Education Kits

TOPSHOT - Actress Katerina Lechou performing as the high priestess lights the Olympic flame at the Temple of Hera on April 21, 2016 during the lighting ceremony of the Olympic flame in ancient Olympia, the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 BC. The Olympic flame was lit today and solemnly sent off carrying international hopes that Brazil's political paralysis will not taint the Rio Games that start in barely 100 days. / AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

Ancient Games sparked the Olympic tradition

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PART 1: The modern Olympic Games have been around for 125 years, but you have to look back much further than that to understand how the Olympic tradition began

How modern Games became biggest show on earth

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PART 2: What started as one man’s idea to encourage world peace is now the biggest sports event on the planet. Let’s take a look at the history of the modern Olympic Games as we gear up for Tokyo

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Athletes walk during the "Heroes of the Games" segment during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Friendship, respect and excellence drive the Games

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PART 3: The founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin, believed sport could bring people together and help them excel. These values are still at the core of the Games today

(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 25, 2021, Japanese torchbearer Azusa Iwashimizu (L), a member of Japan women's national football team, lights the Olympic torch on day one of the torch relay in Naraha, Fukushima Prefecture. - From a historic virus postponement and summer heat fears to unprecedented restrictions on fans, the path to staging the Tokyo Olympics, which begin in nearly one month on July 23, 2021, has been far from smooth. (Photo by KIM KYUNG-HOON / POOL / AFP)

Follow the fascinating trail of the Olympic torch through time

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PART 4: The Olympic flame continues its journey as one of humanity’s most uniting and symbolic sparks in the modern era

TOKYO, JAPAN - JUNE 03: A medal tray that will be used during the victory ceremonies at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is displayed during an unveiling event for the victory ceremonies' items including podium, music, costume and the medal tray for the Olympic and Paralympic games at the Ariake Arena on the day marking the 50 days to go to the Tokyo Olympic Games opening ceremony on June 3, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Issei Kato - Pool/Getty Images)

Olympic medals go green in Tokyo

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PART 5: The Tokyo Games are the first where the gold, silver and bronze medals are also green, having been made entirely from recycled metals

Meet mascots Miraitowa and Someity

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PART 6: Two stars of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics won’t be going for gold but they do have superpowers! We look at Olympic mascots and emblems

ESCAPE: TOKYO COVER OPTION .. Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan. Picture: iStock

Olympics host nation in profile – hello, Japan!

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PART 7: One of the most exciting parts of any Olympics is discovering more about the host city and wider country – welcome to Tokyo, Japan!

Australia’s Olympic Games leave their mark

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PART 8: We’ve been lucky enough to host two Olympic Games, with the 1956 Melbourne Games and the 2000 Sydney Games both playing an important role in Olympic history

16 September 2000. Australian swimming champion Ian Thorpe celebrates winning gold in the 400m freestyle on the first day of competition at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. (AAP Photos/Julian Smith)

Celebrating Australia’s Olympic heroes

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PART 9: Australia has produced many Olympic heroes, from our first Olympian Edwin Flack to five times gold medallist Ian Thorpe

The sports set to light up Tokyo

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PART 10: The Tokyo Games will feature 339 events across 33 sports – and a pictogram to go with each one

DO NOT ARCHIVE... 29/08/2012 WIRE: LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Fireworks light up the stadium as a large scale reproduction of Marc Quinns celebrated sculpture Alison Lapper Pregnant emerges during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics at the Olympic Stadium on August 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) Pic. Images Getty

How the Paralympics became a world sporting spectacular

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PART 11: What started as a way for injured World War II veterans to rehabilitate has grown into one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Learn more about the Paralympics

SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 04: Torah Bright of Australia trains during Snowboard Slopestyle practice at the Extreme Park at Rosa Khutor Mountain ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 4, 2014 in Sochi, Russia (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Cool facts about the Winter Olympics

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PART 12: Australia’s Winter Olympics history might not have the same golden glow as our Summer Games’ record, but it has still provided some really cool highs

50 fun activities on the history of Christmas

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Our feature series and 50-activity workbook will help students understand the history and evolution of Christmas, the religious and cultural aspects of its celebration and how traditions vary across the world

25/11/2002. Adam Schwarz gets ready for Hanukkah at the Jewish Museum.

