Australiana Pioneer Village facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Australiana Pioneer Village
Cafe at the Australiana Pioneer Village
Location	Rose Street, Wilberforce, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1969–1970
Owner	Hawkesbury City Council
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Australiana Pioneer Village; Heritage Farm; Australian Pioneer Village Recreation and Animal Park; APV
Type	state heritage (complex / group)
Designated	20 February 2004
Reference no.	1683
Type	Tourist Attractions
Category	Recreation and Entertainment
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The Australiana Pioneer Village is a special place in Wilberforce, New South Wales, Australia. It's like an open-air museum where you can step back in time. Many old buildings from the Hawkesbury area were moved here. They show what life was like for early Australian settlers. The village was built between 1969 and 1970. It is owned by the Hawkesbury City Council.

History of the Village

The land where the Australiana Pioneer Village stands was once important farmland. It was one of the first land grants in Australia. William MacKay received this 30-acre grant in 1797. Later, the Rose family owned and lived on this land for over 150 years. The last Rose family member, John Rose, passed away in 1961.

How the Village Started

After John Rose died, his friend Bill McLachlan bought the property. Bill was an industrial chemist who loved challenges. He wanted to save the history of the Hawkesbury area. He also wanted to show what early settlers achieved.

Back then, there were no laws to protect old buildings. Moving endangered buildings was one of the only ways to save them. This was common in the Hawkesbury area. People often moved buildings or reused their parts.

By 1967, Bill McLachlan planned his "Pioneer Village." It would have two streets and a leisure area by the Hawkesbury River. Many people offered their old buildings that were at risk. From late 1969 to 1970, Bill hired Silvio Biancotti. Silvio used a special low-loader truck to move twelve buildings to the village. Local families also helped move buildings. They kept the buildings in one piece.

Opening and Growth

The village officially opened on November 29, 1970. The Minister for Education, Eric Willis, was there. Sadly, Bill McLachlan died in 1971 at age 54. His ashes were buried near the church in the village. People continued to support his dream.

Three more buildings were moved later. These were the Riverstone Police Station (1972–73), Mangold Cottage (1985), and Aiken Hut (1984–85). Arthur and Jean Mawson helped fund the village. They brought the Riverstone Police Station. The village changed owners a few times.

In 1984, the Hawkesbury City Council bought the village. They paid $450,000 in 1985. The council then worked to preserve the buildings. Mangold Cottage and Aiken Hut were added during the council's ownership.

Community Involvement

A "Friends" Society was formed on March 30, 1989. It started with 24 members and grew to almost 100 by 1991. The village became very popular. Schools, local people, and tourists visited it. Film crews also used the village.

In April 1985, Grace Bros, a big store, rented the village. They held their 100-year celebration there. Nearly 10,000 employees and their families attended. Australia Day events and Bush Fire Brigade Field Days were also held. The village was featured in a heritage video in 1994. It was also on the cover of Telstra's phone book in 1998. In 1987, over 27,000 people visited. Many articles praised the village in magazines and newspapers.

Changes and Reopening

In 1993, the village's name changed. It became the Australian Pioneer Village Recreation and Animal Park. A new committee managed it. Community groups planted over 10,000 trees there.

From 1997, Chris Wells leased the property. The name changed again to Heritage Farm. The lease ended in 2002. The Hawkesbury City Council decided to sell the village. However, this decision was stopped. The land was zoned for "community" use. It could not be sold without a special reclassification. A new community group formed. They wanted to keep the village as a community asset. They also wanted to protect its history.

The Australiana Pioneer Village was closed from 2002 until January 2011. In 2010, a group called The Australiana Pioneer Village Ltd leased it. This group was formed in 2002 to save the site. They received $100,000 for repairs. The village officially reopened on January 26, 2011.

Individual Buildings

Buildings Originally on Site

Rose Cottage

Rose Cottage was part of the land Bill McLachlan bought. It is important to the village's idea. This cottage is still in its original spot. It is now owned separately from the rest of the village.

"Salter" Barn

This barn is one of three buildings still in their original place. It's called the "Salter" barn after its owners in the early 1900s. It was likely built in the mid-1800s by Richard William Cobcroft. The Cobcroft family owned this land until 1905. Then, Thomas J. Salter bought it. The barn became part of the Australiana Pioneer Village when Bill McLachlan bought the land.

Quilty Stables

The Quilty Stables were built before the early 1980s. They were used for a 100-mile horse endurance race. This race started and ended at the village. It attracted riders from all over Australia for about 10 years. Famous riders like RM Williams often took part.

Resited Buildings

Stable from the Black Horse Inn, Richmond

This stable was part of the Black Horse Inn in Richmond. The Inn was popular with honeymooners in the 1800s. It was also the end point for early horse races. The stable was moved to the village in early 1970. It was moved in one piece, held together by ropes.

