School Excursions
A hands-on day of history for primary and secondary students, run by the Village’s volunteers. Read what a visit involves, then send the school excursion enquiry at the end of this page.
What students experience
- Tractor and machinery displays, including stationary engines and crawler tractors.
- Blacksmith demonstrations at the forge, when a volunteer blacksmith is available.
- Historic buildings, including a one-teacher school house from 1876, a slab hut, a jail and a chapel.
- Traditional trades: blacksmithing, woodturning, butchery, dairying and carriage-building.
- Rural community life: the kitchen, laundry, shop, post office and medical displays.
- Australian and local history, from the teamsters’ camp to the railway town.
- Science, technology and engineering in early machinery and alternative fuels.
- Sustainability and resourcefulness — how pioneers made do, repaired and reused.
Visits suit both primary and secondary students. Tell us your learning objectives and year level, and we will do our best to tailor the visit. Working demonstrations and tailored activities are subject to confirmation and volunteer availability.
The classroom inside the 1876 School House.
The classroom inside the 1876 School House.
The alphabet chart and blackboard.
A lesson from the past for a visiting class, 1995.
A school group on the School House steps.
Students at Desjardins Cottage, 1995.
A school group in the School House classroom, 1995.
The forge in the Blacksmith Shop, where demonstrations are given when a volunteer is available.
School pricing
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $10 |
| Concession | $8 |
| Children under 14 | $5 |
| Carers | $10 |
| School groups | $2.5 per student |
| Teachers and supervisors accompanying school groups | Free |
| Tour-group crew (coach drivers and escorts) | Free of charge |
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Morning tea — lamingtons, or scones with jam and cream | $7 per person |
| Barbecue lunch | $12 per person |
Complimentary tea and coffee is available for accompanying adults. Students are welcome to bring a packed lunch.
Booking conditions
- Please book at least one week in advance.
- Confirm your attendance numbers at least five working days before the visit.
- The confirmed number is the minimum number charged.
- Catering prices assume the whole group has the same morning tea or meal.
- Prices are subject to change.
- Guides, working exhibits and catering requests depend on volunteer availability.
Resources for teachers
Student workbooks for Prep to Year 2 and for older year levels, and the Village’s risk-assessment document, are available on request. Please ask for the current versions when you enquire.
School excursion enquiry
Fields marked *asterisk are required. Submitting an enquiry is a request: a volunteer will confirm the date, numbers and any demonstrations with you.
Your details are used only to arrange the excursion. See our Privacy Policy, including the section on children’s privacy and educational bookings.
How it works
- Send the enquiry, about five minutes online.
- A volunteer confirms the date, numbers and demonstrations with you.
- Pay on the day or by invoice, as arranged.
School-group rates: $5 per student, teachers and supervisors free.
Talk to us first
Teachers are welcome to phone or email before booking.
- Phone (07) 5465 2516
- Email pioneervillage@y7mail.com
- Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am–3:00 pm; last admission 2:00 pm
Prefer paper? Download the PDF booking form and email it to us.