‘Tis the season for customs and traditions

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PART 1: It’s an exciting time of year — school’s almost over, holidays are about to begin and kids around the world are preparing to celebrate Christmas or other cultural festivals

The history behind our decorations

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PART 2: The reasons why we hang tinsel, stars and baubles on our trees at Christmas stem back hundreds of years. Discover the stories behind our favourite decorations, characters and traditions

Festive foods and where they come from

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PART 3: Ham, plum pudding and prawns on the BBQ are all traditional Christmas foods in Australia, but how did these festive delicacies originally make their way to the Christmas table?

Interesting tales behind our popular carols

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PART 4: Do you hear what I hear? It’s the sounds of Christmas in song. There are many interesting stories behind some of our most popular carols — one is even written in code!

Santa films you can watch over and over

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PART: 5: Here’s our guide to the best Christmas movies for children. But watch out, their storylines offer a mix of laughs, wishes, hope and most feature the jolly man in the red suit

Handmade is a big trend so forget about buying new glittery sheets of festive themed gift wrapping paper. Australian’s are getting much more crafty and embracing the handmade touch at Christmas ... upcycling every day materials into something gorgeous like vintage jars or paper doilies for example are inexpensive and fun ways to go, craft queen, Fiona Michelon says.

How to have a greener and cleaner Christmas

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PART 6: This time of year shouldn't be about buying things we don’t need and sending rubbish and unwanted gifts to landfill. Here are 10 tips on how to have a sustainable Christmas

Anyway you say it, it’s a merry greeting

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PART 7: Learn how to say Merry Christmas in 20 different languages and discover 10 amazing festive facts and some of the strangest yuletide world records

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 20, 1969 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA). - On July 21, 1969, US astronaut Neil Armstrong is the first man to step onto the Moon, his teammate Edwin Aldrin joining him around 20 minutes later. Between 1969 and 1972, 12 astronauts -- all American -- walked on the Moon as part of NASA's Apollo program. (Photo by - / NASA / AFP)

How to purchase the moon landing inquiry kit

moon-landing

It is 50 years since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. Learn all about this historic event and the space race in our digital inquiry kit

Peaceful background, night sky with full moon and reflection in sea, falling stars, glowing horizon. Elements of this image furnished by NASA

National Science Week - Light Poster
Moon/Light

The moon, its history, and impact on our lives

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The moon is our nearest neighbour in space. We look at its birth, its surface, its history, its eight phases and how it has helped keep our daily lives on track since ancient times

(FILES) In this file photo taken on April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin, 27, (1934-68) wears cosmonaut helmet, prepares to board Soviet Vostok I spaceship at Baikonur rockets launch pad shortly before its take-off. - On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space, completing a single, 108-minute orbit. (Photo by - / AFP)

Early space exploration and the race to be first

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In the early days of space exploration, the US and Russia sent rockets, animals and finally humans into the great unknown of our universe in the search for answers about what exists out there

AUS50TH 1969: WIRE: FILE - In this 1969 photo provided by NASA the crew of the Apollo 11 mission is seen. From left are Neil Armstrong, Mission Commander, Michael Collins, Lt. Col. USAF, and Edwin Eugene Aldrin, also known as Buzz Aldrin, USAF Lunar Module pilot. The family of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, says he died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at age 82. A statement from the family says he died following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures. It doesn't say where he died. Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969. He radioed back to Earth the historic news of "one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong and fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin spent nearly three hours walking on the moon, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs. In all, 12 Americans walked on the moon from 1969 to 1972. (AP Photo/NASA, File) Picture: Supplied

Three ordinary men who made extraordinary history

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The trio that led the Apollo 11 mission were Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins — three brave astronauts willing to risk their lives for space exploration

This July 24, 1969, photo obtained from NASA, shows US President Richard Nixon (R) welcoming the Apollo 11 astronauts aboard the USS Hornet, confined to the Mobile Quarantine Facility (L to R) Neil Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. - When the Saturn V rocket built by Wernher von Braun launched with the Apollo 11 capsule at its summit on July 16 1969, one million people flocked to watch the spectacle on the beaches of Florida near Cape Canaveral. But many had doubts that they'd succeed in landing this time. (Photo by HO / NASA / AFP) / **RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NASA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS **TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Ivan Couronne, "To the Moon and back: mankind's giant leap 50 years on"

