G
Langton B
Liebelt J
Lonsdale B J
Lyons G N
Lyons N
McBain G
McCarthy B
McKnight I
McKnight T
McKnight W
Mann P L
Martino N
Mason J
Mason K
Mason L
Matthews R E
Montgomery T
Morrow B
Moss D
Moss S
Myer B
Myer S
Nemeth R
Nicholson A W
Nicholson J E
Nicholson P C
Nunn B
O’Meara T
O'Shea J A
O’Sullivan F
O’Sullivan F C
O’Sullivan J
Ramsay T D
Rice-Jones R
Robertson H G
Robinson R J
Robson V G
Runnalls T M
Sarah A D
Sarah V
Schmid R
Scott D
Segrave B
Selkirk I
Selkirk J
Selkirk R J
Shaw J S
Sheludko V
Smith M G
Spicer E J
Stephen J
Stephen M T
Stepnell J
Stone L E
Stone P C D
Sweeney F
Taylor P L
Troon A
Troon G H
Troon R
Troon S
Turner P
Twomey C
Vagg F
Valentine N
Vogan A
Webb O
Webster M
Wilkie E
Wilkie R
Williams C
Williams V
Wilson P R
Life Members
59
Staff
Allen H
Allen D
Alpen M
Anderson L
Anglim D
Arnott W
Ashman C
Atkinson W
Baker H
Baker N
Barrins M
Beckwith P
Bedggood C
Bian C
Bignell B
Bignell T
Billerwell R
Binns M
Bishop G
Blood E
Bloom A
Bodman K
Boersma J
Borner L
Borschman T
Bothe S
Boyko M
Bradley L
Bray G
Bray P
Bredin R
Brogden G
Brown N
Brown L
Brown C
Bull R
Burns J
Burton I
Butler G
Butterworth E
Byron M
Caldwell K
Caldwell I
Carey J
Caris S
Carroll J
Chaffey C
60
Chen Z
Clark R
Collins L
Collins I
Collins M
Colman M
Colquhoun R
Constable J
Cook S
Cooper T
Cooper L
Cowan N
Cox F
Crane J
Crane L
Croggon J
Curran P
Cuthbertson K
Daniell G
Den Ouden V
Dirks D
Dowler P
Drew S
Drummond M
Duffin D
East M
Edgington B
Eldridge S
Elkins N
Elliott K
Farnell M
Faulkner K
Faull C
Faull S
Ferguson J
Finch J
Fisher G
Fletcher R
Foote G
Ford C
Foster D
Franc J
Francis A
Fryer J
Gamble P
Gervasoni J
Gervasoni F
Geurts T
Gilbert J
Goldsmith B
Gooding E
Gowans N
Grant C
Gray M
Hammond R
Handley C
Hardy M
Harris B
Harrison M
Hart G
Hart C
Hartmann C
Hartmann L
Harvey R
Hayley L
Headland K
Heinrich T
Henderson A
Herbert S
Herbert M
Hocking D
Hodge B
Hore B
Horne C
Horne L
Howes B
Hughes D
Hunter P
Hutton C
Ingram S
Ioannucci S
Jarvis K
Jeffries P
Jenkin B
Jephcott J
Johnson L
Johnson L
Johnson K
Johnstone M
Jolly R
Jones M
Kaess M
Kay B
Keating S
Kennedy P
Klein J
Kneeshaw S
Knight O
Kramer O
Kyi A
Lacy M
Lamond C
Lamport C
Larkins A
Leach K
Lee B
Leith J
Lewis T
Lewis C
Licastro D
Lillie A
Liu E
Lomas M
Long T
Lynch P
Macauley R
Madden J
Maggi K
Maher A
Maloney R
Marks M
Marshall B
Mason C
McGavin G
McGeary K
McNeil L
Mei K
Merritt W
Meyers D
Millar K
Mitchell R
Mooney E
Morcombe K
Moss K
Mroczkowski Z
Muir C
Murphy J
Neal A
Nestor N
Newell N
Nicholas M
O’Brien M
O’Brien L
O’Neill G
O’Shea A
Ogilvie S
Osborne D
Page A
Page J
Peacock A
Pearce L
Perkins D
Pezzutti R
Pigdon J
Pigdon M
Pilven O
Pimblett D
Pipkorn A
Pitman R
Prenc A
Prosser G
Pryor L
Ram J
Ramsay L
Ranken S
Rankin N
Reid A
Riddiford M
Robinson D
Rowe M
Rowe C
Rowe D
Ryan A
Schaper P
Schellens G
Schenk R
Scott W
Sculley S
Searle L
Searle L
Severino P
Sexton N
Sharp K
Sharpe A
Shepherd K
Smith M
Smithers H
Steenwyk R
Stevens V
Stevenson G
Stiff I
Stokes J
Stoneman D
Stoneman J
Stowe K
Stronach P
Sun L
Suter K
Sutton S
Sutton D
Taylor L
Taylor C
Taylor K
Taylor L
Taylor N
Tink A
