A modest concrete monument on Sturt Street, erected in 1951 to mark a century since the discovery of gold at Ballarat. Set into the front face is a polished replica of the Welcome Nugget — a 1,619-ounce (45.9 kg) single piece of gold dug up at Bakery Hill on 9 June 1858, at the time the second-largest nugget ever found in Australia.
The original was sold to the Royal Mint in London, melted down, and minted into 11,000 sovereigns. The replica is the closest you can get today. Two-minute stop on the way past.