Weird and wacky training to mimic the lunar conditions

moon-landing

The astronauts were prepared to handle any problem imaginable on their moon mission. But trying to find ways to copy conditions on the lunar surface meant using some strange training techniques

Apollo 11 launch on the Saturn V rocket. Picture: NASA

Inside the powerful Saturn V rocket and Apollo 11

moon-landing

NASA built a special-purpose rocket called Saturn V to launch man into orbit and walk on the moon. It was the most powerful of its kind ever built. We take a look at all its components

We have liftoff. Apollo 11 launches for the moon. Picture: NASA

Liftoff! Life on-board the journey to the moon

moon-landing

It took three days for Apollo 11 to reach the moon. There wasn’t much to do in the tiny module apart from eating rehydrated food, exercising and keeping the ship running smoothly

This July 20, 1969, photo obtained from NASA and taken by Neil Armstrong, shows astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the Moon's Sea of Tranquility. - When the Saturn V rocket built by Wernher von Braun launched with the Apollo 11 capsule at its summit on July 16 1969, one million people flocked to watch the spectacle on the beaches of Florida near Cape Canaveral. But many had doubts that they'd succeed in landing this time. (Photo by Neil ARMSTRONG / NASA / AFP) / **RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NASA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS **TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Ivan Couronne, "To the Moon and back: mankind's giant leap 50 years on"

The Eagle has landed … and man walks on the moon

moon-landing

One of the greatest feats in history was realised when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon and uttered the famous words: ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’

The Aussies, the Dish and a TV world-first

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Australia played an unexpected important role in the moon landing by broadcasting the historic moonwalk to more than 650 million people across the world

FILE - In this image provided by NASA, astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photograph beside the U.S. flag deployed on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. A new poll shows most Americans prefer focusing on potential asteroid impacts over a return to the moon. The survey by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was released Thursday, June 20, one month before the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Aldrinâ€™s momentous lunar landing. (Neil A. Armstrong/NASA via AP)

Conspiracy theories suggest the landing was a fake

moon-landing

Conspiracy theories that NASA faked landing on the moon have been popular since 1969. We look at some of the arguments and what the Americans say about them

Elon Musk tweet at 8:09 AM on Wednesday, February 7, 2018.

Elon sent a Tesla car into space aboard the new SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

The tweet shows the car over Australia.

Picture: Twitter / @elonmusk

Space race to return to the moon is heating up

moon-landing

It’s been more than 40 years since man last stepped on the moon after the high cost of space travel took its toll. But now several companies are racing to take humans back to the lunar surface

How to purchase the Greek Myths inquiry kit

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Greek Mythology captures the stories of gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient Greeks with many aspects still relevant today in modern life. Purchase our inquiry kit today

Statue of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea Picture: Thinkstock Supplied /

What is Greek Mythology?

greek myths and legends

Greek Mythology is a series of epic tales of bravery, battles, monsters and love told by Ancient Greeks to their families over many generations to help them understand the world around them

The 12 Olympians and Zeus, the King of Gods

greek myths and legends

The 12 Gods and Goddesses who lived on Mt Olympus ruled every aspect of human life and were respected by Ancient Greeks. The king of all these Gods was Zeus

Venus, goddess of Love - paintings art illustrations mythology

Five Greek Goddesses of Mt Olympus

greek myths and legends

Strong, beautiful, powerful and talented, these are the five Goddesses who helped make up the 12 Olympians in Greek Mythology

Harry Hamlin is the young Jason battling with special effects creatures created by Ray/Harryhausen in Jason and the Argonauts. movies film scene

A time of heroes and brave warriors

greek myths and legends

Heroes in Greek Mythology were men and women of special strength, courage and abilities. Upon completing their tasks they were made immortal by the Gods to honour their bravery