Tobin D
Tonkin L
Tonkin D
Trotter B
Ure J
Valentine S
Van Raaphorst N
Vanderkley C
Warr P
Watson K
Watson X
Watson J
Watson S
White T
Widdop B
Wilde S
Wilkinson S
Wilson P
Wood P
Wright S
Wu J
Wynd P
Xiancai I
Young A
Young G
Zhang E
Zhong L
Zhu R
Zhu R
Friends of Sovereign Hill
Alcorn F
Allen A
Allen B
Allen B
Allen C
Allen K
Allen W
Anderson K
Aragona A
Aragona S
Ashley C
Ashley E
Baker A
Baker I
Baker L
Baker M
Baum L
Bell K
Belshaw H
Bessems M
Bessems M
Boyko M
Brae J
Bristow V
Brogden M
Brogden P
Brooks C
Budge S
Budge T
Budge Z
Calistro D
Campbell B
Campbell T
Carter R
Carter S
Cartledge L
Chenery R
Chenery T
Clark M
Clark R
Clark V
Cleeman M
Clowes J
Clowes M
Cluff B
Cook R
Coventry M
Cowen E
Cox P
Cullen B
Dainton P
Dainton S
Ellis C
Evans L
Flynn B
Franklin J
Fuller J
Gavan B
Gellert A
Gellert B
Gellert E
Gellert E
Gellert T
George L
Gillespie P
Gray B
Hankin W
Harrison J
Havard V
Hayes S
Hedgcock R
Herbert M
Herbert S
Herbert S
Heyward M
Hill J
Hogbin C
Hogbin E
Hogbin M
House E
Howard J
Howard-Robbins L
Howgate K
Hyde E
Hyde L
Jones B
Jones C
Jones E
Jones J
Jones J
Jones M
Karmouche D
Kentish S
Kilby G
Knight L
Knight M
Ladner C
Ladner K
Ladner K
Ladner K
Laidler P
Lamport P
Lewis J
Liney P
Little J
Llewellyn W
Lukeis J
Lukeis R
McCausland B
McClean A
McClean G
McCracken N
McFerran R
Maberly E
Macey S
Maloney M
Meek M
Melville I
Millar M
Miller J
Morris M
Murphy G
Newey B
Newey C
Nyberg R
Oakley B
Oakley C
O’Connor R
O’Connor T
O’Hagan D
Olsen C
Olsen J
Olsen J
Olsen Z
O’Loughlin H
Orchard B
Osbourne J
Parker J
Pearce J
Pepper M
Phillips G
Phillips J
Powell G
Reasons J
Redfern J
Reus B
Richards B
Roach A
Roadley M
Robe L
Roberts L
Robson Dr W
Rochelmeyer C
Rochelmeyer E
Rochelmeyer G
Rochelmeyer J
Rosewarne K
Rosewarne M
Rosewarne V
Scott B
Sellens W
Sep R
Sheppard L
Singleton A
Singleton J
Sjogren G
Smith A
Smith D
Smith G
Smith K
Steinman M
Stewart I
Stewart J
Stewart N
Summersgill L
Suttie R
Taylor S
Thomas M
Thorne K
Thornhill N
Thornhill N
Thorpe L
Tolliday A
Vagg K
Van Duin B
Van Duin T
Van Egmond E
Van Egmond K
Vanstan K
Walden S
Wheaton R
Whitthread K
Wilkins R
Williams G
Windsor M
Wright T
Wright L
Wright E
Ziccone K
Zilveris E
Zilveris Z
Gold Museum Society
Allitt J
Ball A
Beggs-Sunter A
Binns G
Blythman M
Bradby D
Brown R
Christie H
Christie R
Clark M
Cowles J E
Cowles J I
Crick A
Crick J
Curnow M
Curnow R
Denham B
Doggett A
Douglas D
Douglas G
Eedle J
Eedle M
Fammartino M
Heinz G
Henderson D
Henderson J
Hirth D
Hope P
Karmouche D
Kent T
Kinloch H
Lacy B
Llewellyn W
Llewellyn N
Luhrs M
Maberly E
Maberly J
Maidment E
Manning D
Martin Z
Maxwell D
May M
McCracken N
Miller J
Mitchell P
Muir H
Netherway N
Newey B
Newey C
Newton R
Nunn B
O’ Doherty T
Pingali S
Prowse S
Scott P
Smith I
Squire R
Taylor C
Taylor P
Taylor R
Tekeath T
Thornhill N
Thurling M
Tong M
Tong N
Tudball V
Zamurs F
61
Financial Report
Sovereign Hill
financial report
Sovereign Hill
06 | 07
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
abn 87 565 053 651
62
Troopers Peter Bray, left, and Jeroen Boersma demonstrate the fire-power of their muskets.
