Ballarat’s iconic Sovereign Hill has been home to recent works showcasing the effectiveness of innovative precast methods.
Covering 15 hectares of a former gold mining site, Sovereign Hill’s Outdoor Museum is a renowned living museum located in Ballarat, Victoria. It brings the gold rush to life through a living township with diggings, underground mines, costumed characters, coach rides, and 1850s shops, trades, schools, and dwellings.
Historically, the Museum used timber for its retaining walls, to align with the 1850s gold rush era aesthetics. Being readily available and easily workable, timber helped recreate the authentic look of the period. However, it required frequent maintenance and replacement.
Adding to this, the Museum’s existing infrastructure did not enable mobility impaired visitors to experience gold panning.
Tasked with the responsibility of operating the Museum, the Sovereign Hill Museum Association embarked on a project to improve the Museum’s infrastructure. Its priority was to find a solution that would enhance durability while preserving the site’s historical appearance, and to make the gold panning experience accessible to all.
Quest for a durable solution
The Association decided on a scope of works that included a concealed, sustainable and robust precast concrete retaining wall system to enhance its infrastructure, and the construction of a platform – which required additional retaining walls – to provide wheelchair access to a new all-ability gold panning area.
National Precast member Sunset Sleepers was selected to manufacture and supply 800 purpose-built concrete sleepers for the project.
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Known for its reliability and professional approach, Sunset Sleepers delivered custom-made sleepers that were reinforced according to specific engineering requirements, to meet the project’s durability requirements.
The use of R6 ties in the sleepers, as specified in the project drawings, played a crucial role in preventing shear failure, holding longitudinal reinforcement in place pre-pour, and controlling shrinkage.
Preserving historical aesthetics
With its tailored and client-focused approach, the company devised a solution to meet the unique aesthetic challenges of the Sovereign Hill project. To preserve the museum’s authentic gold rush era appearance, the company concealed the new concrete sleepers behind timber panels, replacing the old timber retaining walls with modern materials while maintaining historical aesthetics.
Being a busy tourist attraction, ensuring seamless integration of new infrastructure without impacting the visitor experience was essential.
That was no problem for the precaster, as it worked to schedule deliveries and installation to minimise disruption.
Sunset Sleepers successfully co-ordinated the manufacturing process to align with the Museum’s requirements, ensuring all products were delivered and installed as needed.
Commitment to Historical Preservation
According to National Precast Chief Executive Officer Sarah Bachmann, Sunset Sleepers’ involvement in the Sovereign Hill project showcases their dedication to client service, innovation, quality and historical preservation.
“Through careful planning and execution, they have successfully contributed to the enhancement of this iconic museum, ensuring its infrastructure meets modern standards and accessibility to all, while retaining its historical charm,” Bachmann says.
The Sovereign Hill Museum Association project’s seamless integration of modern materials within a historical setting, not only improves the site’s infrastructure but also enhances the overall visitor experience, making history accessible and engaging for all.
This article was originally published in the August edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.