Perry House, Richmond

This building was Samuel Paul's house and shop in Richmond. He was a bootmaker. Later, Alfred Perry, a tailor, owned it. The Perry family ran their tailoring business here until 1914. The building was moved to the village in 1969. It was the first building relocated there.

Atkin's Blacksmith's Shop, Wilberforce

This blacksmith's shop was originally in Wilberforce. George Atkins ran it from 1862. He was a very skilled blacksmith. In 1874, he invented a special steel plough. This plough changed farming in the Hawkesbury. His plough won an award in 1879. George's son and grandson also worked here. The shop closed in 1943. The original stone trough for cooling hot metal is still there. This shop was moved to the village in May 1970.

Cartwright Cottage, East Kurrajong

Alfred Francis Case built this cottage in the 1870s. It was for John Edward Cartwright and his wife, Julia Anne. Julia Anne was known as "Old Granny Cartwright." Her daughter, Laura, ran a mail service from the verandah. Three Cartwrights with Aboriginal heritage, born in this cottage, are still alive today. Cartwright Cottage was moved to the village in one piece in 1970.

Bowd's Sulky Shed, Wilberforce

This shed was originally very close to its new spot in the village. Edward Bowd built it in 1874. It was once a two-storey barn. The shed was moved to the village.

The Bee House, McGrath's Hill

This small shop was built around 1879 in McGraths Hill. It was part of a tearoom and shop. It sold honey made from local flowers. The Bee House was moved to the village around 1970.

Mangold Cottage, Riverstone

Gottlieb Mangold (II) built this cottage around 1886. It was a temporary home for his family. The Mangold family owned it until 1986. Then, it was moved to the village. Gottlieb's father came from Germany in 1855. He was a vine dresser. Many German families came to New South Wales in the 1850s. They helped landowners with vineyards.

Riverstone Police Station

This small police station was built by 1888 in Riverstone. It was a wooden building used for interviews and paperwork. It had no jail cells. The local policeman used it when he was in Riverstone. A larger station was built in 1891/92. This small room continued as an office. It was moved to the village around 1972 or 1973.

Case Cottage, East Kurrajong

Herbert James Case built this cottage in 1896. He was a farmer and a skilled builder. The Case family built many early homes in East Kurrajong. Herbert also played the fiddle in a family band. They held dances in Case Cottage. The middle wall could be removed to make a bigger space for dancing. Case Cottage was moved to the village in March 1970.

Riverstone General Store

This building was a general store in Riverstone. It was built around 1890. It sold fruits and vegetables for over 30 years. It closed in 1960. Bill McLachlan acquired it around 1969. It was one of the first buildings moved to the village.

St Matthews Church, Upper Macdonald

St Matthews Church was built by May 1900. It was on land given by Edward Archer Bailey. The church stopped operating between 1952 and 1956. It was then moved to the Australiana Pioneer Village in 1970. There was some confusion about its name. But records confirm it is St Matthew's.

Schoolhouse, Marsden Park

This school building from Marsden Park was built in 1889. It opened in July 1889 with ten students. By the end of the year, 48 students were enrolled. The school was designed for 40 pupils. A sketch of this schoolhouse was even in the Minister of Education's report in 1890. James Mackay was the first teacher. The building was moved to the village in 1969. It was the second building set up there.

Mitchell Cottage (originally called 'East Lynne'), North Richmond

Ern Mitchell built this cottage in North Richmond in the late 1890s. Ern was a skilled bullock team driver. He helped build the main streets of Richmond. He also helped move a church in 1908 using 35 bullocks. This cottage was one of the first buildings Bill McLachlan moved to the village in 1970.

"Kenso" Cottage, Kogarah

This cottage was built between 1890 and the 1920s in Kogarah. Jack Griffiths, a dentist, bought it. It was moved to Freemans Reach in 1950 or 1951. It was moved in sections. Jack became the local dentist. "Kenso" cottage was moved to the village in 1970.

George Hastwell's House and Sackville North Post Office

This house was originally in Sackville North. George Hastwell, a well-known resident, lived here until 1943. He boated children to school from 1905. Later, he became the non-official postmaster for Sackville North. In 1934, a new post office room was added to his cottage. It was used until 1956. The house and post office became old and were moved to the village in 1970.

Kurrajong Railway Goods Shed

This building was next to the passenger station at Kurrajong railway station. It was used for goods trains. The railway line was built to help farmers get their goods to Sydney markets. The goods shed was moved to the Australiana Pioneer Village in 1970. It was moved in one piece.

Bank of Australasia, Wilberforce

This building was originally Jack Greentree's garage. It was located across from the motel in Rose Street. It was moved to the museum. Its contents were donated by the ANZ Bank.