(Picture: The Courier)
63
Richard Nicholson
Annmaree Perry
Bruce Clark
Sari Baird
Steven Coltman
Damien Butler
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Peter Davies
ABN 87 565 053 651
Directors
President
Mr R W Nicholson
Elected to the Board in 1998. Chairman of the President’s
Advisory Committee. Ex-officio member of all Board Trusts
and Committees. Qualified Civil Engineer. Director of a
local Construction Company.
Vice-President
Mrs A P Perry
Elected to the Board in 2003. Chairman of the Outdoor
Museum Committee. Member of the President’s Advisory
and Finance Committees. Retired Teacher and Family
Historian.
Mrs S N Baird
Elected to the Board in 2005. Chairman of the Audit &
Compliance Committee. Member of the Mining Museum
Committee. Chairman of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Board
of Management. Legal Counsel and Company Secretary.
Mr D E Butler
Elected to the Board in 2005. Chairman of the Finance
Committee. Director of a Chartered Accountancy Practice.
64
Jane Cowles
Mr B H Clark
Elected to the Board in 1990. Chairman of the Mining
Museum Committee. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill
Foundation. Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Banking
and Finance. Company Director and Business Consultant.
Mr S O Coltman
Elected to the Board in 2003. Member of the Mining
Museum Committee. Company Director.
Ms J E Cowles
Elected to the Board in 2003. Chairman of the Gold
Museum Committee. Member of the Audit & Compliance
Committee. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill Foundation.
Mr P J Davies
Elected to the Board in 1993. Immediate Past-President.
Member of the President’s Advisory and Outdoor Museum
Committees. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill Foundation.
Chairman of Ballarat Community Enterprise Ltd. Company
Director.
Dr R N Hinchey
Elected to the Board in 1996. Member of the Outdoor
Museum Committee. A Medical Practitioner in General
Practice.
Robert Hinchey
Terry Lloyd
Barry Lonsdale
Bruce McKnight
Doug Sarah
Colin Prowse
Robert Selkirk
Bill McGregor
Prof. T M Lloyd
Appointed to the Board in 2007. Member of the Finance
Committee. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Ballarat.
Mr B J Lonsdale
Elected to the Board in 1989. A Past-President. Member
of the Audit & Compliance, Gold Museum and Mining
Museum Committees. Company Director.
Mr W H McGregor OAM
Elected to the Board in 1967. A Past-President. Chairman of
the Sir Henry Bolte Trust. A Practising Solicitor and a Partner
in a firm of Barristers and Solicitors. Retired from the Board
28/11/2006.
Mr D B McKnight OAM
Elected to the Board in 1987. A Past-President. Trustee of
the Narmbool Trust and the Sir Henry Bolte Trust. Member
of the Gold Museum and Outdoor Museum Committees. A
Past-Mayor of the former City of Ballaarat. Director of a firm
of Electrical Contractors.
Voi Williams
Mr C R Prowse OAM
Elected to the Board in 1967. A Past-President. Chairman of
the Narmbool Trust. Member of the Audit & Compliance
Committee. Trustee of The Sovereign Hill Foundation and
the Sir Henry Bolte Trust. Certified Practising Accountant.
Mr A D Sarah OAM
Elected to the Board in 1981. A Past-President. Trustee of
The Sovereign Hill Foundation. Chairman of Destination
Ballarat. Company Director. Business Manager.
Mr R J Selkirk
Elected to the Board in 1992. A Past-President. Member
of the Finance Committee. Chairman of Directors of the
Selkirk Group of Companies.
Mrs V Williams OAM
Elected to the Board in 1999. Trustee of the Narmbool Trust.
Member of the Gold Museum Committee. Retired Medical
Scientist.
65
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Directors' Report
Your Directors submit the following financial statements of the Association for the financial year ended 30 June 2007.
The names of the Members of the Board of the Association at the date of this report are as follows:
R W Nicholson President
A P Perry
Vice-President
S N Baird
P J Davies D E Butler
R N Hinchey B H Clark
T M Lloyd S O Coltman
B J Lonsdale
J E Cowles
D B McKnight OAM
C R Prowse OAM
A D Sarah OAM
R J Selkirk
V Williams OAM
Company Secretary
The following person held the position of Company Secretary at the end of the financial year:
Mr Jeremy W M Johnson – Diploma of Business, JP, FICS. Mr Johnson has worked for The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
for the past 12 years, performing senior management roles in finance, administration and operations. Mr Johnson was appointed
Company Secretary on 10 November 1998.
The principal activity of the Association is to present in a dynamic group of museums, the mining, social, cultural and
environmental heritage of the Ballarat region and its impact on Australia’s national story.
No significant changes in the nature of these activities occurred during the year.
The profit of the Association amounted to $851,314.
The Association is not liable to pay company tax and is not permitted to pay dividends to its Members.
The net assets of the Association have increased by $3,449,337 from $37,990,697 as at 30 June 2006, to $41,440,034 in 2007.
This increase has largely resulted from the following factors:
• Operating performance;
• Significant fundraising activities towards capital works; and
• Revaluation increment in publicly listed investments.
