Miles Historical Village and Museum facts for kids
Main street of the Miles Historical Village
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | Miles, Queensland |
| Type | Open-air museum |
The Miles Historical Village and Museum is an exciting open-air museum located near the town of Miles in Queensland, Australia. Imagine stepping back in time! This village has 30 buildings that look just like the ones from the 1920s. It's like a living history book, showing you how people lived long ago.
Contents
Discovering the Miles Region's Past
This area was first called Dogwood Crossing by an explorer named Ludwig Leichhardt. Later, in 1878, the town got its name, Miles. This happened when the railway was being built. The town was named after William Miles, who was a member of parliament. He also owned a large property nearby called 'Dulacca'.
Farming Life in Early Miles
When more people started to settle here, many of them began dairy farming. However, the land wasn't really the best for cows. So, over time, farmers changed what they grew. They started planting wheat, and a lot of cotton was also grown in the area.
The Prickly Pear Problem
In the early days, a plant called Prickly Pear caused a lot of trouble. People believe it was first brought to Australia as a pot plant. This plant grew out of control and covered huge areas of farmland. Many farmers had to leave their land in the early 1890s because of it. Luckily, a special moth was later discovered that helped get rid of this pest.
Exploring the Historical Village and Museum
The historical village is made up of 30 different buildings. One important building is the Artesian Basin Centre. Here, you can learn all about Artesian Water, which is water found deep underground. It also shares information about Aboriginal history and how people care for the land. The War Museum has cool displays from all the World Wars. Plus, the Shell House has an amazing collection of shells from all over the world!
How the Village Grew
The Historical Village first started in 1971. Since then, it has grown a lot! The Miles Historical Society tries to add a new replica building every year. They also keep adding to the museum's collection. Many items are donated by families who have lived in the district for a long time. These donations help show what life was really like.
Stepping into a 1900s Street
The village has a street that looks just like it did in the 1900s. You can see a bakery, a post office, and a chemist. There's also a general store, the Red Rose Cafe, and a branch of the Bank of New South Wales. All these places have real items from that time period inside them!
More Buildings to Discover
You can also explore a church and a school from the past. There's a butcher shop and a blacksmith's workshop too. A typical slab hut, which was a simple house from the early 1900s, is also on display. The village even has the old Dalwogan railway station. Outside, you can see a retired Queensland Government Railways C17 steam locomotive number 944. It's a real train from the past!
See also
- History of Queensland
- List of museums
