A night in the museum - Sovereign Hill style

Sovereign Hill has taken a lead straight from Hollywood with a unique new product that allows visitors to literally spend ‘a night in the museum’. For the first time in its 37-year history, Sovereign Hill is giving visitors the opportunity to become part of the Sovereign Hill story and stay on-site within the outdoor museum, at a new accommodation complex at the top of its famous Main Street.

The Steinfeld’s building, formerly utilised as a furniture warehouse, has been beautifully transformed and extended. The upstairs rooms are designed exclusively for special weekend retreats, with a large guest lounge room providing breathtaking views down Main Street and across East Ballarat.

‘A Night in the Museum’ enables guests to experience the romance and charm of life as it was on the goldfields for the gentry of the 1850s, hosted by one of Sovereign Hill’s costumed characters.

The package includes full period costume, Victorian afternoon tea, a tour of the township, an exclusive mine tour and an amazing ‘Taste of Empire’ dinner plus time to enjoy all of Sovereign Hill’s trademark activities including ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’.

Steinfeld’s accommodation is booked through Sovereign Hill Lodge - email lodge@sovereignhill.com.au.

Historical background of Steinfeld’s Accommodation

Emmanuel Steinfeld

In 1860, Steinfeld’s Furniture Factory was a Ballarat business located in the part of Main Road now known as Bridge Street. Emmanuel Steinfeld was a furniture-maker and importer who became a well-known and respected figure in the Ballarat community. He was a Ballarat East Councillor, and Mayor of Ballarat East from 1866 to 1869. In 1892, he became the Member for Wellington Province in the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament. The original Steinfeld’s building was a two-storey brick and cement construction. Sovereign Hill built a replica, called Steinfeld’s Furniture Warehouse, in 1980. For many years, it housed a Victorian-style furniture-making business as well as the warehouse.