The Association’s solid financial position has enabled it to continue with its strategy of investing in infrastructure
development and building up of cash reserves.
The Directors believe the Association is in a strong and stable financial position to expand and grow its current operations.
No significant changes in the Association’s state of affairs occurred during the financial year.
66
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Directors' Report
After balance date events
No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year which significantly affected or may significantly affect
the operations of the Association, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Association in future financial years.
Future developments
The Association expects to maintain the present status and level of operations and hence there are no likely developments in
the Association’s operations.
Environmental issues
The Association’s operations are not regulated by any significant environmental regulation under a law of the Commonwealth or
of a state or territory.
Indemnifying officers or auditor
During the financial year, the Association has paid a premium to insure officers against liabilities for costs and expenses
incurred by them in defending any legal proceedings arising out of their conduct while acting in the capacity of an officer
of the Association, other than conduct involving a wilful breach of duty in relation to the Association. No indemnities have
been given or insurance premiums paid, during or since the end of the financial year, for the auditor of the Association.
Proceedings on behalf of the Association
No person has applied for leave of Court to bring proceedings on behalf of the Association or intervene in any proceedings to which
the Association is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Association for all or any part of those proceedings.
The Association was not a party to any such proceedings during the year.
The auditor provided no non-audit services to the Association during the year.
67
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Directors' report
The attendances of each Director of the Association at meetings during the year were:
Board
Meetings
Committee Meetings
Finance
Committee
Number
eligible
to attend
Number
attended
President’s
Advisory
Committee
Number
eligible
to attend
Number
attended
–
–
Outdoor
Museum
Committee
Number
eligible
to attend
Mining
Museum
Committee
Number
attended
Number
eligible
to attend
–
3
2
2
2
–
–
–
5
Number
eligible
to attend
Audit &
Compliance
Committee
Number
eligible
to attend
Number
attended
S N Baird
11
11
–
–
D E Butler
11
11
10
10
–
–
B H Clark
11
9
–
–
–
–
S O Coltman
11
4
–
–
–
–
–
–
J E Cowles
11
11
–
–
–
–
–
–
P J Davies 11
11
4
2
9
8
6
4
2
1
2
1
–
–
R N Hinchey
11
9
–
–
–
–
6
6
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Number
attended
Gold
Museum
Committee
Number
attended
Number
eligible
to attend
Number
attended
–
–
4
4
–
–
–
–
–
4
2
1
–
–
5
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
6
6
4
4
T M Lloyd
4
3
3
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
B J Lonsdale
11
8
–
–
2
0
–
–
5
5
3
2
4
2
W H McGregor OAM
5
4
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
6
5
–
–
D B McKnight OAM
11
7
–
–
–
–
6
3
–
–
6
4
–
–
R W Nicholson
11
11
10
10
9
8
6
6
3
3
6
4
4
2
A P Perry
11
10
6
6
6
6
6
6
–
–
–
–
–
–
C R Prowse OAM
11
10
4
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
4
4
A D Sarah OAM
11
11
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
R J Selkirk
11
8
6
4
–
–
–
–
3
3
–
–
–
–
V Williams OAM
11
11
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3
3
–
–
Auditor’s Independence Declaration
The lead auditor’s independence declaration for the year ended 30 June 2007, has been received and can be found on page 69 of
the Directors’ report.
Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board.
Dated this seventeenth day of September 2007.
R W Nicholson
President
68
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
AUDITOR'S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION UNDER SECTION 370c OF THE CORPORATIONS ACT 2001
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE SOVEREIGN HILL MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION
As lead auditor for the audit of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief,
during the year ended 30 June 2007, there have been:
1. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the
audit; and
2. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.
Dated this seventeenth day of September 2007.