An artwork of Narcissus from Greek mythology

Villainous characters and tales with a twist

greek myths and legends

Evil and nastiness lurked in many places throughout Greek Mythology and has been the basis for many famous stories of ancient times. From murderous mums, selfish men and curious humans, these tales have storylines we can all learn from

A cyclops in a scene from film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe".
/Films/Titles/Chronicles/of/Narnia/The/Lion/the/Witch/and/the/Wardrobe

Monsters, animals and the beautiful Sirens

greek myths and legends

Monsters, animals and weird creatures were everywhere in the tales of Greek Mythology. Some like Pegasus the winged horse were kind, while others looked beautiful but were very deadly

How mythology still influences modern life

greek myths and legends

From the Olympic Games to the star signs we are born under and the brands we wear when we play sport, Greek Mythology continues to have a huge impact on our modern lives

Recycling education kit sales

recycling

Teach students why it’s important to be part of the waste solution rather than the problem. Recycling kit includes 25-activity classroom workbook for $20.

Coffs Harbour June 30th 2015

Marine Science University Student Kelsey Bannister shares the concerns of the greater Marine Science community of the alarming risk to marine life due to the huge numbers of plastic bottles washing up on North Coast New South Wales at beaches such as Wooli Beach.

Please note - This photo taken near the Marine Sciene Centre, Charlesworth Bay Coffs Harbour.

Photo Frank Redward

Why we need to talk about waste and recycling

recycling

PART ONE: There’s a lot of waste around, but it’s important to understand whether that’s a problem. We look at why we need to reduce waste and why recycling is a big part of the solution

Learn the three Rs for a simple waste solution

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PART TWO: Helping keep the earth clean is as easy as learning the three Rs ... reduce, reuse and recycle. That way you’ll do your bit for the environment and you’ll save money, too

Australian recycling — then and now

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PART THREE: Australia has a long history of recycling and we’re very good at putting things in the recycling bin, but there is plenty more we can do to be even better

Recyclables from the bin back to you brand new

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PART FOUR: Putting recyclables into a big bin and watching a recycling truck drive away isn’t the end of it. Follow your recycling from the bin to back out into the market as a new item

Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids Conference at Collingwood Children's Farm. Vermont Primary School students Eric and Patrick with their recycling workshop.Picture : Ian Currie

Comparing Australian recycling to the rest of the world

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PART FIVE: Being the best recycling country in the world is a great goal to aim for. Australia has plenty to be proud of, but there’s still lots we can improve

The South Melbourne Market banned straws from December 1, 2018. Arabella, 7, Hugo, 7, and Charley, 6, support the ban. Picture: Penny Stephens

You can be a great recycler

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PART SIX: Follow our guide on how to be a good recycler to make sure nothing you throw out ends up in landfill or the ocean. You’re on your way to being a fantastic recycler

17.7.18 - Adelaide designers Ivana Milosevic and Lisa Chakiris (Ninos) with model Marianne Melito, who wears one of their swimwear designs at Electra House, Adelaide. The designers have designed a new range of swimwear 'Le Periple', using abandoned fishing nets and plastic bottles recovered from the ocean.

Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Close the recycling loop: buy it back

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PART SEVEN: Being a good recycler is about more than putting everything you can into the recycling bin. To be a really good recycler, choose products made out of recycled materials

How to order your Gold Rush kit

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The discovery of gold in Australia began one of the most significant periods in our history. This kit explores the history of the Gold Rush and its impact on our nation both then and now

History. A portrait of Edward Hargraves painted by T.T. Balcombe June 1851. Must credit State Library of N

Gold finds kept secret before the Rush

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HISTORY OF THE GOLD RUSH: Many people found gold long before the Australian Gold Rush. But they were all sworn to secrecy. Eventually, word got out and the Rush began

1800s : Painting of Queen Victoria & consort husband Prince Albert in 1800s. picture from The Royal Collection at Windsor. Art Picture: Supplied

The ever-changing world in the 1850s

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HISTORY OF THE GOLD RUSH: Australia’s Gold Rush came during an era of great change around the world and many people were ready for a big adventure

John Deason and Richard Oates showing how they unearthed the 'Welcome Stranger' gold nugget at Little Bulldog Gully in Moliagul, Victoria 05/02/1869. Picture: Supplied

And just like that, the Rush is on!

