How easy it is to get over the confines of a small tunnel when the prospect of gold is at the end.
In early April our family found ourselves exploring History Hill – www.historyhill.com.au in Hill End, NSW. Originally established by Malcolm Drinkwater (you’ll spot in in one of our images) in 1980, the site is now spread over a few acres. Mr Drinkwater has curated a plethora of collections from bone china to snuff bottles; uranium glass to a coke bottles; old gold panning paraphernalia to blacksmith equipment. It would have to be one of the most interesting private collections I have visited. It is the largest privately owned gold rush collection on display in Australia.
After winding your way through the museum you exit onto the top of of a hill. A short stroll around to the bottom and there is an entrance into the gold mine. Extending 175 metres into the hill, this tunnel is better than the real thing – it’s stable and safe, something traditional hand dig tunnels were not.
Despite my reservations, I followed T and the kids into the mountain hill. We followed the tracks of the mine trolley, further and further. Along the way displays detailing how it would have been created in different periods of time, details of how to extract ore and many other facts were positioned in different sections. This led us to learn varying facts about tunneling and gold mining.
Eventually the tunnel came to an end and we had two choices: go back the way we can or climb up the vertical shaft. Guess what the kids chose? Yes, they like to challenge a certain fear of mine – heights! Up around 12 ladders, each with a platform, we climbed. I went last. I did look down. I scared myself silly but the kids thought the whole thing was easy peasy. A huge sigh of relief escaped as I finally reached the top and climbed out. I was a little shaky but felt incredibly proud that I had conquered Everest History Hill. The kids asked if we could do it again. That was quickly declined as I diverted them back around to the front of the museum.
History Hill is located 2 kilometres out of Hill End, NSW. The museum if self paced and could take you anything from an hour to four or five depending on how engrossed in the collections you become. A family ticket cost us $34.00 which was real value for money considering everything that’s on site.