Evans & Metcalfe
Certified Practising Accountants
7 Lyons Street North, Ballarat 3350
B R Judkins
Partner
69
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Income Statement for the year ended 30 June 2007
Note
2007
$
Total revenue from operating activities
2
20,480,458
Other revenue
2
–
Employee benefits expense
(9,974,430)
Depreciation expense
3
(1,378,469)
Administration, marketing, maintenance expense
(5,638,294)
Cost of sales
(2,423,606)
Other expenses
(214,345)
Profit before income tax
3
851,314 Income tax expense
–
Profit after income tax
70
851,314
2006
$
18,550,345
4,935
(9,878,194)
(1,425,017)
(4,535,421)
(2,246,699)
(169,692)
300,257
–
300,257
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2007
Note
2007 Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
4
Trade and other receivables
5
Inventories
6
Other current assets
7
Total current assets
$
1,347,394 1,741,288 1,073,126 158,915 4,320,723
2006 $
2,130,406
687,222
1,066,996
229,801
4,114,425
Non-current assets
Financial assets
8
Property, plant and equipment
9
Collections assets
9
Total non-current assets
2,794,176 30,055,921 7,487,841 40,337,938
2,095,082
27,195,776
7,409,275
36,700,133
Total assets
44,658,661
40,814,558
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
10
2,092,200
Short term provisions
11
809,963 Total current liabilities
2,902,163
1,795,128
710,568
2,505,696
Non-current liabilities
Long term provisions
11
Total non-current liabilities
316,464 316,464
318,165
318,165
Total liabilities
3,218,627
2,823,861
Net assets
41,440,034
37,990,697
Equity
Retained earnings
Reserves
30,656,423 10,783,611 27,962,972
10,027,725
Total equity
41,440,034
37,990,697
71
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 30 June 2007
Retained
Earnings
$
Asset
Revaluation*
$
General
Reserve
$
Balance at 1 July 2005
27,102,099
365,018 988,080
Capital receipts, donations and collections assets donated
891,743
Profit for the year
300,257 Shares, hybrid securities, convertible and floating notes in
Corporations listed on a prescribed Stock Exchange
revaluation increment
71,012
Transfers to and from reserves
– General Reserve
(19,607) – The Sovereign Hill Foundation
(110,937) – Sir Henry Bolte Trust
(9,798)
– Collections
(320,785)
– Catering
130,000
Transfers to retained earnings
Transfers from retained earnings
19,607
Balance at 30 June 2006
27,962,972
436,030
1,007,687
Capital receipts, donations and collections assets donated
2,274,733
Profit for the year
851,314 Shares, hybrid securities, convertible and floating notes in
Corporations listed on a prescribed Stock Exchange
revaluation increment
323,291
Transfers to and from reserves
– General Reserve
(173,059) – The Sovereign Hill Foundation
(174,743) – Sir Henry Bolte Trust
(6,226)
– Collections
(78,567)
Transfers to retained earnings
Transfers from retained earnings
173,059
Balance at 30 June 2007
30,656,423
* This reserve records the revaluation increment of shares, hybrid securities
and floating notes in Corporations listed on a prescribed Stock Exchange.
72
759,321
1,180,747
Sir Henry
Bolte Trust
$
The
Sovereign Hill
Foundation
$
Collections
Reserve
Catering
Reserve
Total
$
$
$
437,244
616,754
7,088,490
130,000
36,727,685
891,743
300,257
71,012
(130,000)
9,798
110,937
320,785
447,042
727,691
7,409,275
(19,607)
(110,937)
(9,798)
(320,785)
130,000
(130,000)
461,127
–
37,990,697
2,274,733
851,314
323,291
6,226
174,743
78,567
453,268
902,434
7,487,841
–
(173,059)
(174,743)
(6,226)
(78,567)
432,595
41,440,034
73
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 30 June 2007
Note
2007
$
Cash flows from operating activities
Sales from small businesses
6,578,471
Other revenues from operating activities
12,847,921
Payments to employees
(9,876,736)
Payments for materials and contracts
(7,864,185)
Other expenses
(4,828) Net cash provided by operating activities
1,933,115
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital receipts and donations
Proceeds from sale of plant and equipment
Sales (purchase) of investments
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
2,210,996
138,112
(414,835)
(4,397,929)
810,958
125,987
(348,817)
(1,938,131)
Net cash used in investing activities
(2,463,656)
(1,350,003)
– –
Net cash used in financing activities
– –
Net increase (decrease) in cash held
Cash at the beginning of the year
2,130,407
1,547,295
13(a)
1,347,394
2,130,407
Cash at the end of the year
74
5,850,379
12,564,494
(9,827,820)
(6,652,398)
(1,540)
1,680,643
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of borrowings
13(b)
2006
$
(783,013)
583,112
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
NOTE 1 Statement of significant accounting policies
The financial report is a general purpose financial report that has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting
Standards including Australian Accounting Interpretations, other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting
Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001.
The financial report is for The Sovereign Hill Museums Association as an individual entity, incorporated and domiciled in
Australia. The Sovereign Hill Museums Association is a company limited by guarantee.
The following is a summary of the material accounting policies adopted by the Association in the preparation of the financial
report. The accounting policies have been consistently applied, unless otherwise stated.
Basis of preparation
Reporting Basis and Conventions
The financial report has been prepared on an accruals basis and is based on historical costs. It does not take into account
changing money values or, except where stated, current valuations of non current assets. Cost is based on the fair values of the
consideration given in exchange for assets.
Accounting policies
Revenue
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised upon the delivery of goods to customers.
Grant revenue is recognised in the income statement when it is controlled. Should there be conditions attached to grant revenue
relating to the use of those grants for specific purposes, they would be recognised in the balance sheet as a liability until such
conditions are met or services provided.Capital grants are recognised in the Statement of Changes in Equity when the grant is controlled.
Interest revenue and distribution income from investments is recognised on a proportional basis taking into account the interest
rates applicable to the financial assets.
Revenue from the rendering of a service is recognised upon the delivery of the service to the customers.
All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and service tax (GST).
