| Destinations: HERITAGE THEME PARKS |
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Heritage Theme Parks are living history museums, generally located outdoors, which portray a particular lifestyle during a bygone era. Some are quite elaborate with costumed people typical of that era going about their daily business, allowing visitors to gain an understanding of their lives and the times.
Many heritage theme parks are collections of historic buildings from the area in which the museum is located, which have been saved from demolition and carefully rebuilt as part of an historic village. These buildings collectively illustrate what life was like in earlier times. |
Western Australia
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Wagin Historical Village, Wagin, WA
A replication of the development of a typical rural Australian community over the last two hundred years, presented in a village setting. It is the most comprehensive collection of fully restored and replica rural buildings, machinery and equipment in WA. The interiors of the 26 buildings contain original furniture and equipment gathered and presented by a volunteer workforce. Location: Showground Rd, Wagin, WA
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Minnawarra Historic Precinct, Armadale, WA
A series of developments in the 1970s - History House Municipal Museum (1976), Elizabethan Village (1977) and Pioneer World (1980) have ensured that Armadale has become a popular tourist destination on the edge of the city. Minnawarra Historic Precinct is located on the edges of the extraordinarily beautiful and peaceful Minnawarra Park. Comprising an old school and a church (both of which have been rebuilt on the site with loving attention to detail).
Location: Albany Highway, Armadale, WA
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Kalamunda History Village, Kalamunda, WA
The Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society manages the largest local museum in Western Australia, depicting the unique hills life and industries centred around the development of the Kalamunda area. The Kalamunda History Village and Stirk Cottage are situated in pleasant surroundings close to the centre of the Kalamunda town site. The village is built around the former Kalamunda railway station.
Location: 56 Railway Road, Kalamunda, WA
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South Australia
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Loxton Historical Village, Loxton, SA
A reconstruction of a 19th century village that captures the development of a typical rural community with over 35 buildings, each telling a unique story of the struggle and heartache of the pioneer who dared tame the outback. The village is a treasure trove of memories, experiences and exhibits from an era past, each building is fully furnished with informative displays, equipment and memorabilia. Location: Allan Hosking Drive, Loxton, SA
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Old Tailem Town, Tailem Bend, SA
First established in 1982, Old Tailem Town is now Australia's largest pioneer village, the village tells what life was like for the settlers of South Australia from 1860 - 1960. There are over a hundred and ten buildings for you to visit, all furnished within their periods in their most natural locations. Many of the buildings were transported in one piece from their original locations, while others were taken apart plank by plank and rebuilt in Old Tailem Town. Most of the buildings are over one hundred years old.
Location: South Eastern Freeway 5km north of Tailem Bend, SA
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Victoria
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Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Vic
The Grand Daddy of historic theme parks, this was one of the first in Australia, and remains the yardstick by which all others are measured. The village is an authentic recreation of a goldmining town in Victoria's goldrush of the 1850s complete with gold panning, mine tours etc. Location: 32 Lydiard St, Ballarat, Vic
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Kryal Castle, Ballarat, Vic
A unique recreation of an European medieval castle. The grand bluestone edifice comes complete with moat, drawbridge and bluestone maze. The complex houses exhibits of arms and armour, the wax torture chamber, dungeons, comical graveyard, medical museum, lead lighting, gift shop and tarot readers.
Location: Kryal Castle, Western Hwy, Ballarat, Vic
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Pioneer Settlement, Swan Hill, Vic
A recreation of a pioneer settlement in Victoria's Mallee region, set in the 1920s, and situated near the banks of the Little Murray River. Activities include coach and vintage car rides and cruise aboard the PS Pyap up the Murray River to Pental Island. Each evening after dark, the characters of a long-gone past return as part of the Pioneers in Sound and Light Show. Location: Monash Drive, Swan Hill, Vic
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Port of Echuca, Echuca, Vic
The Historic Port of Echuca precinct is an authentic working steam port, home to Australia’s largest fleet of steam-driven paddlesteamers. This is not a re-creation of the old Murray River port, rather a restoration of the many original buildings that were built around the wharf area over a century ago to support the booming river trade. The centrepiece is the old multi-level redgum wharf itself, which contains numerous historic displays including the old railway station on the wharf deck. Location: Echuca, Vic
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Coal Creek Heritage Village, Vic
Coal Creek Community Park & Museum was initially created to preserve the unique history of coal and the development of the South Gippsland railway and the rural settlement which was accelerated by the dairy and timber industries. It contains a large collection of artefacts housed in the many heritage buildings in a village like setting. There is also a bush tramway and bushland walking tracks.
