The Old Curiosity Shop is an 1863 heritage property constructed on the edge of the Ballarat goldfields. The property is registered with Heritage Victoria. The cottage was built by local bricklayer James Warwick, who encrusted it with a beautiful patina over many years using shells, china piece, dolls heads, glass, tiles, mirrors, tea pots and jar lids. In addition to the cottage, he developed a small grotto inspired by the English estates of the 1730s. His project took 40 years to complete. In 1898 the cottage became known as the Old Curiosity Shop inspiring associations with the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. The Old Curiosity Shop was one of Victoria's first tourist attractions. It is now open on a limited basis during Ballarat's Heritage Week festival each May.