Inventories
Inventories are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value and consist wholly of finished goods.
75
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
Property, plant and equipment
Each class of property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less, where applicable, accumulated depreciation and impairment
losses.
Property
The Association is an outdoor museum that represents Ballarat in the Victorian goldfields for the period 1851 to 1861. All the
buildings exhibits have extensive ongoing maintenance to ensure their standards are in keeping with this 11-year time period.
Consequently, the Directors believe that buildings will have an estimated useful life of 150 years and therefore depreciation has
been calculated at 0.67% pa.
Plant and equipment
Plant and equipment are measured on the cost basis less depreciation and impairment losses.
The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed annually by Directors to ensure it is not in excess of the recoverable
amount from these assets. The recoverable amount is assessed on the basis of the expected net cash flows that will be received
from the assets employment and subsequent disposal. The expected net cash flows have been discounted to their present values in
determining recoverable amounts.
Depreciation
The depreciable amounts of all fixed assets including buildings, but excluding freehold land, are depreciated over their useful lives
commencing from the time those assets are held ready for use.
Plant, equipment and vehicles are shown at original cost with depreciation being provided, using the straight line method, so as
to write off each asset over its anticipated useful life.
The depreciation rates used for each class of depreciable assets are:
Class of asset
Depreciation of asset
Buildings
Plant, equipment and vehicles
0.67%
2.5­_ 40%
The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date.
An asset class’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than
its estimated recoverable amount.
Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with the carrying amount. These gains or losses are included
in the income statement.
76
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
Collections assets
Collections Assets controlled by the Association are works of art and other heritage assets, including the property Narmbool, which
have been donated to the Association.They are anticipated to have very long and indeterminate useful lives.Their future economic
benefits have not, in any material sense, been consumed during the reporting period. As such, no amount for depreciation has been
recognised in respect of them.
Financial instruments
Financial instruments are initially measured at cost on trade date, which includes transaction costs, when the related contractual
rights or obligations exist. Subsequent to initial recognition these instruments are measured as set out below.
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement
A financial asset is classified in this category if acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short term or if so designated
by Management and within the requirements of AASB 139: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments. Realised and
unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of these assets are included in the income statement in the period
in which they arise.
Held-to-maturity investments
These investments have fixed maturities, and it is the Association’s intention to hold these investments to maturity. Any held-tomaturity investments held by the Association are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Available-for-sale financial assets
Available-for-sale financial assets include any financial assets not included in the above categories. Available-for-sale financial assets
are reflected at fair value. Unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are taken directly to equity.
Impairment of assets
At each reporting date, the Association reviews the carrying values of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication
that those assets have been impaired. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset, being the higher of the asset’s
fair value less cost to sell and value in use, is compared to the asset’s carrying value. Any excess of the asset’s carrying value over its
recoverable amount is expensed to the Income Statement.
Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an asset class, the Association estimates the recoverable amount of
the cash-generating unit to which the class of assets belongs.
Employee benefits
Provision is made for the Association’s liability for employee benefits arising from services rendered by employees to Balance Sheet
date. Employee benefits expected to be settled within one year together with benefits arising from wages, salaries and annual leave
which may be settled after one year, have been measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liability is settled plus related
on costs. Other employee benefits payable later than one year have been measured at the net present value.
Contributions are made by the Association to an employee superannuation fund and are charged as expenses when incurred.
77
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at-call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with
original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.
Goods and service tax (GST)
Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not
recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office. In these circumstances the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of
the asset or as part of an item of expense. Receivables and payables in the Balance Sheet are shown inclusive of GST.
Cash flows are presented in the Cashflow Statement on a net basis.
Income tax
No provision for income tax has been raised as the Association is exempt from income tax under Division 50 of the Income Tax
Assessment Act 1997.
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Association has a legal or constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it is
probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and that outflow can be reliably measured.
Comparative figures
Where required by Accounting Standards comparative figures have been adjusted to conform with changes in presentation for the
current financial year.
Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The Directors evaluate estimates and judgements incorporated into the financial report based on historical knowledge and best
available current information. Estimates assume a reasonable expectation of future events and are based on current trends and
economic data, obtained both externally and within the group.
