Gold Museum

Established in 1978, the Gold Museum is part of the Sovereign Hill Museums Association.

Special Collections

Arnott Rogers Collection

A specialised collection of Chinese decorative art, textiles, and social history of national significance. The collection is essentially closed although relevant donations of associated material will be considered.

Art Collection

Artworks relevant to the goldfields or to other themes identified in this policy.

Ballarat Historical Society Collection

The BHS historical collection is managed by the Association by agreement with the BHS. Its collection of social history is used extensively in the Association's public programming and research activities. It contains a particularly significant collection of over 25,000 photographs.

Ballarat Sports Museum Collection

Commenced in 1994 this large collections covers numerous sports and several individual's collections.

• Ken McKenzie - sports journalist for The Ballarat Courier
• Jim Murphy - long-time sports write for The Ballarat Courier
• Shane Everard - sporting reference and statistics collection
• Doug Butcher Cricket Cap collection - 300 regional cricket caps

Besemeres Postcard Collection

A collection of over 50,000 postcards and travel memorabilia.

Bill Llewellyn Collection

Photographic equipment.

Bolte Collection

The collection is an unusual insight into the political life of Sir Henry Bolte. Relevant additions to the collection will be made as material is donated.

Business and Community Archive Collection

Includes business and other records from the Beggs family property Eurambeen, John Valves, Coltmans, Walter Davis, William Jackson mining paers and K. Travis accounting records. Community archives are housed for the Apex Club, Ballarat Region Girl Guides, Ballarat Agricultural & Pastoral Society, Ballarat National Theatre, Ballarat Arts Foundation, Zonta Ballarat, Order of Australia Association (Central Highlands), Ballarat Ladies Art Association, Ballarat Music Lovers Club and Ballarat Symphony Orchestra.

Costume Collection

A diverse and large collection of costume focussing on domestic, ceremonial, industrial and military clothing. Over 2500 individual items ranging from dresses and gowns to hats and accessories.

Eureka Collection

Artefacts, memorabilia and books relating to the Eureka Stockade uprising of 1854.

Family and Business Records

These are held for notable Ballarat people, including

• Jessie Scott - first female Mayor of Ballarat
• Nathan Spielvogel - Inaugural President of Ballarat Historical Society
• George Netherway - long-time Secretary of Ballarat Historical Society and 1930s advertsing agent
• A. W. Strange - gold mining authority's collection of reference books, maps and government reports
• Peter Cox Collection - Victorian military history, gold prospecting references and maps

FitzGerald Postcard Collection

30,000 postcards spanning the history of the medium and covering an international range of themes.

Govan Collection

Children's and education literature.

Jessica and Paul Simon Collection

A collection of over 900 gold samples, nuggets and coins. Includes business records, family documents and clothing from the Stone family connections of Jessica.

Narmbool

Material association with the history and operation of the farm and two specialised collections (art and colonial furniture) in the homestead.

• Australian Colonial Furniture Collection
• Ferry Art Collection
• Natural Science Collection

Pern Collection

Indigenous Australian and Pacific Island artefacts transferred from the Ballarat City Council. The collection is closed. It is the policy of the Association to return Indigenous and Pacific Island material to the original owners if and when accurate provenance allows.

Pioneer Chair Collection

Primitive hand-made Australian chairs and related furniture pieces.

Rare Book Collection

Historical publications acquired for research to support exhibition development, or which contribute to understanding of the themes and periods covered in the policy.

Rotherham Collection

Photographic texts, photographs and equipment

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