Serge V
Highfields Pioneer Village was, until today, unknown to us. Having a couple of hours to kill on our day trip to Toowoomba, I literally chanced upon it while looking over the local area on Google Maps. So, off to the Village we went.
In a nutshell, it was fantastic! A literal walk into history, owner Ray (OAM) has dedicated endless time, effort and no doubt money collecting and displaying memorabilia across his sizeable property.
From rows of antique and veteran tractors, to vintage cars, over 200 bicycles, farming equipment, the history of electricity generation and supply, a Ford Model T (omni)bus that he uses to provide constant tours around the Village, and so much more, this is a nostalgic, exciting, educational adventure for all ages.
Run solely by Ray, his wife and a small collection of volunteers, this amazing ensemble of what-once-was evokes many emotions; sadness as you read century-old tributes to children lost, admiration when browsing through the many stores where the work was truly tough, heavy and demanding, joy and reminiscence as you stumble across things that, once upon a time, featured in your own lives.
To end our day, we had a Billy tea and damper at the cafe. The damper was especially nice, as it was reasonably light and tasty, especially once topped with butter and golden syrup.
Best of all, other than the 5 per head for the bus tour, virtually everything is free. There are donation boxes throughout the Village, something I strongly recommend you use, as we did. Hours of enjoyment is well worth a decent tip.
In summary, Highfields Pioneer Village provides a great morning out and I highly suggest you visit when in the neighbourhood.
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