Sovereign Hill has officially launched its new sound and light show Aura, and it does not disappoint, providing visitors with an immersive multi-sensory experience.
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The Courier was invited to the show's official launch on Tuesday night, and for about 105 minutes, we were engaged, informed and entertained.
It definitely had the wow factor.
The new show lets visitors explore space, delve into the dreamtime and re-live Australia's most important rebellion all under the night sky.
Ballarat gave us and about 200 other visitors a perfect clear night to see the show, which is a whole new experience compared with the outdoor museum's previous production, Blood on the Southern Cross.
This show ran for 25 years, was updated once and attracted an impressive two million visitors.
With the tagline "gold changes everything", the new show traces the story of gold and its importance to Ballarat, from the creation to the universe to today.
It presents the story of gold and its profound impact across the land where Ballarat now stands.
The Wadawurrung story of creation is told with projections over a lake and visitors can also expect gunfights and protests to erupt under the night skies.
Aura begins with a 3D documentary exploring space in Sovereign Hill's theatre. Visitors are then transported in carts to one of two stages where the dreamtime story is told.
Finally, visitors are seated in an outdoor theatre where the Ballarat goldfields come to life, including the 1854 Eureka rebellion, history of the early settlers and stories of life on the goldfields.
Aura is set across 64 acres and involves hundreds of projections.
Sovereign Hill says the show has already wowed thousands of visitors since it opened in February.
It was developed by Accolade Event Management, which is led by Andrew Walsh, who has worked on Melbourne's White Night and the city's Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies.
Mr Walsh said Aura had taken two years to make and was a tribute to the involvement of the creativity of the teams, including Sovereign Hill's historical experts.
"It tells of the traditional owners of this land and in the voices of those who were there the incredible story of how gold changed everything," Mr Walsh said.
Sovereign Hill CEO Sara Quon said she believed the outdoor museum had developed an experience that would not only excite the whole family, but continued to increase Ballarat's tourism economy.
For more information go to www.aurasovereignhill.com.au.
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