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Old Gippstown, Gippsland Heritage Park, Moe, Vic
One of Australia's first historic villages to be created around a collection of locally significant historic buildings that have been re-located to the one central location. Buildings include the Narracan general store, the local Police Station and Tynong Theatre. Old Gippstown is renowned for its Coach house which contains one of Victoria's' best collections of horse drawn vehicles. Old Gippstown's market is now held on the last Saturday of the month, except in winter. Location: Lloyd St, Moe, Vic
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Porcupine Township Pioneer Village, Maldon, Vic
Porcupine Township pioneer village is a recreation of an early 1850s gold town located in rugged bushland on the site of the original Porcupine diggings where the first gold discovery in the area between Castlemaine and Bendigo was made. Slab, shingle and mud-brick buildings have been relocated from sites around the goldfields and from derelict townsites to create Porcupine Township. There’s a barn, hotel, an undertaker's, miner's huts, a blacksmith's, a general store, a carriage repository, a doctor's surgery and a bowling alley.
Location: Cnr Bendigo & Allans Road, Maldon, Vic
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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum, Warrnambool, Vic
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum documents the many stories of shipwreck and survival on the Shipwreck Coast. Situated in Warrnambool, this maritime village has a famous laser show for visitors and well-known theatre show "Shipwrecked" which brings to life the historical story of Loch Ard - a maritime disaster which occurred in the 1800s.
Location: Merri Street, Warrnambool, Vic
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Millewa Pioneer Village, Meringur, Vic
The Millewa Pioneer Village is a reconstruction of an early twentieth-century village on 12 hectares of local bushland. It is a living museum that recreates the lives of the settlers who lived in the area between 1920 and 1950. There are over 40 site attractions, memorabilia on show in buildings set in natural bushland and a eucalypt plantation in which each tree commemorates individual district pioneers and community families.
Location: Millewa Road, Meringur, Vic
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Queensland
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Caboolture Historical Village, Caboolture, Qld
Housed in over 50 buildings of local historic significance, this walk-through museum houses one of the largest collections of memorabilia from the past in Queensland. The 50,000 plus items range from old agricultural machinery to model ships, telephones, household appliances etc. The village is home to a number of speciality museums like the Maritime Museum with its collection of the First Fleet Miniatures, and the Military Museum telling the stories of our diggers in various conflicts. Location: Beerburrum Rd, Caboolture, Qld
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Highfields Pioneer Village, Highfields, Qld
The village, located in Highfields just north of Toowoomba, is a collection of over 40 historical buildings from the Darling Downs area. Among the displays is a fine collection of antique radios and electrical appliances from a bygone era and a large range of vintage cars, trucks and tractors. The Village covers an area of 20 acres of picturesque grounds with pleasant surroundings and picnic facilities. Location: 73 Wirraglen Rd, Highfields, Qld
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Calliope River Historical Village, Calliope, Qld
Calliope's local history museum takes the form of an historic village comprised of original heritage buildings from the area. The museum is open daily. Railway facilities include a wooden QR carriage, two camp wagons, the Yarwun station and the Gladstone Railway Museum Collection. The Village is also the home for the Gladstone area live steam modellers (MELSA) and the Gladstone District Model Railway Group. Country Markets are held on site with stall holders from as far away as the Gold Coast selling their wares. Tours are held seven days a week.