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HISTORY OF THE GOLD RUSH: The government held back a Gold Rush for years, but once the secret was out, unimaginable wealth came out of the ground, changing Australia forever

Dutch Tall Ship the Stad Amsterdam a three masted Clipper arrives in Port Phillip Bay for the Tall Ships Festival in Williamstown.

Rough journey to the goldfields

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LIFE AS A MINER: News of the Australian Gold Rush spread quickly around the world. But the journey for those who dreamt of striking it rich was slow, uncomfortable and dangerous

Sovereign Hill, Victoria
Image supplied by Tourism Victoria
Mandatory credit: Tourism Victoria

The hard task of finding gold

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LIFE AS A MINER: There are stories of miners tripping over nuggets of gold. Yes, really! But most people had to work much, much harder to find their fortune

Chinese gold diggers in Beechworth. Miners.

A big multicultural melting pot

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LIFE AS A MINER: People came from across the world to find their fortune. The mix of cultures made the goldfields an exciting place, but also a difficult place for some

MARCH 15, 2000 : Shopkeeper Murray Wright at Clarke Brothers grocery store where the Queen will visit during her upcoming visit to Sovereign Hill, a recreated 1850s gold mining town near Ballarat, 15/03/00. Pic David Crosling.
Victoria / Shopping / Shop / Exterior
Travel

Making money without mining for gold

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GOLDFIELD JOBS: Butcher, bakers, candlemakers and every kind of shopkeeper you can imagine flourished on the goldfields while miners had money to spend.

RendezView. Vintage engraving of Victorian nurses caring for a dying man suffering from Tuberculosis. (Pic: iStock)

Miracle cures and other crazy ideas

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GOLDFIELDS JOBS: You have a broken arm, sir? I'll put a leech on your leg to draw out the pain. If you think that’s crazy, you haven’t been to a Gold Rush medical 'expert'

Sovereign Hill is putting on a mock trial these school holidays

Stop right there and give us all your gold!

gold rush

GOLDFIELDS JOBS: Who would be a policeman when you could find your fortune in gold? And who’d want to mine when you could steal from others? The goldfields could be lawless places

Miners cottage in Andamooka, SA 1992. (Pic by staff photographer Narelle Autio)

Nothing fancy but it’s home sweet home

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FAMILY AND HOME LIFE: Goldfields families lived in tents or rough huts made with whatever they could find but wore fancy and unsuitable clothing.

Sovereign Hill's latest acquisition - a $250,000 gold nugget is growing in value every day thanks to the dramatic rise in the price of gold. Dubbed 'Goldasaurus', the 141-ounce nugget found by a prospector between Ballarat and Bendigo and purchased by Sovereign Hill, has started another gold rush, with hundreds of people flocking to Sovereign Hill to see the monster find. Combined with a 3kg solid gold bar bought eight years ago for $50,000 and now worth more than $81,000, Sovereign Hill is enticing people through the door with the lure of getting up close to more than $300,000 worth of pure gold.

Growing up in a golden time

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FAMILY AND HOME LIFE: Children worked hard and didn’t often go to school. But playtime was fun and if you spent your spare time mining, you could even find some gold

Eureka Hotel on fire during "Blood on the Southern Cross" show at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria 05 Jun 2003. flames

Growing unrest of the goldfields

gold rush

EUREKA STOCKADE: Miners were so unhappy with how they were being treated by the government and police they began to organise themselves for a big battle

Eureka Stockade reenactment at Gledswood Homestead. Picture: Scott Mills Photography

Raise the flag and let the battle begin

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EUREKA STOCKADE: The miners may have lost the battle, but their fight led to big changes in the future

28/06/2004. 150th Eureka Stockade anniversary postage stamp with Peter Lalor.

Lalor leads the miners to fight for their rights

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EUREKA STOCKADE: Irishman Peter Lalor's name is one of the most significant of the Gold Rush because of all he achieved as the leader of working people

Australia, world’s oldest democracy

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LEGACY: The right to a safe, secret vote to elect politicians was a fine result of the Gold Rush, though it took many years for all Australians to have equal democratic rights

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