Exhibits

What is really remarkable about this collection is all of it has been relocated onto the Village site from other places.

For example, Bishop Feetham's Cottage, a National Trust listed building, has found its way from the grounds of the old St Mary's School, of Herberton, out to the Village.

The original Herberton State School comprises over 300 square metres of wooden building transported from its original town location to the banks of the Wild River, in one piece, on the back of a large truck. The Axemen's Hall of Fame has been fully refurbished, a carpenter's toolshed contains restored, treasured tools, there's a camera shop and two lock-ups show the grim reality of being gaoled.

The Coach House

So new it’s not on the map as yet, The Coach House is located directly behind (7) The Bank of Australasia and (8) Ada’s Frock Salon.

A beautifully designed building constructed on-site using locally cut poles and roof trusses made from aged maple beams from the original Herberton Tin Battery, it houses the coach collection. The exposed aggregate concrete floor reduces the dust impact on the exquisite black horse-drawn hearse which forms the centre of the display. A huge timber jinker complete with its locally cut rose gum log, the baker's van, the butcher's delivery cart, buggies and phaetons, and even the sanitary cart feature in this magnificent building.

(2) BISHOP FEETHAM'S COTTAGE - CIRCA 1920

Religion provided a hub for the community in the early pioneering days.

(3) THE TIN PANNIKIN PUB

Built by Harry in the style of Ken Maynard's famed Ettamoggah Pub (check out the deliberately crooked roofline!) is the centrepiece of the Village and is topped off with an actual 1926 Essex ute set into its roof line.

(6) HERBERTON STATE SCHOOL - CIRCA 1881

One of the town's oldest buildings is full of memories. See the Children's Manners wall chart! This section also includes the Pioneers Room which features six separate displays. Medical, military, Aboriginal, Chinese, dental and even a barbershop complete the picture of pioneering activity here.

(11) THE CITROEN RAIL AMBULANCE - 1926

Rail ambulances were used mainly on rural single-track lines where there was little chance of meeting oncoming trains!

(13) MODEL T FORD

Meet a mint condition 1923 Model T Roadster named 'Daisy'! Her four cylinder engine could run on petrol, kerosene and ethanol, making her before her time in this age of alternative fuels!

(17) THE AXEMEN’S HALL OF FAME - CIRCA 1920

A tribute to the timber cutters who milled the mountains and opened up this rugged country to settlement. Includes tree felling tools of two-man saws.

(19) THE GROCER'S STORE - CIRCA 1912

This is a true replica of an olden day grocer’s stocked with realistic supplies in original packaging.

(26) COMET WINDMILL

A 27 foot ‘D’ Pattern Comet, the windmill towers over the Wild River. One like it caused a sensation at the 1913 Sydney Show as the largest windmill on display. The windmill is reached via Windmill Lane, a precinct showing collections of antique machinery.

(28) CASHMERE SLAB HUT - CIRCA 1870

Shows how pioneer families really lived in the late 1800s, with its kitchen, dining room and bedroom restored to reflect the original ways of life.

(29) G. PETTER ENGINES

This garage houses an amazing collection of small engines as well as one large working Ruston Hornsby engine; perfectly restored.

(32) THE RADIO STORE

Most radios on display here hadn’t even been imagined in the early days of wireless. The oldest on show is a simple crystal set made by Airzone, a company which began in 1925.

(35) A C CAMP BLACKSMITH - CIRCA 1890

An actual bellows forge filled with a blacksmith's tools including anvils, swage blocks and sledge hammers.

(41) HERBERTON TIMES

The hub of the village was its newspaper. Some of the old presses are restored to working order and on holidays it’s possible to buy yourself a WANTED poster for a gold coin!

(42) THE MINER’S HUT

An original dwelling, built on its very site in the mid 1880s, this was the humble home of tin miner, Jack Drury. Jack spent most of his life working the nearby Happy Jack Mine on the banks of the Wild River.

(44, 45)  LOCK UPS WITH GUN COLLECTIONS ALMADEN GAOL / ATHERTON GAOL

Both complete with a collection of decommissioned fire arms and even leg irons!

(46)  TOOL SHED

The quality of workmanship of the past is evident in the fine array of working man’s tools displayed to perfection in this exhibit.

(47) BAKERVILLE TEAROOMS

One of the oldest pubs on the Tablelands, The Bakerville Hotel is a magnificent example of a Queenslander. Now it’s fully restored to a delightful tearooms and houses treasures of souvenirs to take home as a memory of your trip here!

(48) ADA'S FROCK SALON

Not just the dresses but the shoes, hats, handbags and even a hair salon from the past in complete display.