78
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
2007
$
Note 2 Revenue
Total revenue from operating activities
–sale of goods
6,578,471
–interest received
371,005
–government subsidies received
563,706
–other revenue
12,967,276
Total revenue from operating activities
20,480,458
Other revenue
–gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Total other income
2006
$
5,850,379
317,433
670,512
11,712,021
18,550,345
–
–
4,935
4,935
2,274,733
22,755,191
891,743
19,447,023
282,451
1,096,018
1,378,469
302,692
1,122,325
1,425,017
33,000
–
32,000
–
Net gain (loss) on disposal of non-current assets
Investments
Proceeds on disposal
Disposals at written down value
Net loss on disposals as at 30 June 2007
159,049
(198,081)
(39,032)
190,371
(244,630)
(54,259)
Property, plant and equipment
Proceeds on disposal
Disposals at written down value
Net (loss) gain on disposals as at 30 June 2007
138,112
(144,485)
(6,373)
125,987
(121,052)
4,935
Capital receipts, donations and collections assets donated
Total revenue
Note 3 Profit
Expenses
Depreciation
– Buildings
– Plant and equipment
Total depreciation
Auditor remuneration
– Audit services
– Other services
Significant revenue and expenses
Note 4 Cash and cash equivalents
Current
Cash at bank
Cash on hand
1,264,710
82,684
1,347,394
2,049,377
81,029
2,130,406
79
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
2007
$
Note 5 Trade and other receivables
Current
Trade receivables
1,617,346
Other receivables
123,942
1,741,288
Note 6 Inventories
Current
At the lower of cost or net realisable value
Stock
1,073,126
Note 7 Other assets
Current
Prepayments
158,915
2006
$
511,996
175,226
687,222
1,066,996
229,801
Note 8 Financial assets
Non Current
Available-for-sale financial instruments
2,794,176
2,095,082
Available-for-sale financial instruments comprise shares, hybrid securities, convertible and floating notes in Corporations listed on
a prescribed Stock Exchange at market value. There are no fixed returns or fixed maturity dates attached to these investments.
Note 9 Property, plant and equipment
Land and Buildings
At cost
Less accumulated depreciation
Total land and buildings
27,494,868
(3,402,428)
24,092,440
24,850,478
(3,119,977)
21,730,501
Plant and Equipment
At cost
Less accumulated depreciation
Total plant and equipment
17,201,700
(11,238,219)
5,963,481
15,696,981
(10,231,706)
5,465,275
Property, plant and equipment
30,055,921
27,195,776
7,487,841
7,409,275
Collections Assets
At fair value
80
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
Movements in carrying amounts
2006
Balance at the beginning of the year
Additions at cost
Additions at fair value
Disposals
Depreciation expense
Carrying amount at end of year
2007
Balance at the beginning of the year
Additions at cost
Additions at fair value
Disposals
Depreciation expense
Carrying amount at end of year
Land and
Buildings
$
Plant and
Equipment
$
Collections
Assets
$
Total
21,294,040
739,153
–
–
(302,692)
21,730,501
5,749,674
958,978
–
(121,052)
(1,122,325)
5,465,275
7,088,490
240,000
80,785
–
–
7,409,275
34,132,204
1,938,131
80,785
(121,052)
(1,425,017)
34,605,051
21,730,501
2,644,390
–
–
(282,451)
24,092,440
5,465,275
1,738,709
–
(144,485)
(1,096,018)
5,963,481
7,409,275
14,829
63,737
–
–
7,487,841
34,605,051
4,397,928
63,737
(144,485)
(1,378,469)
37,543,762
$
Note 10 Trade and other payables
Current
Trade payables
Other current payables
2007
$
2006
$
800,665
1,291,535
2,092,200
1,074,185
720,943
1,795,128
Note 11 Provisions for employee entitlements
Opening balance at 1 July 2006
Additional provisions raised during year
Amounts used
Balance at 30 June 2007
1,028,733
158,444
(60,750)
1,126,427
978,359
167,455
(117,081)
1,028,733
Analysis of total provisions
Current
Non Current
809,963
316,464
1,126,427
710,568
318,165
1,028,733
Note 12 Related party transactions
Transactions between related parties are on normal commercial terms and conditions no more favourable than those available to
other persons unless otherwise stated.
81
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
2007
$
Note 13 Cash flow information
aReconciliation of cash
Cash at bank
Other cash
bReconciliation of cashflow from operations
with profit after income tax
Profit after income tax
Non-cash flows
Depreciation
Increase (decrease) in employee entitlements
Loss on sale of non-current assets
Changes in assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in inventories
(Increase) decrease in receivables
(Increase) decrease in other assets
Increase (decrease) in trade and other payables
Cash flows provided by operating activities
2006
$
1,264,710
82,684
1,347,394
2,049,378
81,029
2,130,407
851,314
300,257
1,378,469
97,694
45,405
1,425,017
50,374
49,324
(6,130)
(1,054,066)
70,886
297,071
1,680,643
53,261
(135,472)
(51,814)
242,168
1,933,115
The Association has a bank overdraft facility available to the extent of $50,000.
Note 14 Financial instruments
aFinancial risk management
The Association’s financial instruments consist mainly of deposits with banks, local money market instruments, short-term
investments, accounts receivable and payable.
The Association does not have any derivative instruments at 30 June 2007.
i Treasury risk management
A Finance Committee meets on a regular basis to analyse currency and interest rate exposure and to evaluate treasury
management strategies in the context of the most recent economic conditions and forecasts.
ii Financial risks
The main risks the Association is exposed to through its financial instruments are interest rate risk, liquidity risk and
credit risk.
Interest rate risk
The Association holds no borrowings as at 30 June 2007.
