Join in for a panel discussion to learn more about a project underway to have the Victorian Goldfields declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by afternoon tea with the panel members. The gold rush was a period of momentous change that saw the mass movement of people to the Victorian colony. It inspired social and political reform and contributed to the expansion of global trade, industry and commerce whilst at the same time devastating First Peoples’ Traditional Country, turning their world ‘upside down’. A World Heritage listing will bring international recognition to some of the world’s best preserved gold rush cultural landscapes on Traditional Country and the diverse stories from this time. Led by the Cities of Ballarat and Greater Bendigo, 15 local Councils have partnered to progress the bid and unlock its full potential. Experience in other historic sites shows that World Heritage Listings, when fully harnessed, bring a range of cultural and economic benefits that improve the outlook for communities. Chair: Susan Fayad, World Heritage and Regional Development Lead, City of Ballarat. Panellists: Kristal Buckley AM, World Heritage Advisor, ICOMOS, Barry Gamble, UK-based World Heritage Consultant , Dr Benjamin Mountford, Senior Lecturer in History, Australian Catholic University. A Ballarat Heritage Festival event presented by the Eureka Centre Ballarat.