Queer Goldfields Launch

Queer Goldfields – A Celebration of Hidden Histories

Step into the hidden history of Victoria’s queer past at the official launch of Queer Goldfields (queergoldfields.au), a groundbreaking project uncovering the lives of LGBTIQA+ figures from the 19th century. As part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival, this lively variety night will feature performances, music, and storytelling inspired by historical figures who lived boldly and defiantly.

Meet Captain Moonlite, the infamous bushranger whose love for fellow outlaw James Nesbitt was legendary; Edward De Lacey Evans, a trans man who challenged gender norms in colonial Australia; and Miss Goddard, a fearless performer who played Hamlet and Romeo on stage while later donating a wing to the Ballarat Base Hospital. Discover the dramatic lives of sculptor Dora Ohlfsen, queer icon Lola Montez, and notorious bushranger Kitty Morgan, once labeled one of the world’s 'most wicked females.'

The night will also shine a light on lesser-known figures like poet and bisexual activist Lesbia Harford, trans man and cook Fredrick Wilson, and young trans woman Joey Hanslow. Weaving together over 300 historical newspaper articles, Queer Goldfields celebrates the resilience, passion, and rich legacy of Ballarat’s queer history. Join us for a night of entertainment, insight, and celebration of our shared past.

Queer Goldfields is presented by the City of Ballarat and Federation University.