82
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
Liquidity risk
The Association manages liquidity risk by monitoring forecast cash flows and ensuring that adequate unutilised borrowing
facilities are maintained.
Credit risk
The maximum exposure to credit risk, excluding the value of any collateral or other security, at balance date to recognised
financial assets, is the carrying amount, net of any provisions for impairment of those assets, as disclosed in the balance sheet
and notes to the financial statements. The Association does not have any material credit risk exposure to any single receivable
or group of receivables under financial instruments entered into by the Association.
b Interest rate risk
The Association’s exposure to interest rate risk, which is the risk that a financial instrument’s value will fluctuate as a result of
changes in market interest rates and the effective weighted average interest rates on those financial assets and financial
liabilities, is as follows:
Financial assets
Weighted
Average Effective
Interest Rate
2007
%
2006
%
Cash at bank
6.3 4.0
Cash on hand
Trade and other receivables
Investments
9.3 11.8
Total financial assets
Financial liabilities
Floating
Interest
Rate
2007
$
2006
$
Non
Interest
Bearing
2007
$
Total
2006
$
2007
$
2006
$
2,049,377
–
–
–
2,049,377
–
82,684
1,741,288
2,794,176
4,618,148
–
81,029
687,222
2,095,082
2,863,333
1,264,710
82,684
1,741,288
2,794,176
5,882,858
2,049,377
81,029
687,222
2,095,082
4,912,710
Trade and sundry creditors
Total financial liabilities
–
–
2,092,200
2,092,200
1,795,128
1,795,128
2,092,200
2,092,200
1,795,128
1,795,128
1,264,710
–
–
–
1,264,710
83
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Notes to and forming part of the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2007
cNet fair values
The net fair values of listed investments have been valued at the quoted market bid price at balance date adjusted for
transaction costs expected to be incurred. For other assets and other liabilities the net fair value approximates their carrying
value. No financial assets and financial liabilities are readily traded on organised markets in standardised form other than listed
investments.
The aggregate net fair values and carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities are disclosed in the balance sheet
and in the notes to the financial statements.
Aggregate net fair values and carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities at balance date:
2007
2006
Carrying
Net
Carrying
Net
Amount
Fair Value
Amount
Fair Value
Financial assets
$
$
$
$
Available-for-sale financial assets at fair value
2,034,855
2,034,855
2,794,176
2,794,176
1,659,052
1,659,052
2,095,082
2,095,082
Note 15 Entity details
The registered office of the Association is:
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
39 Magpie Street
Ballarat,Victoria 3350
The principal place of business is:
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
39 Magpie Street
Ballarat,Victoria 3350
Note 16 Members’ guarantee
The Association is incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 and is an entity limited by guarantee. If the Association is wound
up, the constitution states that each Member is required to contribute a maximum of $20 each towards meeting any outstandings
and obligations of the Association. At 30 June 2007, the number of Members was 1,545.
84
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Directors' declaration
The Directors of the Association declare that:
The financial statements and notes, as set out on pages 70 to 84, are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001. They
a. comply with Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and
b. give a true and fair view of the financial position as at 30 June 2007 and of the performance for the year ended on that date
of the Association.
In the Directors’ opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Association will be able to pay its debts as and when
they become due and payable.
This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors
Dated this seventeenth day of September 2007.
R W Nicholson
President
85
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Independent AuditOR's Report to the Members of the Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Report on the Financial Report
We have audited the accompanying financial report of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association, which comprises the balance
sheet as at 30 June 2007 and the income statement, statement of changes in equity and cash flow statement for the year ended on
that date, a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes and the Directors’ declaration.
Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report
The Directors of the company are responsible for the presentation of the financial report in accordance with Australian
Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations Act 2001. This responsibility
includes establishing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that
is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and
making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance
with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating
to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free from
material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report.
The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of
the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control
relevant to the Association’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to design audit procedures that
are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Association’s
internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of
accounting estimates by the Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
86
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Independent AuditOR's Report to the Members of the Sovereign Hill Museums Association
Independence
In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001. We confirm that
the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001, provided to the Directors of The Sovereign Hill Museums
Association on the seventeenth of September 2007 would be in the same terms if provided to the Directors as the date of this
auditor’s report.
Auditor’s Opinion
In our opinion, the financial report of The Sovereign Hill Museums Association is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001,
including:
a.
b.
giving a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 30 June 2007 and of its performance for the year ended
on that date, and
complying with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Corporations
Regulations 2001.
Dated this eighteenth day of September, 2007
Evans & Metcalfe
Certified Practising Accountants
7 Lyons Street North BALLARAT 3350
B R Judkins
Partner
87
© The Sovereign Hill Museums Association 2007
Published by
The Sovereign Hill Museums Association
ABN 87 565 053 651
Sovereign Hill Post Office
Ballarat Victoria 3350
Tel 03 5337 1100
Fax 03 5331 1528
Email [email protected]
www.sovereignhill.com.au
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