Aiken Hut, West Pennant Hills

This was the last slab hut left in West Pennant Hills when it was moved to the village. William Aikin built it in 1875. The Aiken family were early settlers. John Aiken, a carpenter, arrived in 1796. He built a slab hut in West Pennant Hills. His grandson, William, built this hut.

What You Can See at the Village

The Australiana Pioneer Village is a museum with many old Australian buildings. Most of them are from the Hawkesbury area. The museum is on a large site by the Hawkesbury River.

Rose Cottage, one of Australia's oldest timber buildings, is at the entrance. It is still in its original spot. A street in the village has many moved buildings. These are mostly small old cottages. They lead to the St Matthew's Church and Kurrajong railway station buildings. To the southwest is Salter's Barn. This old slab barn is also in its original place. It's a great example of barns from the region.

Some buildings were also built on the site for the museum.

Buildings You Can See

Buildings Still in Their Original Spot

• Rose Cottage (built in 1811)
• "Salter" Barn (built between 1860 and 1890s)
• Quilty Stables (built in the 20th century)

Buildings Moved to the Village

• Black Horse Inn Stables (from 1819-1860s), moved from Richmond.
• Perry House (from 1841 - before 1856), moved from Richmond.
• Atkin's Blacksmith Shop (from 1861–62), moved from Wilberforce.
• Cartwright Cottage (from the 1870s), moved from East Kurrajong.
• Bowd's Sulky Shed (from 1874), moved from Wilberforce.
• The Bee House (from 1879), moved from McGraths Hill.
• Mangold Cottage (from 1886), moved from Riverstone.
• Riverstone Police Station (before 1888), moved from Riverstone.
• Case Cottage (from 1896), moved from East Kurrajong.
• Riverstone General Store (from the 1890s), moved from Riverstone.
• St Matthew's Anglican Church (from 1899), moved from Upper Macdonald.
• Marsden Park Public School (from 1899), moved from Marsden Park.
• Mitchell Cottage (from 1899), moved from North Richmond.
• "Kenso" Cottage (from 1890s - 1920s), moved from Freemans Reach (originally from Kogarah).
• Hastwell's Residence and North Sackville Post Office (from 1890s), moved from Sackville North.
• Kurrajong Railway Goods Shed (from 1926), moved from Kurrajong.
• Bank of Australasia (before 1930s), moved from Wilberforce.
• Aiken Hut (from 1875), moved from West Pennant Hills.

Replica Buildings Built on Site

• Buttsworth Road Gate House: Built around 1986 as the village entrance.
• Oxboro Inn: A two-storey building built as a movie set.
• Shearing Shed: A slab building built for the museum.
• Smoke House: A rare round building made of timber slabs and bark.
• Wagon Shed: A long shed with a corrugated roof for museum use.

Why the Village is Important

The Australiana Pioneer Village is a special place in New South Wales. In the 1960s and 1970s, people around the world became interested in saving old buildings. They moved them to one place for education. The village has 18 unique buildings, mostly from the 1800s. It also has a large barn and the Rose Cottage, which is very old. All these buildings together make the village very important.

Many of these buildings were in danger of being destroyed. Moving them was the only way to save them. They were moved in one piece, not taken apart. This helped keep them in good condition. Bill McLachlan even filmed some of these moves. Moving buildings was a common practice in rural areas for over a century.

The village shows what life was like in rural Australia long ago. It shows how people lived and worked. It also highlights the different cultures that settled here. This includes Aboriginal, Jamaican, German, and Anglo-Celtic people. The village helps people learn about Australian history. It is especially good for school groups.

The Australiana Pioneer Village is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it is officially recognized as an important historical site.

Community Connection

The village has a strong connection with the community. Many families who originally owned the buildings feel a special bond with the village. The "Friends of Australiana Pioneer Village Society" was formed in 1989. This group works hard to protect the village. They keep records and try to make sure it stays a community treasure.

The village has been very popular. Over 30,000 people visited each year in the late 1980s. It was a big hit with school groups. It also attracted tourists from all over. The village has been featured in many newspapers and magazines. It was even on a phone book cover. Big companies have rented the site for events. It also hosts market days and Australia Day celebrations.

Learning from the Past

The Australiana Pioneer Village is like an outdoor classroom. It helps people understand early Australian life. It shows how people lived in the country. It also shows how they worked in different trades. The diverse history of the buildings makes it even more educational. Research about these buildings helps us learn more about the lives of ordinary Australians from the 1800s and 1900s.

A Rare Collection

The Australiana Pioneer Village is unique in New South Wales. Unlike some other historical villages, most of its buildings are original, not copies. It has many slab buildings. Slab huts and barns are becoming rare. The village helps preserve these important examples of old building styles. It focuses on the everyday homes and workplaces of ordinary people. This makes it a special place to visit.

See also

• Living museums in Australia