Highfields Pioneer Village — Attraction in Highfields

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...

​A Remarkable Journey Through Time at Highfields Pioneer Village ​Rating: 5/5 Stars - Highly Recommended ​My recent visit to Highfields Pioneer Village was truly one of the best historical experiences I've had. This place is an absolute treasure trove, masterfully capturing an incredible amount of Australian pioneer history. ​The sheer volume and authenticity of the historical buildings, machinery, and detailed collections are remarkable. It feels less like a museum and more like stepping directly back into the 19th and early 20th centuries. From the heritage chapel and slab cottage to the specialized museums, every corner is rich with stories waiting to be discovered. The dedication of the volunteers who maintain and operate this non-profit village is evident in the perfect condition of the relics. ​My top recommendation for any visitor is to allow a generous amount of time. We found that 2 to 3 hours is the perfect amount of time to properly walk around, read the displays, and fully appreciate the wealth of history captured here. Rushing through would be a disservice to the experience. ​Whether you're a history enthusiast, an antique machinery lover, or a family looking for an engaging and educational day out, Highfields Pioneer Village offers an immersive and unforgettable glimpse into the past. Don't miss the chance to explore this truly authentic slice...

My sister is a volunteer at the Village and invited us to see the place as we were travelling through today.

There are so many things to look at here throwing back to the pioneer era, including a chapel, fashion store, toy store, transport museum, school house, silversmith, bakery with so many more on top of these ones!

The Billy tea and damper is a must have. The damper was beautifully cooked, warm, fresh with butter and golden syrup. Great table service with friendly staff.

A massive shout out to the Toowoomba Fire Museum and the awesome volunteers who gave us the personal tour which was extremely informative and had all three of my children enthralled for the duration of our time in the museum. It was the highlight of the village visit for us, and my two boys want to be fire-fighters more than ever now. Thank you!

There are beautiful grassed areas perfect for a picnic lunch, and the added bonus is that this place is 100% dog friendly, so long as they are leashed at all times and poo is picked up and disposed of correctly.

The Big Cow brought back so many nostalgic memories for me, as we used to drive past it's original location all the time to visit family in Buderim until the bypass went through.

Will happily come back again to explore some more, perhaps investigate the...