- Published:
- Monday 29 February 2016
The Andrews Labor Government is helping attract more visitors to Ballarat by assisting the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E) market their exhibition, 19th Century BLING - Goldfields Jewellery.
In Ballarat today alongside Minister for Tourism John Eren to promote the Government’s new tourism campaign, Wander Victoria, Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford announced a grant of $30,000 for M.A.D.E to use on additional exhibition promotion to drive the visitor economy in the Goldfields.
Located on the historic site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade, M.A.D.E explores the story of Eureka and its significance in the national history or workers’ rights and the role the stockade had in shaping Australia’s democracy.
BLING will showcase jewellery created for miners and their families, which was often ostentatious and incorporated non-traditional emblems like the mining tools they used including picks, shovels, and pistols. This jewellery was the “bling” of its day and represented diggers’ claims for legitimacy and power.
The museum will use the $30,000 grant from the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund to support and enhance their marketing and promotion activities. The exhibition opens on Saturday 16 April and runs until Monday 4 July.
M.A.D.E are partnering with Sovereign Hill and the GOLD Museum to hold a program of supporting events around BLING, which will help to attract more visitors to other parts of Ballarat.
The Government is delivering key initiatives and investments that will support growth in regional Victoria, and recognises that regional events and exhibitions are key economic drivers for regional cities and towns.
As a newly established organisation in Ballarat, the Government’s support will help M.A.D.E to build its reputation as a destination museum, which will in turn attract more tourists to the Goldfields region.
In addition to providing small grants to regional tourism events, the Government will develop a pipeline of the ten most significant regional tourism projects to be delivered for the benefit of regional economies and communities.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Our support for M.A.D.E comes at a time when we are encouraging Melburnians to ‘Wander Victoria’ with a bold new intrastate marketing campaign.”
“Museums and attractions play a critical role in bringing visitors to regional Victoria, so exhibitions like BLING will play a huge part in driving more Melburnians than ever towards our Goldfields region.”
“We want to remind Melburnians that there are a wealth of truly magical experiences right on their doorstep, just like this one. There’s something for everyone and the best of everything.”