Location: Bruce Highway near the Calliope River crossing, Calliope, Qld
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Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, Caboolture, Qld
The Abbey Museum is a public museum almost unique in Australia. Its collections are derived from Britain’s first social history museum – the Abbey Folk Park. Abbey Museum is divided into two themes: a time passage explores the exciting history of Western Europe over the last million years to modern times. The second half of the Museum focuses on the ancient and classical world. Highlights of the Museum include a death mask from ancient Egypt; a rare armoured shoe from Olympia, Greece; gifts from Queen Mary and beautiful stained glass dating back to the l3th century in the nearby Abbey Church, possibly the most important in Australia. This includes a world-significant collection of medieval glass from Winchester Cathedral. Each Winter in July, the Museum hosts its Abbey Medieval Festival. Thousands of people flock to watch the colourful spectacle of jousting, mock combats, archery, dancing, music, crafts, living history encampments and live theatre.
Location: Old Toorbul Point Road, Caboolture, Qld
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Herberton Historic Village, Herberton, Qld
A collection of old buildings from the villages in the southern Atherton Tablelands region, that were re-housed in 1977 at the hilltop hamlet of Herberton, a former tin mining town. There are 42 buildings in all, from shops to slab huts, Herberton's ANZ Bank, Axeman's Hall of Fame, a camp blacksmith and the original Herberton school. All buildings are decorated with authentic period furnishings. Location: 6 Broadway, Herberton, Qld
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Old Beenleigh Town, Beenleigh, Qld
The Beenleigh Historical Village tells the story of how Beenleigh and the surrounding district were formed. Beenleigh was settled in by Europeans in 1868. The name Beenleigh was brought here from Beenleigh, in Devon, England. Made up of a collection of twenty-two heritage buildings, antiques, classic old-machinery, historical information, and farm animals, the Beenleigh Historical Village hosts everyone from families, historical enthusiasts, school groups, tour groups and picnickers. Location: 205 Main Street, Beenleigh, Qld
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Miles Historical Village, Miles, Qld
With over 30 buildings and countless displays this complex has become an important tourist destination featuring authentic and original buildings from the 19th Century. Travellers on both the Warrego and Leichhardt highways find the Village at a welcoming location right on the Warrego Highway adjacent to a shady and spacious park offering many facilities. Exhibits include Shells, Norman Donpon Lapidary, Military, Domestic, CWA, Medicinal, Machinery, Harness, Vehicles and more. Location: 141 Murilla St, Miles, Qld
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Tamborine Mountain Heritage Centre, Templin, Qld
This museum features a small historic village, depicting life on the mountain during the late 1800s and early 1900s. There is a general store, complete with a barber, a haberdashery and a blacksmith. Along side it is the original Jenyn Family Dairy. A slab cottage has been rebuilt on the site and features original furniture from the era. The first church to be erected on the mountain has also been moved and restored within the centre’s grounds. It is full of dioramas of the mountain’s history, including extensive displays of fashions from the early 1900s..
Location: Boonah Fassifern Rd, Templin
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Capella Pioneer Village, Capella, Qld
The Capella Pioneer Village has grown to a significant repository of the Central Highlands region’s pastoral and agricultural history, including the largest restored drop-plank construction homestead in Australia. The Capella Pioneer Village annual Old Machinery and Craft Fair is held on the second Saturday of September at the Village grounds at the northern end of Capella’s main street. There are craft stalls, entertainment, food, fashion parade, blacksmithing and vintage engines and tractors rallying.
Location: Pioneer Street, Capella, Qld
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Laidley Pioneer Village and Museum, Laidley, Qld
Established in 1972, Laidley Pioneer Village was the first of such villages in Queensland and as a result of the vision and hard work of the foundation members and many volunteers of the Laidley District Historical Society Inc. The village is situated on the site of the original camping ground of the teamsters on the old Drayton/Toowoomba Road.
Location: Cnr Drayton and Pioneer Streets, Laidley, Qld
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Pittsworth Historical Pioneer Village and Museum, Pittsworth, Qld
The Pittsworth Pioneer Historical Village illustrates working life in the early days with displays of cheese making equipment and farm machinery. The buildings consist of the Former Pittsworth Post Office, the Telephone Exchange and the Post Masters Residence. There are numerous displays including wearing apparel, lace work, early settlers hand tools, and a 1928 Austin Tourer car in original condition.
Location: Pioneer Way, Pittsworth, Qld
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Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum, Hervey Bay, Qld
The Hervey Bay Historical Museum opened in 1974 with one building which was the first Public Hall at Dundowran and donated by the residents there. There are now 18 buildings, 8000 exhibits and a group of dedicated volunteers, busily repairing
the old buildings that were falling into disrepair and restoring buildings acquired in recent years.
Location: 13 Zephyr Street, Scarness, Qld
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New South Wales
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Timbertown, Wauchope, NSW
Set amongst 87 acres of natural forest, Timbertown a living, working recreation of a sawmiller's village from 1880-1910. It demonstrates the struggles and achievements of the Hastings River area's timber-cutting pioneers. It's an authentic heritage township, where the Horse and Carriage still runs, timber is still sawn and the bullock team still hauls it's heavy load. Attractions include bullock team, heritage steam railway, steam sawmill and a miniature steam railway. Location: Oxley Highway, Wauchope, NSW
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Bathurst Goldfields, Bathurst, NSW
Bathurst Goldfields, a reconstruction of a gold mining village which has a mine, a working stamper battery crushing ore, operative steam engines, a miner’s hut, a blacksmith’s forge and gold panning as water cascades down through the ponds. A visit takes the form of a guided tour starting in our indoor museum, explaining the history of gold discovery in NSW and the working environment of a gold miner. Guests are introduced to the difference between fools gold, reef and alluvial gold. Location: 428 Conrod Straight, Bathurst, NSW
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Old Mogo Town, Mogo, NSW
Old Mogo Town is a faithful re-creation of Mogo in the South Coast Area of NSW as it was believed to be in the heady Gold Rush days of the 1850s. The historical village is located in a natural Australian bush setting on 4.5ha surrounded by the Mogo State Forest and close to Batemans Bay. Old Mogo Town caters for educational school day excursions, school camps, coach tours, groups of all sizes and the disabled as well as individual tourists and sightseers. Location: Annett Lane, Mogo, NSW
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The Australiana Pioneer Village, Wilberforce, NSW
The Village stands on 27 acres of Hawkesbury riverfront land on the curtilage of Rose Cottage, the oldest timber dwelling in Australia. The Village is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register with the Sydney Opera House and the Hyde Park Barracks. The Village was created by Bill McLachlan who saved many of the Hawkesbury's buildings from demolition or neglect and relocated them to Wilberforce to create an educational facility.
Location: Rose Street, Wilberforce, NSW
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Inverell Pioneer Village, Inverell, NSW
The Village, situated on Thunderbolt's Way, just south of Inverell, is a collection of authentic homes and buildings, relocated from their original sites throughout the area. You can wander at your own leisure through buildings set in picturesque surroundings, landscaped as a village of yesteryear. Included in the village is the Goonoowigall School, The Grove Homestead, Paddy's Pub, a Blacksmith's Hut, Miner's Hut, Oakwood Hall, the Times Office and the Gooda Cottage, which houses an excellent display of minerals and gemstones. .
Location: Tingha Rord, Inverell, NSW
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Tasmania
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Pioneer Village Museum, Burnie, Tas
The Burnie Pioneer Village was the first indoor historical street to be recreated in Australia and is still ranked among the best. The Village is designed to interpret the environment of the period 1890-1910 when Burnie was at the height of its first economic boom. Each unit is built of authentic 19th century materials, in colours used and architectural variations found along the North West Coast of Tasmania from 1880 to 1910. The display include thousands of rare and interesting objects displayed in authentic commercial and domestic settings. Location: Civic Centre Precinct, Little Alexander St, Burnie, Tas
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Penny Royal World and Gunpowder Mill, Launceston, Tas
Penny Royal World and Gunpowder Mill is a recreation of an old village. Set in an old quarry, The Penny Royal Gunpowder Mills provide the only complete set of working gunpowder mills in the world. Faithfully built, they depict colonial mills of the early 19th century. There are windmills, water mills, gunpowder mills and model boats. Location: Civic Centre Precinct, Little Alexander St, Burnie, Tas
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